Angel Hispanic Families at Risk

The New Economy, Work, and the Welfare State
1. Auflage 2009
ISBN: 978-1-4419-0474-4
Verlag: Springer
Format: PDF
Kopierschutz: 1 - PDF Watermark

E-Book, Englisch, 138 Seiten

In the United States, work is the key to economic success, as well as the major source of health care coverage and retirement security. While Europeans look to the State for these benefits, Americans for the most part do not. This system of employment-based benefits means that those disadvantaged in the labor market are also disadvantaged in terms of health care coverage and retirement security. The authors of this work examine the overrepresentation of Mexican Americans in low wage or service sector jobs, which rarely come with health insurance or retirement coverage. At all ages, Mexican Americans have lower rates of health insurance and retirement coverage than do other minority groups, such as African Americans or other Hispanic groups. Although employment in jobs that do not provide benefits is one major source of this disparity, other factors-including immigration history, citizenship status, and language proficiency-further block opportunities for upward mobility within the Mexican American population. In their analysis, the authors work to deemphasize the popular, cultural explanation for the economic disparities and focus on more practical, policy-based solutions. In each chapter, the authors identify and critique the factors that affect the economic security and health care access of individuals throughout the life course, suggesting policies for reform. This work will be of interest to anyone working in the fields of cultural studies, public health and the sociology of work. With the focus on real world causes for the problems as well as potential solutions, policy-makers will also find this informative book an essential resource.

Autoren/Hrsg.

Angel, Ronald J.

Angel, Jacqueline L.

Inhaltsverzeichnis

1;Preface: The Hispanic Labor Force and the Employment-Based Welfare State;5
1.1; The Absence of Employment Benefits;6
1.2; The Social Safety Net Across the Life Course;7
1.3; An Outline of the Following Chapters;8
2;Acknowledgement;11
3;Contents;12
4;1 Hispanic Workers and the Employment-Based Welfare State;14
4.1; The Modern Welfare State;15
4.2; US Exceptionalism: A Limited Welfare State;6
4.3; Hispanics and the Retirement Wage;7
4.4; Falling Through the Cracks;8
4.5; Health Insurance Coverage;23
4.6; Public Program Participation;24
4.7; The Long-Term Consequences of Hispanic Exclusion;26
5;2 The Latin Americanization of the US Labor Force;29
5.1; Multiculturalism and Diversity;30
5.2; Incorporation or Permanent Marginality?;32
5.3; Characteristics of the Hispanic Population;33
5.4; Pathways to Higher Education;38
5.5; Educational Barriers to the Professions;42
5.6; The Core Barrier to Group Mobility;43
6;3 Parental Employment and Childrens Security;46
6.1; Economic Vulnerability and Childrens Well-Being;47
6.2; The Earned Income Tax Credit;48
6.3; Public Assistance Programs;49
6.4; Health Insurance: Medicaid and SCHIP;51
6.5; Private Employment-Based Health Coverage;52
6.6; The Future of Our Nation;56
7;4 Employment and Benefits for Working-Age Hispanic Males;58
7.1; Employment Characteristics;59
7.2; Retirement Coverage;61
7.3; Health Insurance;63
7.4; The Weakness of the Male Breadwinner;68
7.5; Trapped at the Bottom;70
8;5 Family, Work, and Benefits for Hispanic Women;72
8.1; The Decline of the Family;75
8.2; Gender, Hispanic Ethnicity, and Access to Benefits;76
8.3; Marriage as a Source of Benefit Coverage;79
8.4; Employment as a Source of Benefit Coverage;81
8.5; Work and Retirement Security;81
8.6; Social Security;83
8.7; Health Insurance;84
8.8; Mother, Worker, and Still No Benefits;84
8.9; The Rise of the Female Breadwinner;87
9;6 Income and Health-Care Insecurity Amongthe Mexican-Origin Elderly;90
9.1; Preretirement-Age Hispanics: Asset Poor;93
9.2; Wealth;94
9.3; Income;96
9.4; Social Security;99
9.5; Health Insurance;100
9.6; The Lack of Medigap Coverage;102
9.7; Long-Term Care;104
9.8; Medicaid and Long-Term Care;105
9.9; Information and Outreach for Older Adults;109
9.10; Future Possibilities and Limitations;109
10;7 Segmented Labor Markets, Segmented Lives: Hispanic Workers and the Employment-Based Welfare State;111
10.1; The Need for a Comprehensive Welfare State;112
10.2; Framing the Problem: A More Effective Public Discourse;114
10.3; Framing a New Discourse of Inclusion;116
10.4; Group Identity and Incorporation;118
10.5; Civil Society, Multiculturalism, and Active Citizenship;120
10.6; The Central Role of Higher Education;121
10.7; Individual and Group Mobility, the Welfare State, and the American Future;124
11;References;126
12;Subject Index;142