Robin is a 30 year old white woman who grew up in a small town in a middle income family. She was enguaged to be married until her fiance passed away unexpectedly. She was forced to move back home with her parents and get a minimum wage job working at the local grocery store. Her mother was ill and passed away just 3 months after Robin lost her fiancé. Without her mother’s income, her father and Robin bean to struggle financially and were forced to leave their house. They were living out of their car. Robin, who was 20 at the time, met a man at her work. He had money and a few months later they moved in together. He took care of her and Robin was able to send help her father move into an apartment. Robin’s father was on disability because of an accident when he was working. Together with Robin’s extra income and his disability checks, he was able to afford very basic essentials.
Unfortunately, the good times did not last long. Robin was raped by her new boyfriend and became pregnant. She had her child at the age of 21. She left her boyfriend after he abused her and she moved into the one bedroom apartment with her father. Robin applied for welfare and for a while Robin and her father were able to stay in the apartment. In order to make some extra income, her father was able to get a job at a used bookstore working minimum wage. Was working as a manager at the grocery store at this point and was making a decent amount of money. Unfortunately with her new baby, Sydney, balancing work and being a mom became a challenge. Robin quit her job in order to spend time with Sydney. She applied for unemployment and was forced to remain on government assistance.
Robins story is similar to thousands of other women in the United States. In “Flat Broke with Children”, Sharon Hays, explains the Domino Effect. Many women are force into poverty as a result of a series of miss fortunes in their life. Their lives spiral down to the point where they can’t come back and are forced to apply for government help. It is important to understand that the majority of women are forced into poverty and that the stereotypes associated with women on welfare are demeaning and unjust.
Unfortunately, the good times did not last long. Robin was raped by her new boyfriend and became pregnant. She had her child at the age of 21. She left her boyfriend after he abused her and she moved into the one bedroom apartment with her father. Robin applied for welfare and for a while Robin and her father were able to stay in the apartment. In order to make some extra income, her father was able to get a job at a used bookstore working minimum wage. Was working as a manager at the grocery store at this point and was making a decent amount of money. Unfortunately with her new baby, Sydney, balancing work and being a mom became a challenge. Robin quit her job in order to spend time with Sydney. She applied for unemployment and was forced to remain on government assistance.
Robins story is similar to thousands of other women in the United States. In “Flat Broke with Children”, Sharon Hays, explains the Domino Effect. Many women are force into poverty as a result of a series of miss fortunes in their life. Their lives spiral down to the point where they can’t come back and are forced to apply for government help. It is important to understand that the majority of women are forced into poverty and that the stereotypes associated with women on welfare are demeaning and unjust.