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!