Welfare is a highly politicized topic in the United States. Each election year, voters are inundated with statistics testifying to the inefficiency and waste of welfare spending. These campaigns are often tethered to overt and covert discourses that galvanize opposition to this program. Why Americans Hate Welfare: Race, Media, and the Politics of Antipoverty Policy by Martin Gilens (1999) examines the complex reasons for such strong feelings of antipathy towards welfare. The theoretical interventions of this text highlight the centrality of race and racial attitudes in shaping public opinion.
Welfare VS. The Welfare State
The American welfare state encompasses a litany of programs designed to benefit citizens of all social standing. Education, social insurance, and means-tested programs are all examples of the government’s investment in the welfare state. Since the welfare state is often associated with the poor, one would expect the public to hold these programs in low esteem. Contrary to popular assumption, most Americans view these programs favorably and believe the government should increase funding therein. However, an eerie fact is that public support wanes when asked their opinions about the means-tested food stamps program. A helpful analytic here is Gilens’ differentiation between welfare and the welfare state. Welfare refers to “means-tested cash benefit programs [food stamps] available to able-bodied, working age adults” (p. 13), as opposed to the welfare state which can assist all citizens. A paradox thus arises: Americans believe the government has a responsibility to provide social benefits, but feel that welfare is an exception. The disjunction between welfare and other social programs of the welfare state is the point of departure for Gilens.
A Word on Method
Why Americans Hate Welfare relies on different methods to make its arguments about opposition to welfare. The first method used was survey data. Survey data was extrapolated from the 1991 National Race and Politics Study. This randomized digit-dialing survey was completed on a large scale (N=996). Gilens measured for the six following demographic indicators: age, sex, region, education, marital status, and family income. Liberal/conservative ideology, perception of blacks as lazy, and perception of welfare recipients as undeserving were also measured as predictors. Gilens amends this survey with the 1986 General Social Survey to understand the finer variations between demographic categories. The National Election Study (NES) survey was also utilized by Gilens to assess the impact of racial attitudes on welfare views in America. This survey included 10 questions, and was completed only be whites (total amount = 357). While the exclusion of blacks is logical considering the scope of Gilens’ project, it is still a limitation insofar as it reduces race relations to a myopic black/white binary.
Four Possible Explanations for Welfare Opposition
One of the strengths and contributions of the text is the review of four possible explanations to welfare opposition. According to Gilens, the following beliefs potentially account for the rejection of welfare: individualism, economic self-interest, racial attitudes, and the belief that welfare recipients are undeserving. Throughout the text, each of these arguments are examined to test if they withstand the strictures of scrutiny.
Although the political, economic, and social apparatus of America is entrenched in the logic of individualism, Gilens concludes that this ideology is not strong enough to account for opposition to welfare. Evidence for this claim resides in the fact that Americans strongly favor the social programs of the welfare state.
The economic self-interest thesis is based on the idea that middle-class taxpayers will oppose means-tested programs that benefit only the poor. Gilens rejects this idea considering survey data which shows that when Americans are given a choice between aiding the middle-class and the poor, they opt for the latter. Thus, economic self-interest is incapable of explaining opposition to welfare.
Using data from national surveys, Gilens shows that the two factors influencing opposition to welfare are racial attitudes and the belief that welfare recipients are undeserving. Whites who believe that blacks are lazy are more likely to believe that welfare recipients are undeserving. Thus, there was a generalized belief that blacks lacked a strong work ethic and did not demonstrate a genuine need. America’s hatred of welfare is driven by racial attitudes and ideas about the undeserving poor. For Gilens, Americans do not oppose welfare, they oppose the people they think are receiving benefits.
Negative Depictions of Blacks in the Media
Gilens also analyzed the coverage of welfare-related topics in sources such as Newsweek, U.S. News, and World Report. The period that Gilens reviewed was between 1950 and 1990. Gilens also scrutinized television broadcasts from three networks.Through content analysis, Gilens explores the ways recipients of welfare were portrayed at certain epochs in American history. Between 1950 and 1964, whites were the main population depicted as impoverished in the media. However, against the backdrop of increased migration from the South, higher rates of welfare enrollment, and the fight for civil rights, blacks became the new ‘face’ of poverty. Blacks were over-represented in media depictions of poverty between 1967 and 1992 at a rate twice the group’s national proportion. Moreover, blacks were portrayed in 70% of stories discussing poverty and 75% of those addressing welfare between 1972-73. Perhaps more important is the tenor of these representations. The general tendency was to frame whites as the ‘deserving poor’ while blacks were depicted as the ‘undeserving poor.’ The implication here is that the media strongly influences public opinion with regards to welfare, which ultimately impacts policy.
