We are independent & ad-supported. We may earn a commission for purchases made through our links.
Advertiser Disclosure
Our website is an independent, advertising-supported platform. We provide our content free of charge to our readers, and to keep it that way, we rely on revenue generated through advertisements and affiliate partnerships. This means that when you click on certain links on our site and make a purchase, we may earn a commission. Learn more.
How We Make Money
We sustain our operations through affiliate commissions and advertising. If you click on an affiliate link and make a purchase, we may receive a commission from the merchant at no additional cost to you. We also display advertisements on our website, which help generate revenue to support our work and keep our content free for readers. Our editorial team operates independently of our advertising and affiliate partnerships to ensure that our content remains unbiased and focused on providing you with the best information and recommendations based on thorough research and honest evaluations. To remain transparent, we’ve provided a list of our current affiliate partners here.
Culture

Our Promise to you

Founded in 2002, our company has been a trusted resource for readers seeking informative and engaging content. Our dedication to quality remains unwavering—and will never change. We follow a strict editorial policy, ensuring that our content is authored by highly qualified professionals and edited by subject matter experts. This guarantees that everything we publish is objective, accurate, and trustworthy.

Over the years, we've refined our approach to cover a wide range of topics, providing readers with reliable and practical advice to enhance their knowledge and skills. That's why millions of readers turn to us each year. Join us in celebrating the joy of learning, guided by standards you can trust.

What is a Welfare Queen?

Lainie Petersen
By
Updated: May 17, 2024
Views: 9,994
Share

Welfare queen is a derogatory label applied by politicians, social critics, and others to describe women who abuse the welfare system by having several children in order to increase their welfare benefits and thus their own standard of living. The image of the welfare queen, an otherwise able-bodied woman who exploits poverty benefits in order to avoid employment, is typically evoked by those who resent the poor as well as those who oppose legislation that provides various types of poverty assistance, including cash, food stamps, and other welfare benefits. The term may also be used in a nonpolitical context by people who resent those who receive government assistance.

In the United States, the myth of the welfare queen began to rise in the early 1980s and was promoted by some conservative politicians to describe women having many children and committing outright fraud in order to receive benefits and to not have to find employment. These stories often depicted women who were lazy and promiscuous, scamming the system and then using their benefits pay for drugs or luxury items. One common version of the welfare queen story depicted a woman driving a Cadillac paid for with her welfare benefits. Welfare queen stories also often included a racial element in which the welfare queen was described as part of a racial minority, thus fueling negative stereotypes about the poor and members of some racial and ethnic groups.

While several public policy analysts and academics have attempted to challenge the welfare queen myth, the stereotype remains. As a result, welfare laws in the United States have changed significantly since the 1990s in an attempt to decrease dependence on public benefits along with creating safeguards that fight welfare fraud. For example, welfare laws in the United States now restrict the period of time a individual or family can receive benefits. Some benefits, such as food stamps, are now available through electronic benefit cards, similar to debt cards, which makes it more difficult for somebody who receives food assistance to sell or transfer her benefits to another person.

Another stereotype that corresponds to the welfare queen stereotype is that of the so-called poverty pimp, someone who claims to be involved in charitable work but mainly supports himself through grants and other funds intended for the poor while not being able to demonstrate doing any actual good in impoverished communities. While the so-called poverty pimp may not directly be receiving welfare benefits, he may be employed as a result of being employed through the use of public funds as well as private grants. Individuals who advocate welfare reform frequently attack both the individuals receiving welfare benefits as well as those who are in the business of providing social services and argue that both classes of people are a drain on the system.

Share
WiseGeek is dedicated to providing accurate and trustworthy information. We carefully select reputable sources and employ a rigorous fact-checking process to maintain the highest standards. To learn more about our commitment to accuracy, read our editorial process.
Lainie Petersen
By Lainie Petersen
Lainie Petersen, a talented writer, copywriter, and content creator, brings her diverse skill set to her role as an editor. With a unique educational background, she crafts engaging content and hosts podcasts and radio shows, showcasing her versatility as a media and communication professional. Her ability to understand and connect with audiences makes her a valuable asset to any media organization.

Editors' Picks

Discussion Comments
By Wisedly33 — On Mar 18, 2014

@Scrbblechick: Yeah, you don't want to be ugly, but I've seen them too. The article kind of implies the stereotype is racial, but anybody can game the system, regardless of race. My cousin works in the food stamp office as an eligibility officer and some of the stories she tells are infuriating. But there are some people who are going to commit fraud, regardless. It's sad.

By Scrbblchick — On Mar 17, 2014

There are many stereotypes that have faded into obscurity because they were so absurd or completely wrong. There is, unfortunately, a reason the welfare queen stereotype persists: they do exist.

A woman came to my desk with hair and nails I can't afford and a cell phone that, at the time cost about $400. She was on the phone with her mother about getting the paperwork in so her other children would qualify for the free meal program at school. Her nails alone would have paid for a month of meals for at least one child. (By the way: I fully support the free meals program for children. No child should go hungry.) It is discouraging, no matter how one feels about stereotypes.

Lainie Petersen
Lainie Petersen
Lainie Petersen, a talented writer, copywriter, and content creator, brings her diverse skill set to her role as an...
Learn more
Share
https://www.wisegeek.net/what-is-a-welfare-queen.htm
Copy this link
WiseGeek, in your inbox

Our latest articles, guides, and more, delivered daily.

WiseGeek, in your inbox

Our latest articles, guides, and more, delivered daily.