"It's refuted a lot of gender stereotypes..."

angelica wrote:

Okay...I didn't read back far enough. And maybe still have not....

If he's saying they don't work, and are receiving nearly 3000 per month in child support and or alimony, I find that very questionable. I don't know one case where someone receives that type of money.

The subsidized housing thing stands. It's literally impossible that they legitimately have nearly 3,000 dollars per month in income and pay $180 rent. In subsidized housing I paid more than that making 1/3 less than that. Literally.

If you've got preconceived notions about "welfare" moms, considering you admittedly don't know any, as opposed to "legitimate" single moms, point noted. It's my mistake if I spoke not knowing the subject matter, but I thought since he said they didn't work that he referred to mothers on social assistance and therefore I was not at all attempting to paint any mother in a bad light, but rather I am not comfortable with the myths re: the easy street mothers of all kinds, who "do not work", are on.

I wouldn't say they are all 'myths" when you have single mothers in a distinct cultural bracket who have multiple children with multiple fathers and don't work but collect welfare and every other assistance they can get their hands on and sneak around the system in order to dress their children in name brand, highly expensive garb and jewelry with all the latest gadgets in their subsidised homes. While living in section 8 housing "easy street", many on these programs abuse the "support" they get from "the man". All the while, the various "baby daddies" are not paying a dime to support the children they helped to bring into the world. Instead the responsibility is falling on the backs of actual hard working people who are forced to pay taxes for their benefit. And then the sincerely desperate woman who finds herself suddenly in need of government help has a difficult time getting it because she isn't "street wise" and doesn't fit the demographic.

But, this is a topic for another forum I suppose.

angelica wrote:

Partaking of criminal behaviour--aka "sneaking around the system in order to dress their children in name brand, highly expensive garb and jewelry with all the latest gadgets"-- is different from whether someone works or not. The criminal element is a sliver of the reality. If one has 5 children, irrespective of whether they are from 5 different "daddies" or not, they work very, very hard, dysfunctional or not. And whether this fact is glossed over or not.

Maybe this is a "sliver of the reality" where you live, but here...it's the norm.

angelica wrote:

If you want to believe and perpetuate stereotypes, yes.

No. I live here. You don't. Therefore you don't live amongst it or see it. It isn't stereotype when it is reality.

A lot of people take advantage of the system. I think it's pretty unfair to refer to some moms as welfare mothers or pick on them or refer to fathers as deadbeat dads.

angelica wrote:

I like to call my awareness "education and understanding".

When your specific "demographic" has moved from a demographic to being "normal" in your mind as the debate progresses, it raises my distortion detector. Demographics, by the way, are wonderful tools to aid in helping us understand and further the purposes of humanity. On the other hand, when so-called "demographics" are used to dehumanize human beings, rather than understand them, that's the actual definition of stereotyping. Not to mention when you relate this supposed "demographic" in with a "distinct cultural bracket"....well, it's a generalization and a stereotype and is flagrantly lacking in discernment of information and understanding.


stereotype: (American Heritage Dictionary) ster·e·o·type (stěr'ē-ə-tīp', stîr'-) Pronunciation Key
n.

1. A conventional, formulaic, and oversimplified conception, opinion, or image.

You are not making any valid point. Certain demographics living a distinct culture abusing the system is a fact. You can choose to excuse it or you can choose to erraticate it.

I prefer the notion that these people be made to uphold the responsibilities in life that the rest of us do. I prefer that they learn job skills so they don't have to rely on others to support them. I prefer that they be taught proper sex education and contriception so as not to continue bearing children they cannot afford or care for properly. I prefer that their children are made to get an education so that they can stop the cycle. I prefer that they and their children be punished for any crimes committed so that they learn rules of society. I prefer that the streets and communities stop crying racism every time it's people are called upon their actions.

I do not sit back and take the negative accusations flung by the NAACP or so called community leaders in an idle fashion. You see I work with these people day in and day out. I put my money and time where my mouth is. I don't just sit around claiming to know something about an issue that I have never once set foot inside of.

Maybe if you tried stepping away from the computer and stopped googling for your information and actually worked in a homeless shelter, a food kitchen, a welfare office or community clinic....you would get to know the facts first hand. There are many people who need valid assistance due to circumstances be it health or otherwise. But there are just as many people who do not need assistance but take it because of a sense of entitlement and laziness. Until you get in the thick of it, don't sit there and cry racism, stereotype or stigma. It doesn't help these people or their unfortunate children one bit.