The Welfare Queen Essay

In today’s society, there are many aspects dividing us as people and Americans, whether we like it or not. This includes gender, race, economic status, and geographical location. But one if the biggest dividers that often incites arguments and can terminate friendships is politics. Many Americans often have a political stance, and that determines what political party you partake in. It is often said conservatives are considered realistic and liberals are considered idealistic. Although these are common stereotypes, there is statistical data supporting them. An article posted on UWire talks about a study done at the University of Nebraska at Lincoln. According to Kevin Brian Smith, a political science professor, “…there is physiologically a

basis for these stereotypes". The article states “They found that liberals looked at positive images for a longer amount of time and conservatives looked at negative images longer…This resembles how conservatives tend to be more wary of perceived threats, like illegal immigration, and want a decrease in government with fewer taxes, while liberals are more accepting of the government's help in issues such as welfare and health care” (UWIRE). But what if there was more than two ways to look at politics? There is a multitude of “third-parties” who take aspects from both parties and combine them, or take ideals from a certain party and go even farther with them, taking more extreme stances. In this essay, I will explore the stereotypes surrounding each political party and whether or not they are accurate, and then explain why more third parties should be taken seriously.
This image, author unknown, illustrates what Ronald Reagan coined as the “welfare queen” in the late 1970’s.

The “welfare queen” was based on a specific Chicago woman, Linda Taylor. In an article for Slate, Josh Levin sums up the image Ronald Reagan created. “The ‘welfare queen’ became a convenient villain, a woman everyone could hate. She was a lazy black con artist, unashamed of cadging the money that honest folks worked so hard to earn”. The texts point is stereotypical Democrats want to put a lot of money into the welfare system, and it will be abused by people such as “welfare queens”. The main strategy in the text is the depiction of an African-American woman at a car dealership saying she will purchase two cars using welfare because the “Democrats” in power gave it to her. One example of how the money will be abused is the fact that the woman is at a Cadillac dealership, which only sells high-priced cars. Another part of the illustration contributing to its effect is the donkey (the Democrat’s symbol) with money bags stating “yes you can” on them. This shows democrats will want to increase the money supply in welfare. Next, the text bubbles stated by the welfare queen adds to the effect of the illustration. The woman depicted says “With Democrats in power, I’ll buy two!” This continues on the point that Democrats will fund welfare, and also adds the money in welfare will be abused, simply because it can be. Finally, the simple fact the woman is labeled as a “welfare queen” (as written on her skirt) adds to the point about what people will be using

welfare.
This ad contributes to most standard stereotypes about Democrats, welfare, and who will use welfare. According to this cartoon, lower income people will abuse the money in welfare by buying frivolous things such as Cadillacs. This illustration also contributes to the stereotype that all Democrats want to fund welfare, as well as help “welfare queens” abuse the system. So although the stereotype about the lower class using welfare (seeing as that’s who it’s meant for) may be accurate, the stereotype that welfare money is abused may be inaccurate. In the end, this illustration had a lasting effect on the stereotypes surrounding the Democrat party.
The Republican Party is surrounded by its own stereotypes as well. Many assumptions about conservatives are illustrated in this political cartoon, drawn by David Horsey for the LA Times. Drawn for an article called “Alex Jones and other pro-gun paranoids put the nuts in gun nuts” in January of 2013, this cartoon emphasizes one the biggest stereotypes about Republicans; gun ownership. The man is shown carrying an assault rifle style weapon, something highly controversial in today’s gun control debates. Horsey is also trying to show that gun owners are over protective of their rights, as seen by the exaggerated quote by the character. Other common stereotypes about Republicans shown are the man’s race, weight, age, and place of origin. It is commonly said the Republican Party is the “white man’s party”, and the character drawn is Caucasian. On the man’s hat is the flag Confederate Flag, showcasing the man is southern, another common Republican stereotype. Finally, the fact the character is older and overweight are two more offensive stereotypes that surround the Republican Party. But Republicans aren’t just assumed to be white overweight southerners. They are also assumed to be rich business man who run corporations, such as CEO’s. Due to the Republicans stances on taxes and capitalism, many business men are also stereotyped as being Republican.
Stereotypes are such a common occurrence, they don’t even seem offensive now, no matter how untrue they are. But the stereotypes that surround both political parties are often inaccurate. For instance, a stereotype of the Republicans is a dislike of Hispanics and their culture. But in 2012, Rachel Campos-Duffy wrote an article called “Selling the American Dream” which focused on getting Hispanics to vote Republican. Campos-Duffy states she was a “…young, Hispanic, conservative, Catholic girl from the Southwest”. Campos-Duffy goes on to talk about all the non-traditional things she witnessed, such as gay pride parades, hanging out with an African-American Muslim, and going to drag shows. Many things one would not expect the average Republican to partake in. She continues her article by talking about her father, a Democrat until the 1980 election, and her grandfather, a “Mexican-born grandfather, Rafael, immigrated to work in the mines of the American Southwest, where he eventually settled with his young bride to raise 15 kids” (Campos-Duffy). But she goes on to say that her grandfather displayed what some would consider positive conservative stereotypes. “When government social workers came to my grandmother Beatriz’s house and saw the conditions, they returned with toys and food… When Rafael, a traveling laborer at the time, returned and saw the toys and food his toil did not provide, he was furious. These were his kids, and he was man enough to provide for them” (Campos-Duffy). This example explains why Hispanics should vote Republican according to Campos-Duffy. They are hardworking, and would rather work and take care of themselves and their family than take donations from the government. Also, Hispanics have many moral values that tend to lean towards the right, based on their common Catholic religion. One instance is abortion. The Republican Party tends to be against this practice, as do most Catholics. Therefore, many Hispanics will vote Republican simply because they do not believe in abortion, as well as same-sex marriage since it is against their religion.