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The Truly Disadvantaged: Structuring An Agenda For Change, James A. Geschwender

The Journal of Sociology & Social Welfare

This manuscript addresses the question as to how we may best structure an agenda for change aimed at improving the economic situation for the "truly disadvantaged." I have chosen to address this question within the limits set by existing political circumstances. Policy proposals are presented because they are believed to be achievable and would be effective if implemented. It is impossible to think about this question without considering the proposals presented by William J. Wilson in his pathbreaking book, The Truly Disadvantaged (1987). Consequently, I briefly describe the intellectual context within which Wilson wrote his book and analyze the basic …

A Critique Of The Truly Disadvantaged: A Historical Materialist (Marxist) Perspective, Ralph C. Gomes, Walda Katz Fishman

The Journal of Sociology & Social Welfare

Scholars such as William J. Wilson, public policy analysts, politicians, media personalities and journalists have, in recent years, turned their attention to the pervasive and growing poverty, permanent unemployment and inequality in American society. They have noted the disproportionate occurrence of these phenomena among African Americans-especially women and children-and in the "inner city ghettos" of the former centers of industrial production. At the same time, they have either ignored or severed any connection between the deepening poverty of one section of society-whom they have called the "underclass"-and the vast accumulation of wealth among the capitalist class.

"Occasional Labourers And Chronic Want": A Review Of The Truly Disadvantaged, Carole Marks

The Journal of Sociology & Social Welfare

The Truly Disadvantaged is an important book which brings the subject of poverty back into the forefront of sociological discourse. William Wilson's intent is to redirect its study by simultaneously mounting challenges to the ideological orthodoxy of the left and of the complacency of the right. Throughout, he attempts to subtly reconstruct current debates and controversies and to mould them into a form more palatable to the skeptical, voting age masses. For those interested in public policy formation, there is value in both the underlying purpose of such an exercise and in much of its form. Though the work is …

Challenges And Prospects Of William J. Wilson's The Truly Disadvantaged, Robert G. Newby

The Journal of Sociology & Social Welfare

I feel that it is a real coup that I had the opportunity to assemble the right scholars and, in turn, edit this special issue of the Journal of Sociology and Social Welfare. These were "the right" scholars in that they offered varying progressive perspectives of high quality on William J. Wilson's award-winning book, The Truly Disadvantaged. Since so much of the debate on the so-called "underclass" is carried out in the parlance of conservative scholars, the articles which appear here are not encumbered in any way by such a retrogression. By contrast, I had the pleasure of engaging a …

Journal Of Sociology & Social Welfare Vol. 16, No. 4 (December 1989)

The Journal of Sociology & Social Welfare

The Truly Disadvantaged: Challenges and Prospects

Editor's Introduction

• CHALLENGES AND PROSPECTS OF WILLIAM J. WILSON'S THE TRULY DISADVANTAGED - Robert G. Newby

Part I. Challenges

• THE SOCIOLOGY OF KNOWLEDGE OF WILLIAM J. WILSON: PLACING THE TRULY DISADVANTAGED IN ITS SOCIO-HISTORICAL CONTEXT - Andrew Billingsley
• RACISM IN ADVANCED CAPITALIST SOCIETY: COMMENTS ON WILLIAM J. WILSON'S THE TRULY DISADVANTAGED - Edna Bonacich
• OCCASIONAL LABOURERS AND CHRONIC WANT: A REVIEW OF WILLIAM J. WILSON'S THE TRULY DISADVANTAGED - Carole Marks
• A LIMITED PROPOSAL FOR SOCIAL REFORM: A RESPONSE TO WILLIAM J. WILSON'S
• THE TRULY DISADVANTAGED - Bonnie Thornton Dill
• A CRITIQUE OF THE …

Comments On William Wilson's The Truly Disadvantaged: A Limited Proposal For Social Reform, Bonnie Thornton Dill

