The Return of the Welfare Queen
By 1996, revival of the “welfare queen” myth by both media and political leaders — led in Congress by Speaker of the House Newt Gingrich — succeeded in urging President Clinton to sign into law the Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act, commonly known as welfare reform. This legislation included block grants to states that set their own eligibility standards, time limits, and work requirements for social safety net programs. Racist and sexist portrayals of welfare recipients by the media and policymakers painted these “reforms” as necessary to prevent willful idleness and criminal behavior among struggling Americans, though little evidence of widespread fraud existed.
Where is it located in the Museum?
Museum Map
LOBBY
THE
WISHING
TREE
WISHING
TREE
THE SNAP CAFÉ
AUDITORIUM
TERRACE RESTAURANT
The Hunger Museum
We Can Solve Hunger —
The Proof is in Our History
The Proof is in Our History
- 1.Welcome
- 2.Museum Lobby
- 3.The Age of Mass Migration - Landing
- 4.The Age of Mass Migration - Main
- 5.Immigration from Europe
- 6.On the Breadline
- 7.Beginnings
- 8.An Unequal Recovery
- 9.How did the Food Stamp Program work?
- 10.Hunger, Justice, and Civil Rights - Landing
- 11.Hunger, Justice, and Civil Rights - Main
- 12.Walk for Decent Welfare (Columbus, OH)
- 13.Televising the War on Hunger - Landing
- 14.Televising the War on Hunger - Main
- 15.CBS’s “Hunger in America”
- 16.President Lyndon B. Johnson
- 17.Senator George McGovern and Senator Robert Dole
- 18.Dr. Jean Mayer and the White House Conference
- 19.1975-1996: The Unmaking of the Great Society
- 20.Government Cheese
- 21.The Welfare Queen
- 22.Food Stamp “Fraud”
- 23.The Return of the Welfare Queen
- 24.Crises of New Proportions - Landing
- 25.Crises of New Proportions - Main
- 26.COVID-19
- 27.Welcome to the SNAP Café
- 28.SNAP Cafe – Create a meal
- 29.Wishing Tree
MAZON: A Jewish Response to Hunger