I'm a woman. I've only donated to Bernie.
Or the most simple explanation of all -- men give to men and most politicians are men. The women politicians seem to raise money well with women. If more candidates were women, perhaps women would be the bigger givers.
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I've read that charities have found that that when donating money to families to improve their well-being, giving it to women is the best way to ensure that it will be used as intended. Men use it to enhance their own status. Women use it to buy things their children need.
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This gives you a clue why Hillary is going to go from strength to strength.
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"Women good. Men bad." [Grin]
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Having been a registered Republican for most of my life - up until I watched Reagan act his way through 8 years of the Presidency- and now being 85 years of age, I frequently ask myself how any female voter can vote for a group of old men who wish to control those women, in ALL walks of life. Truly amazing...........
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In my case, like a lot of educated career women, I have remained politically liberal. My husband, on the other hand, has morphed into a Tea Party-leaning Republican. I rarely write big checks to liberal politicians because it is like waving a red flag in front of a bull -- I tend to prefer to keep the peace at home. I vote, and I participate in politics in other ways. I suspect I am not the only one in this situation.
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Seriously, get your own bank account and give for your well being and mental heath not to mention other women. Your husband is betraying your very existence. Many of us would not stay because that is the benefit of being an educated career woman with means we earned.
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"I tend to prefer to keep the peace at home."
I've often wondered why so many women vote Republican, when -- in general -- they are characterized as being Democrats. Yet...a lady once told me this (paraphrased) : "Women typically vote the way their husband does, to keep the peace at home."
Maybe not always true...but perhaps explains some things?
I've often wondered why so many women vote Republican, when -- in general -- they are characterized as being Democrats. Yet...a lady once told me this (paraphrased) : "Women typically vote the way their husband does, to keep the peace at home."
Maybe not always true...but perhaps explains some things?
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The odd thing is though, husbands won't know how their wives actually vote in the voting booth so wives should (and do) vote the way they want regardless.
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Why would the gender donor gap be surprising. Men, especially older men have far more money and run and own far more of big business than women. So it comes as no surprise that older men are the ones spending to buy legislation that they want to have more power and money.
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This article hits really close to home. I've made it a habit to donate more as my income grew, but I've made a point to never donate politically. Coming from a family of immigrants, I was raised with a deep distrust of government and politicians. This article does make me reconsider how shortsighted I might have been in my thinking. I don't donate politically, fewer women get elected to office, more laws unfavorable to women are created, I make less money than most men in my job, then I continue donating my share of a lower salary to non-political entities.
Might need to rethink some things.
Might need to rethink some things.
10
Great! I'm from a similar background -- first generation immigrant female professional with parents who are skeptical of politics.
However, in my own life and in taking care of patients, I've learned that some of the things I want to see change require more than individual action. Some changes require a united voice and engagement with the political process. I went from hardly voting in 2004 to volunteering for candidates I believe in, donating to causes I support, and even visiting Congressional offices in DC and locally. Some causes that many women support -- like local food banks -- are important but the reason why those are needed often can be traced back to politics -- offshoring of jobs, a low minimum wage, inadequate child care, lack of health insurance leading to inability to afford medication so one can work, etc.
However, in my own life and in taking care of patients, I've learned that some of the things I want to see change require more than individual action. Some changes require a united voice and engagement with the political process. I went from hardly voting in 2004 to volunteering for candidates I believe in, donating to causes I support, and even visiting Congressional offices in DC and locally. Some causes that many women support -- like local food banks -- are important but the reason why those are needed often can be traced back to politics -- offshoring of jobs, a low minimum wage, inadequate child care, lack of health insurance leading to inability to afford medication so one can work, etc.
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This story is not about a gender gap. What this story really points out is that voting is unimportant and meaningless because while women vote in higher numbers politicians are listening to money coming from men instead of what their voters are saying.
There are no surprises here as we have watched as "women's issues" remain on the back burner. Viagra funding versus women's birth control pills is an example.
There are no surprises here as we have watched as "women's issues" remain on the back burner. Viagra funding versus women's birth control pills is an example.
