Under Attack, Fighting Back: Women and Welfare in the United States

By Mimi Abramovitz

Book Overview

Named an "Outstanding Book" by the Gustavus Myers Center for the Study of Human Rights in North America
"Abramovitz introduces the reader to cutting edge socioeconomic analysis. . . . It is not possible to come away from Under Attack, Fighting Back with a sense that welfare is a simplistic topic or that the human consequences of adjustments in the existing system are inconsequential."
--Labor History
"This lively and informative book deserves to be widely read. It provides an excellent history of AFDC and the activities of various women's groups who have campaigned hard over the years for improvements in services to the poor."
--Journal of Sociology and Social Welfare
"Extraordinarily lucid and useful . . . "
--In These Times
In this short, eye-opening book, Mimi Abramovitz describes the heartless assault on impoverished single mothers in the name of "ending welfare dependency." Outlining the history of Aid to Families with Dependent Children, Abramovitz shows how the manipulation of gender, race, and class have made welfare vulnerable to attack. This new edition brings a well-received work completely up to date with analysis of recent developments in welfare "reform" and activism.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1583670084
• ISBN13: 9781583670088
• Release Date: March 2000
• Publisher: Monthly Review Press
• Length: 160 Pages
• Weight: 0.55 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.4" x 5.5" x 8.5"

Customer Reviews

Continues to offer insight and information

Now in a newly updated edition, Mimi Abramovitz's Under Attack, Fighting Back: Women And Welfare In The United States continues to offer insight and information on recent developments in welfare "reform" and welfare rights activism. Abramovitz documents the impact of that recent historic changes in welfare policies have had on the lives of impoverish single mothers and their children. Contrary to popular wisdom, governmental hype, and media reports, poor women have always had the courage and ability to fight injustice in behalf of themselves and their children. That struggle continues today as political activists continue to strive to humanize and truly reform current welfare policies. Under Attack, Fighting Back is "must" reading for women's rights advocates, political activists, social reformers, welfare policy makers, and welfare program administrators.