“When I Can Make Them Smile”: Cash Transfers and the Joys of Mothering in the Context of Poverty
Journal of Policy Analysis and Management · 2026 · Sarah Halpern‐Meekin、Jill Hoiting、Ruby Mendenhall、Michelle Spiegel
中文摘要
贫困研究者关注干预措施是否能缓解物质困难和财务不安全带来的压力。尽管这些是重要结果，但仅聚焦于此会限制对政策有效性的评估。此外，该领域对个体结果的主导关注可能忽视政策对家庭关系的影响。本研究采取关系视角，关注诸如喜悦等积极政策结果。它以无条件现金转移支付为例，展示母职的喜悦以及此类政策干预在这些体验中的作用。基于“婴儿最初几年”（Baby's First Years）研究，我们分析了80名女性的访谈，她们在孩子出生时生活在贫困线以下；其中65%自认为是黑人。我们强调母亲如何利用现金转移支付资金，在与孩子彼此受益的关系中创造喜悦和联结的机会。我们表明，财务资源的作用不止于满足物质需求和作为人力资本投资。财务资源也是建立关系和促进家庭繁荣的渠道，包括通过喜悦实现这一点。要整体评估政策影响，需要一幅全面的图景，使学者和政策制定者能够理解政府项目如何帮助家庭不仅生存下来，而且蓬勃发展。
Abstract
Poverty researchers focus on whether interventions relieve material hardships and the stresses of financial insecurity. Although these are essential outcomes, a narrow focus on them can limit the evaluation of policy effectiveness. Further, the predominant focus in the field on individual outcomes may miss how policy matters for family relationships. The present study takes a relational perspective and attends to positive policy outcomes such as joy. It uses the case of unconditional cash transfers to show the joys of mothering and the role of such policy interventions in these experiences. From the Baby's First Years study, we analyze interviews with 80 women, who were living below the poverty line at their child's birth; 65% identified as Black. We highlight how mothers use the cash transfer money to create opportunities for joy and bonding in their mutually rewarding relationships with their children. We show how financial resources serve purposes beyond meeting material needs and as human-capital investments. Financial resources are also conduits for relationship building and family flourishing, including through joy. To holistically assess policy impacts requires a comprehensive picture that allows scholars and policymakers to understand how government programs can help families not just survive but thrive.