Lone Mothers and Welfare-to-Work Policies in Japan and the United States: Towards an Alternative Perspective

Authors

Aya Ezawa, Swarthmore College
Chisa Fujiwara, Iwate University

Keywords

Japan, single mothers, employment, welfare reform, TANF

Abstract

This paper compares recent efforts to reduce lone mothers' reliance on cash assistance and support their increased participation in the workforce and economic independence in Japan and the United States. Similar to reforms introduced in the U.S. in 1996, lone mother policies in Japan have been subject to a series of cuts leading to the introduction of time limits and work-related programs in 2002. In this paper, we examine the character of recent welfare reforms in both countries and their implications for lone mothers' welfare and economic independence. Based on Japan's experience and recent lessons from the U.S., we show the limitations of a focus on caseload reduction and work participation rates, and instead highlight the importance of addressing lone mothers' low wages in form of policies for the working poor.

Recommended Citation

Ezawa, Aya and Fujiwara, Chisa (2005) "Lone Mothers and Welfare-to-Work Policies in Japan and the United States: Towards an Alternative Perspective," The Journal of Sociology & Social Welfare: Vol. 32: Iss. 4, Article 4.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.15453/0191-5096.3113
Available at: https://scholarworks.wmich.edu/jssw/vol32/iss4/4