Social Exclusion and Social Welfare Policy – Case Study on Low Income Female Single-Parent Families in Hsinchu City

• Main Authors: Nie-Jung Cheng, 鄭乃蓉
• Other Authors: Yahn-bin Maa
• Format: Others
• Language: zh-TW
• Published: 2005
• Online Access: http://ndltd.ncl.edu.tw/handle/85484022375829681727

碩士 === 逢甲大學 === 公共政策所 === 93 === Title of Thesis: Social Exclusion and Social Welfare Policy – Case Study on Low Income Female Single-Parent Families in Hsinchu City Name of Institute: Graduate Institute of Public Policy, Feng Chia University Graduate Date: 2005 (thesis on master’s degree for the second semester of the academic year 2005) Graduate Student: Nai-jung Cheng Advisor: Yahn-bin Maa, Ph.D English Abstract This explorative research will examine multidimensional poverty experiences of female single-parent families with a low income and investigate the reasons of poverty and continuance of impoverishment through the theory and concept of social exclusion. Related policies and administrative actions will be reviewed accordingly so as to present suggestions concerning strategic regulations and administration practice as well as the inspired implication on academic studies. An in-depth interview was conducted with six female one-parent low-income families in Hsinchu City and major study results are described as follows: 1. Economic exclusion: Exclusion confronted on the labor market is the most significant with respect to race (aboriginals) and age (old age). The role of a caretaker and insufficiency of the welfare service delivery system are the important factors of eliminating single-parent females from the job market. Gender still plays an influential part on generation transfer of assets and distribution of family resources. Consumptive expenses are directed at a low price and expenditures of educational and cultural activities are crowded out by necessary living expenses. In addition, class discrimination is implied in the financial transaction system because poor single-parent mothers without credit line are usually rejected. 2. Exclusion of social support network: The official support system exercises specific and significant exclusion with respect to policies. Kinsfolk mutual aid and work ethics are the major sources of the exclusive mechanism of the public assistance system. Atypical employment of single-parent females shuts them out of the protected rights derived from labor relations. Administrative behavior of government departments also encourages exclusion. For informal support systems, single-parent females are mostly rejected by their families and the more assistance they require, the more they are edged out by their family members. As for dwelling arrangement, challenges from the system and the reality usually push poor single-parent females out from the right of abode. Strategic suggestions are presented as the following: A. Social assistance: 1. The basis of calculating the gross income of a family should be loosened. 2. The part-time income earned by children under 20 and being recognized as formal students of certain schools shall not be included as the general income of the family. 3. The property of the social aid receivers cumulated within a certain period shall not be included. 4. The strategy of work welfare implemented in developed countries shall be followed to reinforce the complementary relationship between income aid and welfare service. 5. Predicaments of inconsistency between the current residence and the registered address need to be overcome. 6. For poverty prevention, coordination and collaboration between household registration offices and social administration organizations ought to be enhanced. 7. A friendly welfare delivery system needs to be established via an amicable, convenient and efficient administration process. B. Labor related policy: Gender equality in employment and protecting the rights of insecure work should be put into practice exactly. Insecure employment shall be included in labor law and the social insurance system. C. Practice: Cooperation between official organizations and private institutions needs to be increased. A welfare community shall be propagandized. Social values have to be reshaped through education.