Gender and voluntary work in late adulthood in rural communities in the Netherlands |
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Authors: | Joos Droogleever Fortuijn Marieke van der Meer |
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Institution: | (1) Department of Geography, Planning and International Development Studies, University of Amsterdam, Nieuwe Prinsengracht 130, Amsterdam, 1018 VZ, The Netherlands |
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Abstract: | This article discusses the involvement of older women and men in voluntary work in rural communities in the Netherlands. Gender,
ageing and civil society form the core concepts in the article. Politicians and policy makers in the Netherlands are worried
about the perceived decline of civil society and about the consequences of this decline for specific categories of older women
in terms of well-being and social exclusion. The paper presents the results of two surveys of involvement of older women and
men in civic organisations, voluntary work and local actions. The surveys indicate high levels of involvement of both women
and men. No gender differences are found in activity level. However, the data demonstrate the gendered nature of civil society.
Women are more engaged in informal voluntary work and informal local actions, while men are more active in formal organisations
and functions. This gender segmentation is not absolute, however. Many older women and men transgress the traditional feminine–masculine
boundaries. The surveys highlight the involvement of women and men in rural communities, but indicate lower activity levels
in urban areas. |
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Keywords: | Voluntary work Civil society Gender Ageing Rural communities The Netherlands |
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