Sociological Review of Flat Broke With ChildrenWhat is Social Welfare? In its most basic form, the concept of social protection is the idea that a central government agency or state will provide a basic level of support to its poorest members or citizens through programs at the expense of the society as a whole. Examples of welfare date back to the ancient Roman Empire, where measures of grain were provided to citizens who could not afford to purchase it for themselves. However, the roots of modern welfare in the United States can be traced to legislation regarding mothers' pensions, first enacted in 1911. In 1935, these welfare programs were extended to a greater proportion of population through the Social Security Act consolidated into the New Deal legislation, and renamed “Aid to Families with Dependent Children” (AFDC). This program existed from 1935 to 1996, eventually becoming a major part of the Social Security law. Under the Personal Responsibility and Workplace Act of 1996, AFDC was overhauled and the Temporary Assistance to Needy Families (TANF) program succeeded it. From a sociological perspective, these social programs present an extremely interesting case study in the evolution of American values. from the beginning of the 20th century to the beginning of the 21st century. The sum of the political, social and legal considerations of these programs also makes it possible to explore several sociological issues and inequalities still endemic in American society. These considerations, which range from the lives of single mothers living below the poverty line to the wide divergences in attitudes across cultural divides, shape and maintain American behavior and society. In a democracy, since individuals have...... middle of paper ...... mutually exclusive (Hays, 2003). Ultimately, one draconian doctrine is not necessarily the best policy – ​​in fact, a combination of support for single women may prove to be the best approach. However, the costs to society of a combined approach will be greater and, as a society, we must be prepared to bear the burden. Hopefully, with historical context, knowledge of broader societal and cultural interactions, and an understanding of the effects these combined forces have on individuals, an effective solution to address the widespread inequalities prevalent in society today can be achieved . The social protection reform has not come to an end; we are only in the middle of a transition period, and many more steps remain to be taken before poverty can be completely eradicated.BibliographyHays, S. (2003). Broke apartment with kids. New York: Oxford University Press.