Volunteerism

Good news, volunteerism is up! A recent article in the USA today suggests that the number of people giving back to their communities is up as a result of the recession:

http://www.usatoday.com/news/sharing/2010-01-26-volunteers_N.htm

The article also identifies that women are the main reason for the growth, followed by a note by Leslie Lenkowsky, a professor at Indiana University who claims that "Women have always been more likely to volunteer than men." This makes sense based on what I know about the social service sector. Almost all the students in my social work classes, in both my undergraduate and graduate programs, have been women. When I have served at soup kitchens in different area, both local and away, most of the volunteers have been women. At the recent "Empty Bowls" fundraiser for the local El Caldito soup kitchen, the volunteer demographic was even less diverse, as most of the soup servers, bread basket fillers, silent auction coordinators and drink booth facilitator were older, white women.

But why? Some might suggest, like the more traditional Catholics I have encountered, that it is because women are intrinsically more caring and nurturing. While it is undeniable that women do bear the burden for bearing children for our species, does this necessarily create a link between women and an attitude of caring or have patterns of societal norms led us to believe so? Furthermore, does mean that on the other hand men are less caring? I have trouble with this as three of the most caring people I have ever met are men. Although this reasoning might be attractive to some, particularly as it less political than some of the alternative reasons, I am more inclined to think that work history, level of education, and societal value (or lack thereof) of certain traditionally "female" jobs has meant that women have less access to stable work in fields that are fairly compensated and valued by society. Thinking of the older women at the soup kitchen fundraiser, another factor that might be appropriately thrown in is life expectancy. Women live longer than men and thus simply have a longer time during which they are able to volunteer.

I am not saying women are not caring and nurturing. I am not saying men are not caring and nuturing. However, I am wondering how much articles like these, though appropriately affirming good work in the community, continue to reinforce stereotypes and societal norms that limit both women and men.