Why do women do more volunteer and aid work than men?

Question

Why do women do more aid/volunteer and philanthropy work than men? Why are female physicians more likely to go into lower paid but much more desperately needed general practice rather than high paid surgical specialties? Are men more greedy?

So can I get an answer without being labeled?

Answer 1

It's probable you're asking this so bluntly to make a point about stereotypes. However of the number of charity surgeons in Africa, the men outnumber women about 4-1. That said there are many female medical students and indigenous nurses.

Many of the women doctors choose to work in women only clinics, or it is required where a male doctor is not allowed or not preferred in Muslim or strict religious areas of Africa.

edit - Concerning the general public, all people regardless of s*x are getting more selfish. Yet more women are actually prepared to roll their sleeves up. More empathetic I guess.

Answer 2

I think at women's shelters, no men are allowed so men can't volunteer here...At least in the women's shelters I know.

I don't know about the other places you mentioned.

I also wonder why psychology/social work is dominated by females now these days.

Answer 3

Patriarchal Catholicism is the largest charity in the world.

It funds medical work and feeds the poor throughout the world regardless of religion. Unlike it's other religious organizations, help is not dependent on conversion. Many of the Vatican's aid organizations are not even labeled as "Catholic."

So when women are volunteering, know that it's more than likely that the Pope is signing a check to fund her assistance. Look it up.

Answer 4

I get what you're implying, and it's not true.

While feminism has broken down the walls of tradition and opened up choice for women, men are still socially expected to do breadwinning. It's just another stereotype that women 'care more.'

It isn't that men are greedy. It is because if men don't earn, they become something of a social outcast.

Women have the freedom to do it.

Raja Ram Mohan Roy, a MALE Indian social worker, was instrumental in getting Sati abolished.

Most of India's freedom-fighters were social workers who helped all regardless of caste, creed, gender or race. Oh, and they were male too.

Most of the social work women indulge in is usually DV shelters and women's issues, where men are simply not allowed. In other aspects of social work, it's about the same.

Answer 5

because women (not all) care through their hearts; men (not all) through their wallets.

Answer 6

Women do more volunteer work for several reasons.  There are many more SAHM than SAHF, thus, these women (the ones doing much of the volunteering) have more time.  Especially after children go to school.  Women are also more caring and nurturing in nature, thus feeling a need to better the lives of those less fortunate.

Often surgeons and others with specialties work long and sometimes unpredictable hours.  General practitioners have scheduled hours, which better ables women to spend time with and care for their families.  However women on average have smaller hands which they are able to steady better than men...on average.  So it would make sense for a women to be more suited for this job.

No men are not greedier.  I think that is based on the individuals personality and upbringing....mostly upbringing.

Answer 7

Well I don't think it is because women are more generous and caring than men. As there are just as many selfish women, I'm sure as selfish men or just as many that are self centered or unappreciative for that they do have. After all, you have seen some women complain or much about stupid popularity **** or jewelry or there's a show called Bridezilla and shows how women can be just as self centered as men. I'm thinking that it is more because women are more into social events than men are or gatherings, as even though it is volunteer stuff, there are other people or many people part of these things as a social thing to be apart of.

Answer 8

More time, perhaps. Though why it is seen as acceptable for SAHMs to engage in voluntary work but not paid employment beats me.

SOME men do seem to care more about their egos and money than in doing any decent work.

Treffy - "Money is vital in todays society. It is power, security and freedom". Yes, this is why certain men seek to keep women out of the workplace and from earning their own money. They do not want women to be powerful, secure or free.

DJ King - during the 20th century more women died in childbirth than soldiers in both world wars. Wars that MEN started. Forget that?

Answer 9

Tracey, although I with my social worker of a mother understand what you're getting at, this is just gonna be one more thing the trolls use to attack you :(

PS: Rock on, social workers (and Tracey)!

Answer 10

Labeled? Labeled? Your question ‘labels you’, for what you are (actually ‘Labelled’)

I have often wondered why you don’t ask very many questions, and why your answers are wit-less sarcasm, I have toyed with the idea that hiding behind the little quips are a brilliant brain, a great intelligence, that somehow can't actually be bothered to give us the benefit of your knowledge!!!

Now I clearly see this line of thought is so, so wrong

This is probably the best that you can come up with, I am only a young man in my teens and I find it so poor, so sad.

It is truly pitiful, and painful

In a previous statement you said that you and your ex husband mutually agreed to part, did it in fact hurt you more than you admit?

