Pure White Episode 7: Purity Culture and Welfare Reform
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Jan 8, 2024 Exploring the influence of purity culture on welfare reform bill in 1996, linking to abstinence education and societal perceptions. Analyzing the impact of evangelical values on government policies and the connection to the 'welfare queen' stereotype. Delving into the Heritage Foundation's role in promoting abstinence-only education and shaping conservative viewpoints on welfare reform.
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The Origin Of The 'Welfare Queen'
- Ronald Reagan popularized the 'welfare queen' story by referencing Linda Taylor in campaign rhetoric.
- The media dubbed Taylor the welfare queen and her crimes became a stereotype used in political discourse.
Purity Movement Hits The White House
- True Love Waits and the Southern Baptist Convention pushed abstinence-only into national politics in the 1990s.
- Their meeting with President Clinton elevated evangelical purity culture into federal policy discussions.
From Economic Policy To Moral Panic
- Charles Murray and the Heritage Foundation framed single parenting as a moral crisis threatening white middle-class status.
- Their research and rhetoric shifted welfare debates from economics to moralizing family structure.