STEREOTYPES AND STIGMA - WHATS CHANGED FOR WELFARE MOTHERS

In the debate on welfare reform, stereotypes of women on welfare have resurfaced, and most proposals for reform are designed to modify and r egulate women's behaviors. This article, based on information obtained in focus groups of recipients of Aid to Families with Dependent Child ren, examines how women manage the stigma of being welfare mothers and what they think about ''cheating'' the system. The most striking diff erence between recipients of the 1990s and of the 1960s is the belief of current recipients that they are entitled to governmental support a s long as they are attempting to better their own lives.