among American families potentially eligible for child support nearly 40
percent and would reduce AFDC caseloads by nearly 50 percent" ( 1986,
p. 176).

Garfinkel and McLanahan's speculations and Robins's estimates lead
to the inevitable conclusion that eliminating, or even substantially re-
ducing, the feminization of poverty requires that we do more than just
improve the child support system. We must continue our efforts to
increase women's earnings, to help women make the transition from
working in the home to working for pay in the market, and to implement
a better system of quality child care at affordable prices.

In her recent book, The Economic Emergence of Women, B. R. Bergmann
( 1986) proposes such a comprehensive system. Her proposal includes
the method for overhauling the child support system proposed by Gar-
finkel, combined with a system of unemployment insurance for single
parents. Such insurance would allow them a period of support while
looking for their first job to help facilitate their transition from home to
market. Unfortunately, Bergmann does not provide any details about
how such a system would be financed or what the costs would be.
Bergmann also emphasizes the importance of improving women's earn-
ings for which she advocates pay equity. "In recognition of the special
burdens of single parents," she also recommends, "a system of excellent,
highly subsidized child care, and a system of free medical care" for the
children (p. 253 ). Thus, Bergmann's proposal is a three-point program
adding unemployment insurance for single parents and pay equity to
reform of the child support system.

In conclusion, we have determined that while, at present, child sup-
port is limited by not enough awards being made and infrequent pay-
ments, getting all existing obligations fully paid and establishing awards
for women without them will not eliminate the feminization of poverty,
largely because award amounts are low. It can, however, reduce the
costs of AFDC by a substantial amount. Prospects for improving the
collection of existing awards seem promising following the 1984 Child
Support Enforcement Amendments and 1988 welfare reform legislation.
Whether the new requirement for mandatory guidelines will ensure
adequate child support awards to raise women out of poverty is unclear.
Only a complete overhaul of the present child support system could
substantially reduce the economic insecurity facing many female-headed
single-parent families.

Because the potential gains from reform of the child support system
are limited, we must proceed on a number of fronts. Of utmost priority

-188-