Resistance and reform: individual and collective agency

Abstract

The chapter highlights individual and collective resistance to the material restrictions associated with ‘being on the card’. Resistance can occur through formal and informal channels, and it can be overt or covert as the participant interviews highlight. The sense of shame of ‘being on the card’ sometimes resulted in avoidance of public spaces and commercial settings where the devalued identity of being a ‘welfare recipient’ would be more visible to others. Other forms of resistance discussed in the chapter include attempting to circumvent income quarantining, such as buying approved goods with the card and selling them for cash. Covert resistance like this was perceived by participants as less risky than ‘overt resistance’ in the form of trading public protests, direct advocacy and coordinated campaigns. This chapter traces the public campaigns and policy activism, both off-line and online that have sought to change the policy settings. Interviews with community stakeholders from different trial sites are drawn upon to examine the effectiveness of ongoing campaigns and advocacy to have the compulsory income management trials halted.