October 31, 2016 at 12:11 pm
In my world, they hate the stigma that comes with it – not the program itself.
Good read – thanks.
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October 31, 2016 at 12:15 pm
Absolutely. I think the hatred of that stigma is projected onto blacks and the undeserving poor as a reason to cut it – as welfare was favored until blacks started receiving it.
Thanks for reading!
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October 31, 2016 at 12:24 pm
I don’t hate the welfare aka food stamps. I just think they need to put stricter rulers on those using them inappropriately. Not all, but some are abusing the privileges of what the state is giving people.It’s not all blacks it’s also the whites.
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October 31, 2016 at 12:30 pm
What is the prevalence of welfare fraud, though? Ronald Reagan lied about the “welfare queen” who had 20 names and 40 social security numbers to make people suspicious of welfare.
How can welfare be anymore strict than it already is?
And of course, but the text is not speaking about you as a person. It is talking about Americans. Sociology texts are interested in patterns, not individual people. There will always be exceptions.
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October 31, 2016 at 12:45 pm
I agree. Something has to change. I’ve a family member on it but I believe she doesn’t need it. IMO!
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October 31, 2016 at 12:55 pm
I respect your perception and experience.
I agree with you that something has to change … in the other direction. I think people need more help than anything. The “poverty line” that the welfare office uses to determine eligibility is far too low. They honestly believe that a married couple with two children and an annual income of $27,000 is making enough money – and does not need welfare. That is ridiculous. To afford an apartment with two bedrooms in my state, a family would have to be raking in around $40,000/year.
But instead of giving out more benefits, the government brainwashes all of us to believe we don’t need it and that it should be cut.
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October 31, 2016 at 12:46 pm
There’s lots of liars in the Government and we just need Honest Abe back again!
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October 31, 2016 at 12:58 pm
I wish I could say Abe was honest but … I’ll say that one for a future post =)
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October 31, 2016 at 2:54 pm
Well I think I can speak on this one and then some. I wouldn’t be here for welfare. I used to hate using food stamps. Especially in the 80s when Reaganomics was big and the crack epidemic consumed all black neighborhoods. I have no problem with people abusing the system. Welfare is a scapegoat used to Instill hatred towards black people using welfare. What do you expect a nationality to do to survive when they have been the guinea pigs to everything wrong about this country? And what’s so different then the secretary of defense saying they need X amount of billions for Young amount of problems when the problems they are referring to were self created in the first place. Are there not more white americans on welfare than blacks? Fraud comes in every color and creed but yet welfare is synonymous with only Black America. It’s a scapegoat even if they say it’s a drain on our resources that money would not go to what the media wants it to go to. Education? Ha yea right. Jobs? Ha again.
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October 31, 2016 at 3:02 pm
👏👏👏 spot on my man! You shot straight through the BS! There are more whites on welfare, and no one cared about welfare until blacks got on it in the 1960s (the New Deal banned “agricultural workers” which was code language for black folks in the South) – and that is when they started locking black folks up.
Welfare fraud is a minor issue, especially in comparison to corporate welfare (we bailed out the auto industry and the banks and such for hundreds of billions of dollars, but we’re mad because Tyrone is selling his food stamps so he can buy weed?! Get real)
If there was enough education and jobs, we wouldn’t need welfare. Everyone is beefing over crumbs when we shouldn’t even have to do that. Good point man
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October 31, 2016 at 3:04 pm
Great example, wasn’t Eminem on welfare for most of his youth? No one ever mentions that outside the black community.
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October 31, 2016 at 3:08 pm
Yes – but white people being on welfare is seen as an exception to the rule. Black people being on welfare is seen as the rule in and of itself.
