Rediscovering the Other America (PDF)

Learn why it is imperative to bring a progressive focus back to social welfare policy!

This vital book explores recent research on poverty and inequality, identifies strategies for ensuring adequate services, and challenges many of the inaccurate beliefs that were used to justify welfare reform legislation in 1996. You'll find up-to-date information on various marginalized groups and their social problems, including lack of health coverage for women with mental health, substance abuse, and domestic violence problems. In addition, you'll find data on the health coverage situation for the poor, for Appalachians, and for women in general. Finally, Rediscovering the Other America: The Continuing Crisis of Poverty and Inequality in the United States suggests strategies for changing public perceptions about the nature of poverty and the poor.

From the editors: “In 1962, Michael Harrington published The Other America, which documented how deeply entrenched poverty and inequality were in one of the wealthiest countries in the world. Four decades later, we find it necessary once again to rediscover this profound social condition. The purpose of this book is to awaken policymakers and the public to this situation once again, in order to affect the nature of public policies dealing with these issues.”

Rediscovering the Other America: The Continuing Crisis of Poverty and Inequality in the United States covers a wide range of issues, some similar to what Harrington described in 1962 and some reflecting recent social, political, and economic developments. Specifically, the book addresses:

• providing health care coverage for the poor
• why poverty persisted during the economic boom of the Clinton presidency
• politicians' views and beliefs regarding poverty, welfare, and welfare recipients
• the impact of the 1996 welfare reform legislation on the nonprofit sector
• economic differences between women and men
• poverty in Appalachia
• the impact of welfare reform on those who receive public assistance