A safety net or ties that bind? Women, welfare and self‐employment
International Journal of Sociology and Social Policy
ISSN: 0144-333X
Article publication date: 1 September 2006
Abstract
Purpose
This paper sets out to examine the challenges facing benefit‐dependent lone mothers who seek to engage with self‐employment.
Design/methodology/approach
A case study approach offers a detailed analysis of the experiences of three women considering the transition from benefit dependency to self‐employment.
Findings
The current welfare regime discourages lone mothers from entering formal self‐employment.
Research limitations/implications
The number of cases is limited by the nature of the study involved. Future work would seek to expand upon this.
Practical implications
Questions are raised regarding the efficacy of current welfare to work policies as, in this case, they would appear to impede enterprising behaviour and positively encourage informal working.
Originality/value
The paper engages in a novel fashion with the concepts of gender, welfare dependency and enterprise whilst developing a critique of current policy.
Keywords
Citation
Marlow, S. (2006), "A safety net or ties that bind? Women, welfare and self‐employment", International Journal of Sociology and Social Policy, Vol. 26 No. 9/10, pp. 397-410. https://doi.org/10.1108/01443330610690541
Publisher
:Emerald Group Publishing Limited
Copyright © 2006, Emerald Group Publishing Limited