The Intersection of Social Welfare and Single Motherhood in the United States Over the Past 100 Years: Historical-Political-Cultural Perspectives

The dynamic interaction between political ideologies, social attitudes, and social welfare policies greatly influences the health and social outcomes of low-income single mother families. To develop social and economic systems that better serve and honor these families we studied the historical, political, and cultural contexts that shaped mothers’ roles and the struggles they encounter as they work to balance childcare duties with financial survival. We explore how the ideological shifts between humanistic and moralistic social welfare approaches affect perceptions of welfare and single motherhood. We analyze narratives surrounding single mothers using historical data and contemporary literary works to illustrate the ongoing struggles and systemic failures. The long history of shifting between humanistic and moralistic welfare policies has undeniably contributed to both improvements and setbacks in conditions faced by single mothers. Our analyses reveal an urgent need to reevaluate social policies to better support low-income single mothers and address the root causes of their hardships, advocating for more humane and equitable approaches to social welfare. As the numbers of these families are growing, it is crucial to develop and implement new frameworks that support single mothers, and end gender disparities that contribute to the generational cycle of poverty.