Welfare Queen

As a Socialist Democratic who advocates for government programs benefitting working-class Americans, Ocasio-Cortez’s consumer habits are also scrutinized and questioned. In a meme, she is ridiculed for having possession of an iPhone, Apple Watch, and Starbucks cup. She is even called out by Eddie Scarry, a commentary writer for the Washington Examiner, for having a brand-name jacket and coat.

In Premilla Nadasen’s “From Widow to ‘Welfare Queen’: Welfare and Politics of Race,” the author talks about the scrutiny that occurred after the formation of movements such as National Welfare Rights Organization. This resulted in the emergence of the “welfare queen” stereotype. According to popular culture during the 1970s-80s, women who experienced certain socioeconomic barriers were subject to such characterization. Typically, welfare queen were women who have been through single parenthood, inner-city poverty, intergenerational welfare dependence, and teenage pregnancy. This became an increasingly problematic term because representation of women on welfare became racialized and it further promoted racism. The black community was seen as less desirable because they were seen as people who depended too much on public assistance. Although Ocasio-Cortez does not fit into these categories, those who overtly scrutinize her class enforce the stereotype. This new form of welfare queen is geared towards socialist politicians such as Ocasio-Cortez who are experiencing upward social mobility. Those who attack her platform such as the implementation of universal healthcare believe that she should remain in her previous socioeconomic status because she is handing out “unearned money” to the working-class.

As a Socialist Democrat, AOC believes in a more just distribution of wealth in order to better support working-class families. Her advocacy work in promoting programs such as free public education has caused a reaction in which there is intense observation of her consumer habits.

From a broader standpoint, the media pushes for a rebranding of black womanhood and further promotes assumptions about which demographic has a dominant representation when addressing the working-class. According to Nadasen, policies passed in the White House have also contributed media coverage focusing on the welfare queen narrative. For example, when Bill Clinton was in office, he signed the Personal Responsibility and Work Responsibility into law. He did not only believe that the Aid to Families with Dependent Children (AFDC) should be defunded, but that recipients in general should have personal accountability for their income (Nadasen 71). This perspective, with the help of the media, influences the public to shame working-class citizens who advocate for public assistance. Since the working-class is racialized, the idea of women of color being associated with low socioeconomic status is perpetuated.

Ocasio-Cortez demonstrates her legitimacy to represent her district by emphasizing her working-class background. This includes the fact that she has experience waitressing for a couple of years and using part of her income to support her family. Unfortunately, the mass media attempts to shut down her socialist platform through mediums such as YouTube. In one video that is meant to solely criticize her image, many of the top comments delegitimized her capability to understand the economy in relation to her long-term goals.

The idea of the welfare queen still continues today because many people expect Ocasio-Cortez to live a working-class life given that she brought up in that socioeconomic status. The United States as a socialist government has grown into a contentious debate over the past few decades especially because those who oppose it believe that every citizen should be accountable for their own financial freedom. However, leaders like Ocasio-Cortez speak out to such arguments because she believes that the cost of living is exponentially increasing and therefore social programs catered towards working-class families should be a priority. Although she lays out clear plans to make her goals into a reality, the media nevertheless attempts undermine her understanding of the economy and portrays her as an incompetent leader with fantasy ambitions.  

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