Welfare and Workfare: wrong or right?

Most of us grew up in homes where everyday commodities and privileges were taken for granted. What would you do if you had to go to bed hungry, sleep in a one room rundown apartment, or worry about even having a place to live after eviction? It’s easy for people who have never had to worry about such things to look down on those who do and judge. But the truth is you don’t know what it is like until it’s you.
Many would agree that the word “welfare” does not have the greatest connotation. Most people classify those seeking government aids as lazy moochers. In all honesty, the same adjectives used to come to my mind as well. Being young and naïve, I didn’t understand why someone could not acquire a job, there is always McDonalds. But what I have come to find is that the world is not the pretty, perfect place I had imagined years ago.
Growing up, I had plenty of experience with those who are less fortunate but I never could fully comprehend what they were going through. Before entering kindergarten, my babysitter and I would volunteer at a soup kitchen every Tuesday. I made friends with many of the homeless, or what I called the dirty people. I then proceeded to go home to a well cooked hot meal and quickly forgot my friends who would not be dinning like me. In my catholic elementary school, I remember constantly doing can drives, raising money for the sick, and donating at church to the poor. In high school around Christmas, each homeroom would adopt a needy family and every year I would insist on paying out of my own pocket for the children’s clothing. Although I had developed a sense of sympathy for those who were struggling, I still was unaware of how easy it was to loose it all.
Today I have mixed emotions about welfare, workfare, and similar types of government aids. Not having a system would be unjust but at the same time having such a system can also deplete a budget that is not there in the first place. Watching the three videos in class provided clear evidence to the fact that there will always be people of need, in good times and in bad. One clip highlighted the dirty jobs required for workfare and the time limits that kept cyclists from benefiting after five years. However, one film gave statistics from 1996, when the economy was riding high. Currently, our economy is in the worst recession since the Great Depression. Over 750,000 people in the U.S. lost their job just last month. There is no way possible our government could provide aid to everyone who is suffering. Too many people are still working the system and those who really need the help are not getting their fair share. Just as our text said, there needs to be a reformation.
I believe providing welfare or workfare is a necessity to keep our country afloat; however, abuse of this governmental aid could sink the U.S. trillions of dollars under. Until we experience the struggle ourselves none of us will fully understand the turmoil. What we can do is join forces and try our hardest to lend a helping hand. No one wants to live in poverty. We all dream of living in comfort. The U.S. can help the dreams of thousands of struggling citizens come true through an improved welfare and workfare system. Nobody deserves a stroller ride through their entire life but sometimes we all need short piggyback.

Reflect on the controversy surrounding whether, how, and why Western feminists should be involved in promoting gender justice in lesser-developed part

Looking at Western feminism from either a global or transnational standpoint, both have pros and cons. For many, the issue begins with whether we have the responsibility to even bother with the extreme issues of Western countries. Others ridicule the U.S. for its lack of donation, time, and effort to others in need. However, there is one topic that both global and transgender feminism agree on, something needs to be done about the inequalities of women in deprived parts of the world.
Global feminism takes a direct stance on generating awareness about gender justice. These feminists believe that violation of human rights should be intolerable, no matter what country you inhibit. Global feminists feel that going across borders and fighting for the abolishment of oppressive acts, like female gentile cuttings and underage arranged marriages, is the most effective method. By acting is such ways, many label these feminists as ethnocentric and hegemonic.
In my opinion, approaching gender issues in such a domineering way will actually prove to be more detrimental. For example, most college students will admit to drinking before they reached the age of 21. How would you feel if the Chinese came over to America and started telling all teenagers that underage drinking was bad? Just like American laws establish the drinking age at 21, other countries also have laws against underage marriage, but people still do it anyway. Going back to the drinking example, a more effective way to get through to the rebellious teenagers would be to tell them a story of how your best friend died will drinking and driving.
Transnational Feminists utilize a more culturally sensitive methodology. Like with the drinking example, these feminists believe that dialogue is the way to connect with victims of oppression. Transnational Feminism acknowledges country boundaries and crosses them in a peaceful manner. Culture, gender, and intersectionality are all taken into consideration when entering a new area of the world. On the flip side, this group receives the greatest amount of criticism for not accomplishing enough due to their subtle approach.
I side more with the Transnational Feminists for several important reasons. First, their main goal is to not come into a needy area and tell them to change their entire culture along with traditions, but to educate, facilitate, and alert women experiencing injustice that there are alternatives. Providing education to younger women will increase their chances of avoiding oppression in the future. Facilitation could be provided through small loans for women that struggle to get funding in their country. Finally, awareness is the easiest way to reach a large group of women and persuade them that they are not alone, and there is a way out.