The Journal of Sociology & Social Welfare

This is an important book which has already had a major impact on discussions of poverty, race and public policy in the United States. Wilson is to be commended for his willingness to step boldly into the arena of public discourse in an effort to blaze a new trail between the "rock" of conservative thinking on the underclass and the "hard place" of contemporary liberal perspectives. His project-the refocusing of the liberal perspective and the definition of a bold new public policy agenda is inherently controversial. Wilson is quite correct in his assertion that the conservative perspective captured public attention …

The Sociology Of Knowledge Of William J. Wilson: Placing The Truly Disadvantaged In Its Sociohistorical Context, Andrew Billingsley

The Journal of Sociology & Social Welfare

In this paper I will do the following: first, set forth an introductory statement designed to place Wilson's work in some philosophical-theoretical perspective; then, I will identify and describe what I consider to be three distinct, yet overlapping, phases or central themes in Wilson's work; third, I will discuss how he treats Black families and discuss some features of his policy recommendations.

Racism In Advanced Capitalist Society: Comments On William J. Wilson's The Truly Disadvantaged, Edna Bonacich

The Journal of Sociology & Social Welfare

Let me begin with words of praise. Bill Wilson's The Truly Disadvantaged is a serious and important work. In it he alerts the nation to the alarming rise of social dislocation in Black inner city communities. But rather than joining with the conservative chorus which dominates political debate about this issue, Wilson focuses on the social structure, especially joblessness, as the key to the whole network of pathologies. Black inner city joblessness is, in turn, explained by large-scale economic shifts, interacting with a legacy of past racial discrimination, as well as various demographic factors. The result is the construction of …

Poverty And Electoral Power, Richard A. Cloward, Frances Fox Piven

The Journal of Sociology & Social Welfare

The poverty of the American underclass cannot be overcome by any single strategy. But surely it will not be reduced without new government interventions in education, training, employment, housing, and social welfae. That raises the question of how the electoral power-especially electoral power exercised by the underclass itself-can be mobilized to win new public policies.

Problems Of Pragmatism In Public Policy: Critique Of William Wilson's The Truly Disadvantaged, Robert G. Newby

The Journal of Sociology & Social Welfare

I want to begin by commending Professor Wilson for focussing his scholarly attention upon one of the more critical social problems confronting our society at this time. You will recall that in his earlier work, Professor Wilson found that the civil rights movement had made a major impact on the character of race relations in our society, particularly relative to the status of blacks. In that award-winning but controversial study, The Declining Significance of Race, Professor Wilson found two diverging trends within the black community: on the one hand, the growth of the black middle class which had benefitted from …

A Response To Critics Of The Truly Disadvantaged, William Julius Wilson

The Journal of Sociology & Social Welfare

I appreciate the thoughtful comments by the authors of those papers that focused on my book, even though I disagree with many of the arguments. I was especially pleased with Edna Bonacich's accurate interpretation of my arguments in the first several pages of her article. And I was impressed with Andrew Billingsley's comprehensive discussion of what he takes to be the "three distinct, yet overlapping phases or central themes in" my work. I wish I were able on this occasion to discuss this broader coverage of my scholarship, but for sake of brevity, I shall only focus on the criticisms …

Low-Income Parents' Attitudes Toward Parent Involvement In Education, Nancy Feyl Chavkin, David L. Williams Jr.

The Journal of Sociology & Social Welfare

Using data from 978 parents who indicated their family income level on a descriptive survey about attitudes toward parent involvement in education, this article reports on comparisons among low-income, middle- income, and high-income parents. Despite some differences among the groups, the results clearly dispute any idea that low-income parents lack interest in their children's education. The authors provide recommendations of key strategies that social workers can use to facilitate effective involvement of low-income parents in their children's education.

Race Differences In Seeking Help From Social Workers, Clifford L. Broman, Harold W. Neighbors, Robert J. Taylor

The Journal of Sociology & Social Welfare

This paper examines race differences in the use of social workers. A major finding is that blacks are more likely to consult social workers than are whites. Socio-demographic variables did not affect this pattern, nor did the type of problem. Implications for the training of social workers are discussed.

