Devaluing Mothering at Home: Welfare Restructuring and "Motherwork"

Authors

  • Maureen Baker University of Auckland

Keywords:

Welfare policies, Health problems - Mothers

Abstract

This paper discusses the challenges lone mothers face when attempting to exit from "welfare." Public discourse claims that children "need their moms" but welfare policies often devalue mothering at home by focusing on paid employment. Interviews from New Zealand suggest that these policies can raise stress levels and contribute to existing health problems.

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Author Biography

Maureen Baker, University of Auckland

Maureen Baker is a Canadian who works at the University of Auckland in New Zealand as Head of the Sociology Department. She has written numerous books and articles on families and comparative social policy.

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Published

2004-04-01

Issue

Vol. 28 No. 2 (2004): Special Issue: Never Done: The Challenge of Unpaid Work

Section

Original Research

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