June Axinn

Welfare and the “Reform” of Women

Low-income women and the welfare system are under attack by liberals and conservatives, academicians and politicians. “Welfare reform” proposals include cutting benefits unless women pay rent, bear no children while receiving benefits, and ensure that their children attend school and receive vaccinations. Although these reforms are couched in the language of fiscal responsibility and control, the authors argue that the underlying purpose behind such policies is reform of women, not reform of welfare.

Book Reviews : Florence Kelley and the Nation's Work: The Rise of Women's Political Culture, 1830-1900. By Kathryn Kish Sklar. New Haven, CT: Yale University Press, 1995, 426 pp.,

relationships with the state. Several authors (including Staggenborg and Strobel) present powerful arguments for the transformative power of the women’s movement, including lessons learned from dealing with organizational tensions and conflict. There are some gaps in content, notably the discussion of social organizations from the perspective of white middle-class women and inadequate representation of the experience of women from different racial and class backgrounds. In addition, a variety of women’s organizations, including fund-raising groups and foundations, are barely mentioned. Overall, this is an optimistic book. In the end, most readers are

35 (hardbound

Also, it is apparent from the 81 pages of notes that Faludi’s research for this book was extensive. Her use of individual examples is impressive but should be taken as illustrative of the problems, not necessarily representative of them. As she cautions about the use of statistics by the media, we should attend to her use of them with the same eye. After all, she is a journalist! The lessons of consciousness-raising groups and feminist coalitions ring true again. This book is not about individual women and

Book Reviews : Between Feminism and Labor: The Significance of the Comparable Worth Movement. By Linda M. Blum. Berkeley: University of California Press, 1991, 248 pp.,

the background of scientific thinking pertinent to this endeavor. Major contributions of this volume are the evidence that social casework has a theoretical basis that can be explicated; that there are areas of substantial agreement (with some difference in emphases) between the functional, problemsolving, and psychosocial approaches; and that systematic thinking has been, and is being, formulated, tested in various ways, and revised. The necessary brevity of the papers precluded detailed descriptions of research or of treatment principles or techniques. Two broad approaches or schools of thought appear to emerge, based upon different sources from social and behavioral science. One, which includes the problemsolving, psychosocial, and functional approaches as pointed out by Bernece Simon, draws from a broad range of theory in the social, behavioral, and natural sciences, related to a dynamic psychology with a theory of personality development. The other approach-behavioral modification-specifically relates to one behavioral science theory that does not include a theory of personality development. The question of the interrelationship, or lack of it, between these two broad approaches is left open. In the final chapter, Bernece Simon presents a general framework for evaluating the consistency and coherence of casework theory and a more specific framework for examination of the social and behavioral science base-possible next steps in theory building. To consistency and coherence she adds the criterion of usability in practice, thus clearly maintaining the goal of enhal?ced practice. Important and stimulating qU~StlO~S f?r research are raised explicitly and ?y l~plIcatlOn by each of the authors. The imaglll.atIVe and comparatively objective analysis stimulates the reader to look at the researchability of broad issues for which new methods of study may have to be developed. This is a book to be read by students, practitioners, and others for its well-organized comparative description; much of this material is not new to those familiar with the field but it is still useful. The books significance, however, lies in the initiation of broadly conceived, systematic, nondefensive examination of social work practice theory and its bases. Every chapter in the book raises questions that make one think. Along with the recognition of the necessity for rigorous thinking and study, this volume conveys a sense of accomplishment, evidence of communication, beginning work on Bookreviews

30 (hardbound),

need for space, equipment, and time to provide more adequate and varied stimulation. On the basis of this reviewers experience, there is soundness to the presentations and the suggestions for better care for children. The major deficiency of the book is a lack of specific details about kinds of stimulation and ways of handling children that constitute better stimulation. There is also an absence of fully detailed consideration of the differentiated needs of individual children, including vulnerable children, whose needs are recognized but not discussed in detail. This book is eminently readable and should be very useful for basic courses in several departments of schools-psychology, education, social sciences, home economics-and wherever understanding of the relationship between deprivation and the mental and emotional development of a child is being conveyed. The book will be most useful when it is used as a foundation on which to build further analysis of the specific experiences and detailed processes that contribute to optimal development. LOIS B. MURPHY, PH.D. The Menninger Foundation Topeka, Kansas