Changes in Family and Sex Roles in Twentieth Century America Part 1. The Family and the Welfare State Part 2. New Definitions of Family and Sex Roles

The Family and the Welfare State

Who takes care of people when they are “dependent” -- that is unable to take care of themselves because of age (children or the elderly), sick, disabled, unable to find work (unemployed)? For most of human history, families were the primary agencies for welfare, supplemented by charity, religious institutions, and the state.

Traditional Concepts of “Relief” Indoor or Outdoor: –Indoor Relief: Institutions, e.g., almshouses, workhouses, hospitals, orphanages –Outdoor Relief: Donations of food, clothing, cash or other resources for people to take ‘home’ Deserving vs. Undeserving Poor –The deserving poor can expect “relief” –The undeserving poor need to be forced back to work

Status and Security In ancient and pre modern societies, one’s guarantee of “security” was defined by social and family status, as lord, free person, slave, serf, etc., or family member. In modern societies based upon individualism and “free enterprise,” the claim for “freedom” and “liberty” also attenuates claims for “security.”

Old and New Types of Crises Old crises: war, famine, disease, natural disasters Industrial Capitalism adds a new type of economic crisis: the panic, stock market crash, recession, depression, when the economy collapses temporarily.

Capitalist Economic Crises Occurred roughly every 20 years, with increasing intensity: –1819 –1837 –1857 – – –1907 –

The Great Depression,

Impact of the Great Depression Quarter of the Labor Force Unemployed by 1933, and remained at 10-15% til % decline in prices and GDP by Housing Market collapsed. Vast Amount of Liquid Wealth Destroyed in Market Crash 1932: Repudiation of the government of Herbert Hoover, and election of Franklin Roosevelt who promised a “New Deal”

Relevance for Family and Sex Roles Recognition that families, local government, and private charity could not provide “welfare” in time of crisis A new “radical” change? The national government took on the responsibility. Or a “conservative” legislative agenda to assure “traditional” economic, family and property relationships. ….Or both….

The Cornerstone of the New System: Social Security Act of 1935 Providing Benefits to the “Deserving:” –BOASI: Bureau of Old Age and Survivors Insurance –Unemployment Insurance –Aid to the Blind, Deaf, and Disabled –Aid to Families of Dependent Children (Mothers’ Pensions)

The Elements of the New System: Social Security Act of 1935 BOASI: Bureau of Old Age and Survivors Insurance –Federally run –Tax on employers and employees to pay for old age pensions –“Survivors,” children and spouses, can draw benefits from worker’s account –No benefits unless one has worked a sufficient number of “quarters –Supplemental Security Income (SSI) for indigent elderly

The Elements of the New System: Social Security Act of 1935 Unemployment Insurance –State administered program with federal support –Tax on employer (and sometimes employees) to support program –Time limited benefit while employee is laid off and/or searching for a new job

The Elements of the New System: Social Security Act of 1935 Aid to the Blind, Deaf, and Disabled –Federally run program to provide benefits to disabled –Uses the BOASI model –A small program

The Elements of the New System: Social Security Act of 1935 Aid to Families of Dependent Children (Mothers’ Pensions) –Locally administered program to provide benefits to women with children but without husbands –Benefits vary greatly by locale and are very small

Additional Provisions of the Welfare State, 1930s and 1940s Work Relief Programs: e.g., Works Progress Administration, Public Works Administration (ended during World War II) Support for Housing Industry, Homeowners and Renters: –Federal Housing Administration and Veterans Administration mortgage guarantees; –Public Housing (begun in 1930s and 1940s) Tax policy: –Withholding extended to wage earning population during World War II –Income tax deductions for dependents –Mortgage interest deductions