I do hope things can change for you, somehow somewhere in the near future

A life without any love is no life, no life at all!!!

Answer 11

cuz women r caring an loving... an men r jus selfish sobs.... whens the last time u saw a guy care bout any 1 but himself???

Answer 12

The underlying premise of this question is so loaded and presumptuous that I'll only offer some basic information to correct some egregious flaws in the assumptions.  The premise of your question is an egregious affront to my specialty and to the women in my profession.  The layman certainly cannot be expected to understand the details the life of a physician/surgeon, however, to make tacit assumptions demonstrates a terrible degree of disrespect for the medical profession, a noble profession, in my humble opinion.

Women who enter "lower paid" or primary care fields, e.g. family medicine, internal medicine, etc. do this primarily because the inherent rigours of a physician's life are unlike any other profession.  Because many women wish to start a family during the medical schooling or post-grad training, they have tremendous resposibilities and have to wear many hats to fulfill their professional obligations and still adequately tend to the family.  Because of this, women reasonably tend to enter primary care fields (as opposed to higher paying fields, e.g. surgical specialties) because the length of training is shorter and the rigour of a medical (non-surgical) lifestyle is considerably less.  This enables the female physician to manage carrying a baby, tending to her family without compromising the care of her patients.

Not many women enter the surgical specialties, and even less my subspecialty simply because of the lifestyle involved is terribly incompatible with tending to family.  The hours are insane, the training is very long and rigorous and the demands of a surgeon are far more intensive than those of a non-surgeon.  It is purely for reasons of practicality that women choose the "lower-paying" or primary care fields, nothing more complex, certainly no conspiracy to keep women from entering surgery.  In fact, there's a great push to provide incentives for women to enter surgery but naturally because of the many hats a woman must wear, most don't pursue it, I wouldn't either.  Men who enter surgery do it at a tremendous sacrifice to their social lives, family lives and in virtually all aspects.  Surgical specialists are not terribly common and are essentially "on the job 24/7," de facto, even when not on call.  Often a younger associate needs assistance and in matters of life or death, one simply can't brush it off.

With respect to volunteer work, the underlying premise is faulty.  My group members and I spend countless hours in consultation and surgery for uninsured patients, for no reimbursement.  Because of the complexity of my field, I have a primary obligation to my patients who are referred to me and have limited time for volunteering as compared to a professional in a primary care field, e.g. internal medicine.

I'm sure that the indigent patients I've treated with some of the most horrific conditions imagineable (at no cost, whilst assuming full liability) would vouch for the fact that I am a charitable surgeon and so are my colleagues, and I can't imagine how anything I do is selfish.

Please be careful in making such presumptions about fields with which you lack familiarity as one day you may require our services, and perhaps then you'll understand the severity of what we do.

It's rather apalling that tacit in your question is such an inherent hatred of my rather noble specialty.

Answer 13

because we are not as selfish

Answer 14

Men are more likely to be the main or sole supporter of a family.

Answer 15

An interesting question.

I suppose that most volunteer work is done by homemakers. They are mostly female. They have the time to do such work. Especially during the week when she's home alone.

Men are more interested in high paid surgical specialties rather than lower paying jobs in the medical field. Men are much more willing to take less comfortable, fulfilling or convenient employment if they will earn more money. It's the money.

You must understand that males are under much pressure to be "successful" or be able to provide for a family, even in these supposedly changing times.  Money is vital in todays society. It is power, security and freedom. Not being "successful" is failure for a man and failure is a man's worst fear. With honour* at stake it is ridiculous to worry about emotional fulfillment, comfort or philanthropy. That is the "oppression" that males have been under till even today.

That is why money is very important. I think few women understand this about men.

*I lack a more modern term at this time

Answer 16

Where are the stats for this?

Answer 17

There are several factors at play here.  The amount of time available to offer charitable organizations is more favorable for women because more women are at home and have the time to offer.

As far as which practice is chosen, that varies greatly.  I think when many men choose their profession they keep in mind that they may one day have a family to support, hence the need for more money. How is a man financially supporting his  family greedy?

Also many men pick practices that present  more of a challenge , and challenging practices usually pay more. Women may pick jobs that offer more flexibility to accomadate their family, that means less pay.

And then you have the men who do pick a profession purely for the good he can do through his work.  Surgeons are necessary to maintain the health of others too, no?

I don't believe for a second that men are more greedy than women.

Edit:  Well said ,Crouching Doggie.