Information
In her exhibition “The Sweet Life […],” university student Sara Barbett takes a close look at the media’s prejudiced portrayal of welfare recipients. She borrows the title from the headline of a 1995 article in Focus magazine, which read: “The Sweet Life of Welfare Parasites.”
It is precisely this negative stereotype—that welfare recipients are lazy and work-shy—and the false claim that life on welfare is comfortable that the scenography and communication student challenges. She invites all visitors to question these and their own notions of life on welfare and to compare them with reality —for example, with the fact that in 2025, less than one percent of all benefit recipients of working age refused a job or continuing education without a valid reason.
Panel Discussion with Those Affected
In a roundtable discussion on October 21, (Wednesday) from 6:00 to 7:30 p.m., activists and those affected—Meral Ökten and Thomas Wasilewski—will discuss the issue with social scientist Prof. Dr. Ute Fischer from Fachhochschule Dortmund, who has conducted research on sanctions under ALG II. The discussion will take place at Stadt_Raum, Hansastraße 3, 44137 Dortmund.
Admission to the exhibition and discussion is free. In addition to Sara Barbett, students Julia Hillebrand and Lua Campos (graphic design) and Darya Moalim (texts) contributed to the project.