MzRockMon's M.O.B. Life

The Truth About Welfare’s ‘Man In the House’ Rule

Welfare policies in America starting from the 1930s have been designed to disadvantage Black families. Regulations like the “man in the house” rule have been implemented to bar fathers from their homes to receive aid. Despite the Social Security Act of 1935, state-run programs were often discriminatory and restrictive. Black mothers were disqualified based on stringent criteria, and their employment opportunities were limited. Even when aid was granted, caseworkers had excessive control, imposing strict housekeeping rules and penalizing mothers who had male companions. This has helped maintain racial inequalities in welfare benefits. Welfare narratives often overlook these systemic barriers and unfairly stigmatize Black fathers.

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