SWK5002 Week 7 Discussion: American Social Welfare

American Social Welfare

Order ready-to-submit essays - 100% plagiarism-free guaranteed!

Note: Our papers are 100% human-written. 

The years 1945-1974 are considered one of the most remarkable periods of growth in American social welfare. This period, generally known as the Golden Age of welfare, was symptomatic of changes in international, national, political, economic, and social expectations. The events following World War II meant that the United States had to address issues such as economic reconstruction, inequality, and the consequences of rapid industrialisation and urbanisation. These years transformed the way America viewed social welfare, spurring policies that are still part of the discussion today.

Should America Have Become a Welfare State?

The question of whether America should have become a welfare state is complex. On the one hand, the welfare state is an indicator of a nation’s efforts to protect vulnerable groups and achieve economic stability. Social Security, Medicare, Medicaid, and the expansion of unemployment benefits were programs that signaled a growing sense that the government had an obligation to provide a safety net (Kreuter et al., 2021). Critics, on the other hand, said that such policies brought self-reliance, increased federal authority, and dependency. To complicate the picture further, even the notion of the welfare state was suspect in the Cold War context, as the U.S. adopted a more modest welfare-state stance than European countries. However, the growth of 1945-1974 is proof that America tended toward a welfare state, but in the American way: a balance of individualism and social responsibility.

Institutional Conception of Social Welfare

The institutional conception of social welfare treats it as a regular part of government. Contrary to the residential approach, which views welfare as a short-term supplement for people unable to make it in the market, the institutional perspective sees welfare programs as necessary for every citizen, not just for low-income people (Kunißen, 2022). This conception was popular between 1945 and 1974. Social Security was expanded, and in 1965, Medicare and Medicaid were created, while programs like Head Start sought to expand opportunities for children. Such programmes established the fact that social welfare was not the preserve of the marginalised people, but a right of the citizenry.

Residual View and Its Policy Impact

Despite the increasing number of institutional programs, the residual view was still affecting policy. This view made possible the further stigmatisation of welfare recipients and endorsed welfare programs based on means, such as Aid to Families with Dependent Children (AFDC). Such programs tended to have harsh eligibility requirements and were viewed as charity rather than a right. The struggle between institutional and residual approaches informed the duality of US welfare policy, with one side universalistic and the other conditionalist. This split still lingers in today’s policies, especially in debates over healthcare, housing, and food assistance.

Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Considerations

Between 1945 and 1974, there was evidence of diversity, equity, and inclusion, but it was inconsistently practised. The Civil Rights Movement forced policymakers to address systemic discrimination in housing, education, and employment (Banaji et al., 2021). The War on Poverty, launched by President Lyndon B. Johnson in 1964, included programs to address economic and racial inequality. Measures such as affirmative action and desegregation policies sought to redress historical wrongs. Nevertheless, the special needs of the poor, such as women, indigenous communities, and immigrants, were not addressed in several programmes. As an example, AFDC targeted women of colour disproportionately, and the program was often criticised and politically attacked in such a way as to perpetuate both racial and gender stereotypes.

Impact on Current Social Work Policies and Practices

This time, it still affects current social work. Policies on healthcare access, child welfare, and poverty alleviation all draw their cues from the institutional foundations established from 1945 to 1974. Simultaneously, current trends in equity and inclusion have exposed the shortcomings of past strategies. As an example, Medicare and Medicaid are still the staples of the healthcare system; however, they continue to struggle with the problems of racial health disparities. The trend now is to assist social workers in using a DEI lens in their applied practice so that services are culturally responsive and equitable. The job that 19451974 period systemic racism and gender inequality didn’t get done are center stage in the current reforms.

Conclusion

The growth of the welfare system between 1945 and 1974 was both a contradiction and a source of growth. America adopted parts of the welfare state but did not want to institutionalise welfare as in the European models. The institutional and residual approaches coexisted, creating a puzzling policy environment that continues to influence arguments about entitlement and dependency. More importantly, the period sowed the seeds of modern DEI considerations, even though they did not sprout at the time. For social workers, it is essential to understand this history to address current challenges and develop a vision of equity, inclusivity, and the sustainability of welfare.

Related Sample for this class: SKW5002 Week 1 Discussion