Welfare Reform on the Web (January 2004): Social Security - Overseas

REALITIES OF LIFE BEFORE AND AFTER WELFARE REFORM: PERSPECTIVES OF WOMEN OF COLOR

M M Banerjee

Qualitative Social Work, vol.2, 2003, p.411-433

Article presents a case study of four women of colour in the USA facing the welfare reform of 1996. The women narrate how they grew up and came to be on welfare, their ongoing struggle in and out of welfare, and their current life realities as they cope with welfare reform. Based on the life stories of the four women author argues that the "work first" and time limited eligibility for assistance components of welfare reform are not appropriate for all families.

YOUTH UNEMPLOYMENT AND SOCIAL EXCLUSION IN EUROPE

T. Hammer

Bristol: The Policy Press, 2003

Throughout the European Union rates of unemployment among young people tend to be higher than among the general population and there is a serious risk of marginalisation and exclusion. This book presents the findings of the first comparative study of unemployed youth in Europe using original data. Some of the questions addressed include:

• how do young people cope with unemployment?
• does unemployment lead to social exclusion of young people, implying a withdrawal from society, financial deprivation and social isolation?