Journal Of Sociology & Social Welfare Vol. 16, No. 3 (September 1989)

The Journal of Sociology & Social Welfare

• MAINSTREAMING THE UNDERCLASS - David Stoesz, John Poole, and Martha Joseph
• LOW-INCOME PARENTS' ATTITUDES TOWARD PARENT INVOLVEMENT IN EDUCATION - Nancy Feyl Chavkin and David L. Williams, Jr.
• A COURT-ORDERED CONSENT DECREE FOR THE HOMELESS: PROCESS, CONFLICT, AND CONTROL - Alice K. Johnson, Larry W. Kreuger, and John J. Stretch
• OLD FOLKS' HOMES FOR BLACKS DURING THE PROGRESSIVE ERA - Iris Carlton-LaNey
• THE IMPACT OF AMERICANIZATION ON INTERGENERATIONAL RELATIONS: AN EXPLORATORY STUDY OF THE U.S. TERRITORY OF GUAM - Amanda Smith Barusch and Marc L. Spaulding
• EASTERN EUROPEAN REFUGEES: IMPLICATIONS FOR SOCIAL WORK - Richard P. Baker
• COUNSELING TROUBLED ADOLESCENTS: …

Mainstreaming The Underclass, David Stoesz, John Poole, Martha Joseph

The Journal of Sociology & Social Welfare

The underclass has become a prominent issue in American social welfare, yet welfare professionals have focused on maintenance as opposed to mainstreaming strategies in working with this population. A mainstreaming strategy would emphasize individual incentives, community reconstruction, and program reorganization, focusing on the social disorganization of underclass communities. The essay details specific programs in each of these areas: transitional benefits, Community Enterprise Zones, and Integrated Service Agencies, among others. Welfare professionals must find ways to stretch existing public resources and identify new private resources if they are to pose plausible programs for the underclass. The public image of welfare professionals …

The Impact Of Americanization On Intergenerational Relations: An Exploratory Study On The U.S. Territory Of Guam, Amanda Smith Barusch, Marc L. Spaulding

The Journal of Sociology & Social Welfare

In-depth interviews with a sample of 60 elderly from the indigenous (Chamorro) population and the immigrant (Filipino) population examined their current lifestyles, with emphasis upon intergenerational relations. Results underscore the dramatic lifestyle changes experienced by Guam's elderly in the wake of Americanization. Among these is an intergenerational "language gap", wherein a majority of the grandchildren do not speak the native language of their elders. Ethnicity, mixed marriage, and length of residence on Guam are discussed as possible determinants of the language gap. The language gap is associated with lower life satisfaction for elders, as well as reduced family contact and …

Social Work And Sexual Harassment, Surjit Singh Dhooper, Marlene B. Huff, Carrie M. Schultz

The Journal of Sociology & Social Welfare

Ninety-seven members of the Kentucky chapter of National Association of Social Workers were surveyed about their knowledge of and experience with sexual harassment in their work places. Fifty-one percent knew of sexual harassment of female social workers and 18% knew of similar harassment of male workers. Twenty-six percent had themselves been victims of sexual harassment. Verbal harassment was the most common followed by a combination of verbal and physical harassment in the form of sexy jokes and unwanted touching. A majority of the victims resorted to either avoidance, defusion, or reason in dealing with their harassers. Young workers from small …

Court-Ordered Consent Decree For The Homeless: Process, Conflict And Control, Alice K. Johnson, Larry W. Kreuger, John J. Stretch

The Journal of Sociology & Social Welfare

A 1985 class action suit on behalf of homeless individuals living in the City of St. Louis mandates both short-term and long-term services to homeless persons. These court-ordered requirements bring together an interesting triparite system: (1) the adversarial and justice-oriented legal system, (b) the highly political city government, and (c) the traditionally voluntary system of human service providers. Service provision to the homeless, the utility of advocacy, privatization, and the ethics of public disclosure are examined from a sociological conflict and control perspective. The St. Louis experience provides guidance for communities wishing to engage the legal, political, and social service …

