Women vs. Men: Generosity

Why do you think women are more generous?

From USA Today:

Boomer and older women give 89% more of their total income to charity than their male counterparts when education, income, race, number of children and other factors affecting giving are equal, according to the Women Give 2012 report from the Women’s Philanthropy Institute at the Center on Philanthropy at Indiana University.

Women with more financial resources are even more generous than men with similar resources.

These women in the top 25% of “permanent” income — including salaries of $61,000 and higher and investments — give over 1.5 times more to charity than boomer and older men.

“We did find that women are more generous,” said Debra J. Mesch, institute director. “We’re not saying that women are better or men are worse, but that (charities) need to think about the differences in giving patterns and behavior of men and women.”…

 

So why are boomer and older women more willing to part with their money for good causes? Several factors are in play.

“It has to do with women being socialized to be the caregivers of their families and communities,” Mesch said.