Poverty Stigma: Assessing the Surveillance of and Psychological Reframing by WIC Recipients

ABSTRACT

The current study examines the poverty stigma experienced by Women, Infants, and Children program recipients during grocery store transactions. Through in-person interviews with 32 WIC recipients in metro Detroit, the study examines perceptions of the social context, strategies to manage stigma, and the social psychological consequences. The findings highlight the resilience of interviewees and the need for public assistance programs to address not just practical needs but also the social psychological well-being of recipients. This research contributes significantly to understanding poverty stigma, especially within the context of WIC food assistance. Policy implications are discussed.

KEYWORDS:

• Maternal poverty
• stigma
• surveillance
• WIC recipients

Acknowledgments

I am deeply grateful to Malkah Ali for her contributions to this research, particularly her efforts in interviewing Arabic-speaking participants and providing accurate translations of the interviews, which were pivotal to the success of this study. I extend my heartfelt thanks to the Arab Community Center for Economic and Social Services for their generous support, allowing me access to their facilities and the opportunity to interview clients, which greatly enriched this study.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).