60 Years Later, the Moynihan Report Still Divides Us
Document Type
Other
Role
Author
Publisher
Institute for Family Studies
Publication Date
10-16-2025
Abstract
From the beginning, malicious misreadings of the Moynihan report distracted from its message about the need for economic policy to benefit struggling families. Moynihan argued against the government deploying social workers to “improve” families. He wanted to help families, not lecture them. By fighting over the report’s language rather than substance, these controversies have taught social scientists the wrong lesson: don’t talk about the family, and how it might be related to poverty and prosperity.
Suggested Citation
Wolfinger, N. H., & McKeever, Matthew (Political Science). (2025, October 16). 60 Years Later, the Moynihan Report Still Divides Us. Institute for Family Studies. https://ifstudies.org/blog/60-years-later-the-moynihan-report-still-divides-us
