| The purpose of this study was to assess the characteristics and perceptions of single African-American welfare recipient mothers who are forced to work as a result of the 1996 Welfare Reform Act. Since the new welfare legislation mandates all welfare recipients to work within a two-year period or risk losing benefits, this study focuses on one aspect of the new legislation---the increased emphasis on work.;The study documented the characteristics of single African-American welfare recipient mothers and their perceptions of their preparedness for work, mandated work, implications of work, wage-earning capabilities and social stigmatization.;The research was conducted within the qualitative paradigm, using focus group sessions as the research methodology. Sampling for the study was purposive and criterion-based: all 20 participants were single African-American welfare recipients who were mandated to both training and work. Focus groups were audio taped, transcribed verbatim and coded. Over 10 themes emerged, they highlighted the acceptance of welfare reform, the unfairness of welfare reform, time limitations, forced work and learning, marginalization, stigmatization, poverty, transportation and childcare. The focus group sessions yield rich results that first and foremost suggest that welfare reform was anticipated and is welcomed by welfare recipients. Secondly, welfare recipient mothers want and know the importance of work and they want to become stable wage earners and providers for their families.;However, single African-American welfare recipient mothers recognize that they are skill and education deficient and that their job choices and opportunities are or may be limited, even after training. Lastly, this study revealed that single African-American welfare recipient mothers recognize that they are unduly stigmatized and marginalized, largely, because of their socioeconomic status. These realities, for these women, accentuate the inequalities, the discrimination and the inadequacies within our society.;This study suggests the need for additional research on single African-American welfare recipient mothers and their children so that their voices, views, ideas, expectations and perceptions can be included in the welfare discourse. |