Old Folks' Homes For Blacks During The Progressive Era, Iris Carlton-Laney

The Journal of Sociology & Social Welfare

This paper discusses the development of old folks' homes for Blacks during the Progressive Era. Churches, women's clubs, and secret societies played a major role in the development, funding, and operation of these institutions. These groups adhered to the doctrine of self-help and group solidarity which provided impetus for their charitable activities. The members of these organizations believed that leaving "'worthy" indigent Black aged to live out their last years in almshouses was cruel and intolerable. This paper highlights some of the efforts and many of the homes that were established for the Black aged through the cooperation and material …

Eastern European Refugees: Implications For Social Work, Richard P. Baker

The Journal of Sociology & Social Welfare

The project examined and analyzed the adaptation and ethnicity of Eastern European immigrants. The methodology consisted of in-depth interviews with 28 families. White ethnic groups are able to rapidly adapt to their new environment, but their ethnic heritage diminishes. Securing employment and learning the language are the two most serious problems for immigrants. A serendipitous analysis concerns the estranged relationship between the immigrants and the refugee center. Improvement of social services to immigrants is also addressed.

Counseling Troubled Adolescents: An Evaluation Of A Statewide Training Program, Susanne Mitchell, Anne White, Wynn S. Wright, Peter J. Pecora

The Journal of Sociology & Social Welfare

Susanne Mitchell was a graduate student at the School of Social Work, University of Utah. Anne White, M.S.W, is a staff social worker at the Diabetes Health Center, Salt Lake City, Utah. Wynn S. Wright, M.S.W., was the Project Coordinator of the Utah Child Welfare Training Project, Graduate School of Social Work, University of Utah; and currently is psychiatric social worker at Primary Children's Medical Center, Salt Lake City, Utah. Peter 1. Pecora, Ph.D., is Associate Professor and Principal Investigator of the Child Welfare Training Project at the Graduate School of Social Work, University of Utah. The research for this …

Work And Welfare: How Industrialists Shaped Government Social Service During The Progressive Era, Cynthia Hamilton

The Journal of Sociology & Social Welfare

This article focuses on the welfare work of industrialists which was developed as a mechanism for fighting trade unionism during the Progressive era. This focus is designed to place welfare in its proper perspective within the political economy and to identify its political and economic functions. The article concludes that industrial welfare was one of the instruments used in creating a work ethic in the United States and one of the mechanisms of social engineering both in and outside of industry.

Welfare Reform: One State Alternative, Anthony P. Halter

The Journal of Sociology & Social Welfare

Welfare reform has received a great deal of public attention in recent months. Historically, many states have enacted welfare reform legislation, with mixed reviews. The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania implemented a Welfare Reform Act in 1982 which reduced the able-bodied General Assistance population to a maximum of 90 days of cash assistance in any twelve-month period. This study decribes the previous occupations of a segment of the Transitionally Needy in Philadelphia, the Transitionally Needy who did and did not find work, and how many were still receiving some form of in-kind benefits after discontinuance of cash assistance.

What's Right With Welfare? The Other Face Of Afdc, Ronald B. Dear

The Journal of Sociology & Social Welfare

Eleven million people, mostly mothers and children, depend on Aid to Families with Dependent Children, America's largest child welfare program. Much is wrong with AFDC welfare, and serious efforts are being made, again, to reform it. So far, no major attempts at reform have been successful. If reform is to succeed, we must understand what needs to be corrected and what does not.

