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When Work Disappears. The World of the New Urban Poor. By William Julius Wilson Presented by: Tony, Jose, Monica, Naomi. Three Main Areas of Focus. ECONOMIC (economic restructuring, suburbanization of jobs) - PowerPoint PPT Presentation
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When Work When Work DisappearsDisappears
By William Julius Wilson
Presented by: Tony, Jose, Monica, Naomi
Three Main Areas of Focus
• ECONOMIC (economic restructuring, suburbanization of jobs)
• POLITICAL (policies that have reinforced racial tensions and
increased both separation and inequality among
various groups and races)• SOCIAL (problems resulting from long-
term deterioration of inner city quality of life)
“I argue that the disappearance of work
and the consequences of that disappearance for both social and cultural
life are the central problems in the inner-city
ghetto.” (xix, Wilson)
Three Main Areas of Focus
• ECONOMIC (economic restructuring, suburbanization of jobs)
• POLITICAL (policies that have reinforced racial tensions and
increased both separation and inequality among
various groups and races)• SOCIAL (problems resulting from long-
term deterioration of inner city quality of life)
“… the problems of economic and social
marginality spring from the inequities of society at
large … not from group deficiencies.”
(xxii, Wilson)
Some important definitions …
• New Urban Poverty – Poor segregated neighborhoods in which a substantial majority of individual adults are either unemployed or have dropped out of the labor force altogether.
(19, Wilson)
Some important definitions …
• Institutional Ghetto – A segregated ghetto area whose structure and activities parallel those of the larger, mainstream society.
(23, Wilson)
Some important definitions …
• Jobless Ghetto – The new ghetto and the home of the new urban poor. Features a lack of basic opportunities and resources, as well as an inadequate system of social controls.
(19, Wilson)
Important Contributing Factors
• Loss of low skilled work (DeIndustrialization)
• Increased suburbanization
• Influx of poor immigrants
• Increase in jobs requiring college degrees or training
Important Contributing Factors
• Loss of low skilled work (De-industrialization)
• Increased suburbanization
• Influx of poor immigrants
• Increase in jobs requiring college degrees or training
Social Organization
• Social organization is the extent to which the residents of a neighborhood are able to maintain effective social control and realize their common goals.
Dimensions of neighborhood social organization
1. The prevalence, strength, and interdependence of social networks;
2. The extent of collective supervision that the residents exercise and the degree of personal responsibility they assume in addressing neighborhood problems;
3. The rate of resident participation in voluntary and formal organizations.
Media Perceptions of the “underclass” are often
inconsistent with the actual views expressed by inner city residents
Americans strongly believe in the idea that individuals are largely responsible for their economic
situations. Americans concentrate on work motivation of the poor
rather than on the cyclical nature of employment in the U.S.
The belief in individual responsibility for economic status is evident in that the basic belief system concerning the nature of
poverty and welfare frames economic and social outcomes and
conditions in individual terms.
The Decline of AFDC and
Welfare Reform
The collapse of support for AFDC recipients is related to fundamental
assumptions about the nature of welfare and welfare families
including the stereotypical view that most families on welfare are black
women with several children.
In 1995, AFDC recipients who were African-American
made up about 39.2%.Non-Hispanic whites made
up about 39.9%!
The best way to stop stereotypes about welfare is to emphasize the
hard realities of the inner city ghetto and the larger society that
give rise to welfare receipt.
2 Approaches toWelfare Reform
• One recognizes that although welfare is not the major cause of urban social dislocation, efforts should be made to facilitate the transition from welfare to work (168, Wilson)
• The second is consistent with the view expressed in the Personal Responsibility Act (PEA) passed with the Republican “Contract with America”
Assault on welfare mothers is part of the larger reaction to the
problems of the inner city.
Comparisons between the U.S. and Europe reinforce the
effects of Americans’ beliefin individuality vs. social
structures and cyclical patterns.
Differences between United States and Europe
• U.S. has not created a comprehensive program to promote social rights (anti-poverty campaigns have been narrowly targeted and fragmented)
• U.S. recognizes no link between social rights and civil rights
• Housing available for poor in the U.S. limits the work opportunities of residents
Differences between United States and Europe
• In Europe, medical care is considered a basic collective good, whereas in the U.S., it every man for himself
• Europe seeks consensus strategies to combat a declining economy
• Europeans focus on changes and inequities in the broader society rather than on individual behaviors and deficiencies, as in the U.S.
Signs of TroubleEurope has had increasing economic and social
changes that have caused the beginnings of urban social dislocation. The latest changes in urban Europe have created situations ripe for demagogic mobilization of racism and anti-
immigrant feelings. As the economy is suffering, the majority of the white population in
Europe is beginning to view the growth of minorities as part of the problem.
Although Europe is experiencing an increase in tensions between Caucasians and other ethnic and racial groups, in the U.S., there has been
an increase in inter-racial conflicts, particularly between Black Americans and Latino Americans, Korean Americans, and
low-income White Americans.
The interaction between political policies and economic and social processes directly and indirectly affect the racial antagonisms in
urban America.
Affirmative Action
The NEW Affirmative
Action
Proposal for New Affirmative
Action Program
“Are we condemned to choose between more jobs but greater inequality and insecurity, as
we have in this country, or better jobs but higher unemployment and a thicker social
safety net, as in Europe?”-- Robert Reich
Wilson’s Proposed Solutions
LONG-TERM
Equal and improved public education
Family support policies that reinforce learning
City-suburb cooperation and integration
SHORT-TERM
Job information and placement centers
Subsidized car pools in the ghetto
WPA-style public works programs
“We must break the cycle of joblessness and improve the youngsters’ preparation for the new labor market in the
global economy.”(238, Wilson)
Thank you all for your time!