Social assistance and the employability of mothers: Two models from cross-national research

Abstract

This paper discusses ideologies of the "employability" of low-income single mothers that are inherent within the social programs of several countries, based on research from a larger cross-national study of policies to reduce family poverty. Although all countries in this study provide social assistance to low-income parents, the eligibility requirements, benefit levels, administration, and basic philosophy behind the programs vary considerably. The main difference in eligibility relates to whether low-income mothers with young children at home are considered to be "employable". Two models of employability for low-income mothers and two variations within each model are examined within this paper. The ideological underpinnings of these models and the implications these policy options have for women are also discussed. I argue that the concept of employability is being used by conservative governments in liberal democracies to divert attention away from structural unemployment and income security. Furthermore, tightening definitions of employability can be particularly detrimental to low-income mothers if statutory protection and child care services are not provided to help them combine raising children and earning a living.