Unseating the welfare queen? COVID-19 and the possibility for reform in American state institutions

The US has been especially affected by the COVID-19 pandemic, registering the world’s highest number of cases and deaths. The resulting social and economic fallout has thrown a spotlight on the long-standing plight of marginalised groups, as well as the inadequacy of existing state institutions and social welfare. At the same time, it has prompted a broad scope of government action in the form of fiscal stimulus packages and kick-started discussions for a more equal and progressive post-Covid society. This offers a unique chance to rethink governance and the relationship between US state institutions and historically disadvantaged groups. More specifically, it presents an opportunity to move beyond the simplistic – and often exaggerated – image of a welfare queen in dealing with policy questions of poverty and the balancing of work and care.