What's right with welfare? This study, not an apology or excuse for AFDC, answers that rarely asked question. Part I surveys background. Part II cites myths and criticisms of AFDC and portrays poverty as it afflicts children …

Low-Income Mothers Without Custody: Who Are They And Where Are Their Children?, Susan Zuravin, Geoffrey Greif

The Journal of Sociology & Social Welfare

As a focus of research, the noncustodial low income mother, particularly the mother who has received Aid to Families of Dependent Children, (AFDC) has been virtually ignored. Yet, she is central to many fields of study-foster care, child support enforcement, child maltreatment, and single parents. This article reports on 8 respondents from a cohort of 518, urban, AFDC mothers who lost custody of all children during the 17 months following their selection into the study sample. Findings reveal that most of the children were living with relatives; the majority of mothers had long-standing mental health problems; and most of the …

Family Structures And The Feminization Of Poverty: Women In Hawaii, Susan Meyers Chandler, Jennifer Williams

The Journal of Sociology & Social Welfare

The quality of life for many single mothers and their children is shrouded in economic hardship. Women outside the traditional nuclear family, attempting to raise children, are doing so in poverty and without much public support. Marital disruption, teenage mothers, and out of wedlock births have resulted in an alarming number of improverished children living in America. This paper examines census data in the state of Hawaii and the impact of family structure on the quality of lives of women with children. Women living in multigenerational family arrangements, rather than in "traditional" families have higher income, holding family size constant. …

Urban Emergency Food Center Clients: Characteristics, Coping Strategies And Needs, Marcia K. Petchers, Julian Chow, Karen Kordisch

The Journal of Sociology & Social Welfare

The clients of emergency hunger centers in an urban area were studied to assess the problem of hunger from the clients' vantage point. The findings indicate that hunger remains a problem even among those who have availed themselves of emergency food services. A great deal of time and effort is spent in activities to cope with hunger. The adequacy of the present system for meeting the needs of the hungry and implications for policy are discussed.

The Work Incentive Years In Current Perspective: What Have We Learned? Where Do We Go From Here?, Leonard Goodwin

The Journal of Sociology & Social Welfare

A review of the rationale, results, and research findings from worktraining efforts for welfare recipients is presented. Focus is on the Work Incentive (WIN) Program from its inception in 1968 to its heydays in the 1970s and its decline during the Reagan era. The review provides a basis for examining the recent welfare legislation and recongizing the elements needed for real welfare reform.

Journal Of Sociology & Social Welfare Vol. 16, No. 2 (June 1989)

The Journal of Sociology & Social Welfare

• EDITORIAL - Robert D. Leighninger, Jr.
• BACKGROUND
• WHAT'S RIGHT WITH WELFARE? THE OTHER FACE OF AFDC - Ronald B. Dear
• THE WORK INCENTIVE PROGRAM IN CURRENT PERSPECTIVE: WHAT HAVE WE LEARNED? WHERE DO WE GO FROM HERE? - Leonard Goodwin
• WORK AND WELFARE: HOW INDUSTRIALISTS SHAPED GOVERNMENT SOCIAL SERVICES DURING THE PROGRESSIVE ERA - Cynthia Hamilton
• PERSPECTIVES
• THE POLITICAL ECONOMY OF WELFARE - Nancy E. Rose
• TOWARDS A CONSTRUCT OF EMPLOYMENT FOR SOCIAL WELFARE AND ECONOMIC PRODUCTIVITY - David C. Congdon
• A NEW PARADIGM FOR SOCIAL WELFARE - David Stoesz
• CASE STUDIES
• WELFARE REFORM: ONE STATE'S ALTERNATIVE - Anthony P. …

The Political Economy Of Welfare, Nancy E. Rose

The Journal of Sociology & Social Welfare

Analyses of the U.S. welfare system in the tradition of political economy have tended to focus on the maintenance of a pool of low-wage labor. This paper adds another dimension, as it incorporates government work programs into a theory of the functions and nature of the U.S. welfare system. Three dimensions of the welfare system are posited: (a) maintaining a stigma attached to welfare so that people are encouraged to hold low-wage jobs: (b) maintaining welfare payments at levels that do not interfere with the functioning of labor markets; and (c) basing government work programs on principles that are congruent …