| Widows and Orphans First: The Family Economy and Social Welfare Policy, 1880-1939 Contributor(s): Kleinberg, S. J. (Author) |
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ISBN: 0252030206 ISBN-13: 9780252030208 Publisher: University of Illinois Press OUR PRICE: $56.43 Product Type: Hardcover - Other Formats Published: November 2005 |
| Additional Information |
| BISAC Categories: - History | United States - 19th Century - Political Science | Public Policy - Social Policy - Social Science | Women's Studies |
| Dewey: 362.820 |
| LCCN: 2005009425 |
| Series: Women in American History |
| Physical Information: 0.85" H x 6.44" W x 9.3" (1.15 lbs) 248 pages |
| Themes: - Chronological Period - 1900-1949 - Chronological Period - 1851-1899 - Sex & Gender - Feminine |
| Descriptions, Reviews, Etc. |
| Publisher Description: The experiences of widows and their children during the Progressive Era and the New Deal depended on differences in local economies and values. How did these widely varied experiences impact the origins of the welfare state? S. J. Kleinberg delves into the question by comparing widows' lives in three industrial cities with differing economic, ethnic, and racial bases. Government in Fall River, Massachusetts, saw employment as a solution to widows' poverty and as a result drastically limited public charity. In Pittsburgh, widows received sympathetic treatment. Few jobs existed for them or their children; indeed, the jobs for men were concentrated in "widowmaking" industries like steel and railroading. With a large African American population and a diverse economy that relied on inexpensive child and female labor, Baltimore limited funds for public services. African Americans adapted by establishing their own charitable institutions. A fascinating comparative study, Widows and Orphans First offers a one-of-a-kind look at social welfare policy for widows and the role of children in society during a pivotal time in American history. |