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I posit that men (big contributing ones, that is) are "giving at the office". They don't care about health care or reproductive rights, they are buying access to the office holder for business reasons. This is especially true for Congress, where few races are competitive and in need of money. Those donations are merely putting the Congressman on retainer.
Given the existing imbalance of men in executive positions, it follows that men are the big contributors.
Given the existing imbalance of men in executive positions, it follows that men are the big contributors.
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About 20 years ago, MONEY magazine surveyed about 25,000 readers about their relationship with money.
Compared to men, women were much less likely to lend $$$ to someone and if they lent then the amount was smaller.
More recent studies indicate that when dating and looking for possible partner (spouse), unlike men, who blindly look at their partner's figure and attractiveness, women are much more pragmatic and ask themselves: Can he be a (sole or at least the main) provider?
Money as an important criteria is the case for women even when they now in 29% of households outearn their spouses and represent 62% of all college graduates.And even when they do not plan to have children, a spouse who can bring home at least as much as she does is still the criteria.
With political party contributions it is apparently clear that women in significant majority support Democrats also as they (rightly) see them and big government Dems promote as a supplement or even a substitution for men they send out away from family home and from children. The belief that government (taxpayers) will come to help seems to overwhelm otherwise money rational women as they seek (in 74% of all divorces) divorce and end up with "feminization of poverty".
BTW: High divorce rates are indeed good for our economy as studies show that two post-divorce (even while unequal) households spend on average 40% more than one, pre-divorce household. So supporting Dems might also means to support economy.
Compared to men, women were much less likely to lend $$$ to someone and if they lent then the amount was smaller.
More recent studies indicate that when dating and looking for possible partner (spouse), unlike men, who blindly look at their partner's figure and attractiveness, women are much more pragmatic and ask themselves: Can he be a (sole or at least the main) provider?
Money as an important criteria is the case for women even when they now in 29% of households outearn their spouses and represent 62% of all college graduates.And even when they do not plan to have children, a spouse who can bring home at least as much as she does is still the criteria.
With political party contributions it is apparently clear that women in significant majority support Democrats also as they (rightly) see them and big government Dems promote as a supplement or even a substitution for men they send out away from family home and from children. The belief that government (taxpayers) will come to help seems to overwhelm otherwise money rational women as they seek (in 74% of all divorces) divorce and end up with "feminization of poverty".
BTW: High divorce rates are indeed good for our economy as studies show that two post-divorce (even while unequal) households spend on average 40% more than one, pre-divorce household. So supporting Dems might also means to support economy.
2
Until I lived in a poor republican state, I didn't think so often of how many among our American population are left out, or decline to participate in surveys intended to determine statistical percentages.
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The report here only deals with the first names of donors and thus ignores cases where married couples equally participate (privately) in deliberations over gifts : Perhaps married couples divide up the act of giving unequally but bear the economic costs equally. The wife may prefer to be in contact with charitable organizations - with attendant social connections - while the husband is more inclined to enjoy the rough and tumble world of politics....though both are equally committed to the same causes. If this were so, the differential in giving to charitable causes versus political ones scrutinized by the first name of the actual donor would be misleading as to underlying commitment of men versus women.
2
I never gave to a politician in my life before this year. As the saying goes, "How can you tell when a politician is lying? His (or her) lips are moving."
Now I'm a monthly contributor to the Sanders campaign.
Now I'm a monthly contributor to the Sanders campaign.
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I finally visited Sanders’ website after reading about him in the NYT. Suddenly, I’m signing up to volunteer and becoming a monthly donor.
For the first time in my life, as an educated middle-aged woman, I’m finally becoming politically active. Why did it take me so long?
For the first time in my life, as an educated middle-aged woman, I’m finally becoming politically active. Why did it take me so long?
2
Women may be more outraged about the part BIG money plays in politics and might be more inclined to volunteer/work for a candidate than give money. Senators Bernie Sanders and Elizabeth Warren, along with President Obama, have proven that small donors help candidates win because that small donation comes with a vote and millions of them from across the Nation show REAL support - and winning.
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