Its crazy the way welfare is criminalized in different ways. I did an internship at the welfare office a few years ago. It was in a white city. There was an unarmed security guard and no metal detectors.
When I became a case manager and went to the welfare office in a black city a few miles away, the office had an armed security officer at the door, and a metal detector. In other words: people think white poverty is different (less dangerous) than black poverty.
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October 31, 2016 at 3:14 pm
Exactly my brotha.
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November 7, 2016 at 12:51 pm
Now this is what I’m talking about. An accurate analysis of what’s really going on. Both you and Tareau hit on some glaring issues that most people either don’t know or opt to ignore.
(Tareau’s point about the exorbitant amount of money spent on military defense and your point about ‘welfare’ not being a problem until black folks started receiving it.)
Every now and then I toy with the idea of posting an infographic of the Budget of the United States of America so that people can see just how little is spent on Welfare/Medicaid in comparison to Miliary spending, Medicare, and Social Security.
Here’s something funny that I ranted about on another blog. Do you guys remember the whole sequestration issue back in 2013 when those crazy-ass Tea partiers hijacked the budget? Yeah, well I remember some folks saying..”Good. let’s stick it to ’em!” Baby, they were all gung-ho until they realized that they weren’t going to get their social security checks! HA!
Once they figured that out, they changed their minds! They wanted something to be done! Can you say “Big Dummies?” LOL!
Similarly, it’s so sad to see how the rich have convinced the working class to be more concerned about “balanced budget” or “deficit spending” than they are about programs that provide assistance to folks.
Let me tell you, I am a mother and if I had to choose between a freaking balanced budget and feeding my babies you better know I’m gonna feed my babies! That’s real talk!
Guys, I really enjoyed this conversation. Thank you Bro Darryl for initiating it!
Can’t wait to read more.
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November 1, 2016 at 12:36 am
My opinion — if the government were not spending a bazillion-gazillion dollars on WAR (and other foolish things) there would be no question nor problem with money set aside to help the needy!! When they want money for WAR it somehow magically appears, yet when it is needed for food, shelter, education, health care etc. — it suddenly becomes a problem.
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November 1, 2016 at 8:35 am
You’re making wayyy too much sense, Christine. Such thinking would require a complete rethinking and reorganization of the system as it is presently constituted! How dare you?
America just cut a check for $38 billion and gave it to Israel so they can continue their colonization of Palestinians for 10 years – meanwhile folks here in America still do not have running water.
Jill Stein is the only presidential candidate speaking in this tenor: we really need to cut our military spending and invest in our social safety nets. Great point.
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November 1, 2016 at 5:00 pm
Yes! Yes, yes. I am unwavering in my support of Jill. (Gotta start believing somewhere and have faith in something. ) The Welfare system is for the well fare. So people can fare well in hard times. If we were not sending obscene amounts to Israel and other places, we would not have these struggles at home. There is actually no lack of resources — just lack of priorities.
I think people are starting to wake up…
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November 1, 2016 at 5:22 pm
Great points! I liked your views on this so much I wrote another piece and gave you a shoutout in it. We have very similar views. I only know a handful of Stein supporters, unfortunately … other than my socialist buddies.
I think people certainly are waking up.
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November 1, 2016 at 5:28 pm
Thanks Darryl 🙂
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November 2, 2016 at 1:03 pm
You have a great site I’ve been reading and learning so much. Keep it up man talking about these topics can help educate a lot of people.
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November 2, 2016 at 1:07 pm
The engagement means everything to me. I’ll stay on top of it. Thanks my dude!
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November 4, 2016 at 7:29 am
Forgive me for not reading the other comments, but as soon as I read the title, I thought, “Americans hate welfare because Americans HATE black people.” Thanks for confirming my suspicions. It bothers me that we can be duped by media portrayals of everyone. It’s a well-known fact (in some circles) that white Americans receive welfare at higher rates than blacks, but it doesn’t matter if media show something totally different. Let me stop here. I can feel myself getting mad lol
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November 4, 2016 at 7:40 am
Lol, I completely understand! That was a very frustrating book. Black folks are always depicted as boogey-monsters. Thanks as always for engaging. Have a good day =D
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November 4, 2016 at 7:44 am
Smh you too
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