Administrative Law - Divorce, American Style: Fighting for Women's Economic Citizenship in the Neoliberal Era (Politics and Culture in Modern America)

Divorce, American Style: Fighting for Women's Economic Citizenship in the Neoliberal Era (Politics and Culture in Modern America)

Name: Divorce, American Style: Fighting for Women's Economic Citizenship in the Neoliberal Era (Politics and Culture in Modern America)
Price: 55.00 USD
Availability: InStock
Rating: 5 (1 reviews)

5.0 of 5 Stars: Administrative Law - Divorce, American Style: Fighting for Women's Economic Citizenship in the Neoliberal Era (Politics and Culture in Modern America)

$55.00

Buying Options

Description

Book Synopsis: In the 1970s, the divorce rate in the United States doubled, and longtime homemakers suddenly found themselves at risk of poverty, not only because their husband's job was their sole source of income, but also because their insurance, retirement, and credit worthiness were all tied to their spouse's employment. Divorce, American Style examines how newly divorced women and policymakers responded to the crisis that rising divorce rates created for American society. Suzanne Kahn shows that, ironically, rising divorce rates led to policies that actually strengthened the social insurance system's use of marriage to determine eligibility for benefits. Large numbers of newly divorced women quickly realized their invisibility within the American welfare state, which did not distribute benefits to most women directly but rather through their husbands. These newly divorced women organized themselves into a political force, and they were remarkably successful in securing legislation designed to address divorced women's needs. But this required significant compromise with policymakers, and these new laws specifically rewarded intact marriages, providing more robust benefits to women in longer marriages. These incentives remain in place today. Indeed, in the thirty years since this legislative compromise, activists' efforts to grapple with the legal system created out of this crisis have affected such high-profile debates as the fight over the Affordable Care Act and the battle for marriage equality. Divorce, American Style contests the frequent claim that marriage has become a more flexible legal status over time. Enduring ideas about marriage and the family continue to have a powerful effect on the structure of a wide range of social programs in the United States.

Details

Divorce, American Style: Fighting for Women's Economic Citizenship in the Neoliberal Era (Politics and Culture in Modern America) is a must-read for anyone interested in understanding the impact of divorce on women in the United States. With the divorce rate doubling in the 1970s, countless homemakers were left vulnerable to poverty due to their reliance on their husband's income and benefits. This book delves deep into how newly divorced women and policymakers responded to this crisis, shedding light on the struggles and victories they faced.

Author Suzanne Kahn expertly explores how rising divorce rates led to policies that further entrenched the social insurance system's dependence on marriage for eligibility. Many divorced women discovered their invisibility within the American welfare state, where benefits were primarily distributed through husbands. However, these women refused to let this go unnoticed. They organized themselves as a political force, successfully securing legislation to address their needs. This book offers a fascinating account of their journey.

One important aspect touched upon is the compromise these newly divorced women had to make in order to achieve their goals. While they were able to secure certain rights for divorced women, the legislation often favored intact marriages. This paradoxical outcome, and its continued influence on current debates like the Affordable Care Act and marriage equality, is thoroughly examined in Divorce, American Style.

Divorce, American Style challenges the popular notion that marriage has become a more flexible legal status in recent years. It highlights how enduring beliefs about marriage and the family still shape the structure of various social programs in the United States. If you want a comprehensive understanding of the historical and social context surrounding divorce and women's economic citizenship, this book is a must-have for your collection.

To gain valuable insights from Divorce, American Style and delve into the intricate relationship between divorce, marriage, and social programs, click here.

See All Buying Options...

More Details...