This Research-in-Brief is based on selected findings from an Institute for Women’s Policy Research study, Life After Welfare Reform: The Characteristics, Work, and Well Being of Low-Income Single Parent Families, Pre- and Post-PRWORA. The findings in this study underscore the need to make improvements to the welfare system to address gender and racial inequities and focus on poverty reduction.

As of spring 2002, women hold 13 of the 100 seats in the U.S. Senate and 60 of the 435 in the U.S. House.

Presently, the federal welfare law requires that 50 percent of single-parent families and 90 percent of two-parent families receiving Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) be engaged in a work activity.

With the reauthorization of the 1996 welfare reform law approaching in November, public debate turns to the ambiguous links between welfare, poverty and marriage.

Reviews the research literature on the effects of job training and education for parents on children and families.

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The purpose of this paper is to identify some of the key issues and goals that are emerging in TANF reauthorization discussions and to consider what a feminist agenda for TANF reauthorization might look like.

DOWNLOAD REPORT Economic changes in the last decade [...]

Women in the United States have achieved great advances and are seeing important changes in their lives. Their access to political, economic, and social rights has improved greatly over the past 20 years.