Mexico and Latin America

Historically, women have played a salient role in Latin American philanthropy, such as in the case of Eva Peron in 20th century Argentina.

Yet the participation of women in philanthropy in Mexico and Latin America has received very little attention from researchers. Some few things can be said, though, as women’s participation in philanthropy meets the eye on an everyday basis: whether through the ritual commitment of the first lady in philanthropic activities, or the everywoman raising money for charities on the streets.

Research by the Mexican Centre for Philanthropy – Centro Mexicano para la Filantropía – which is headed by a woman, shows that women who participate in charitable organisations are mostly between 35-50 years of age (55%) and 50+ (36%), belong to middle or high-income groups, and have had access to higher education (64%). Although the women researched reported that their participation in philanthropy stems from social concerns or from family or religions traditions, they noted that their involvement is also connected with events such as the 1968 student movement, the feminist movement of the 1970s; the 1985 earthquake; the economic and political crises of 1988, 1994 and 1995; or the 1994 Chiapas rebellion.

The same report found that most Third Sector Organisations (TSOs) address education and health issues, mostly in urban areas, and directed their efforts towards cross-sections of the population identified as most vulnerable (low-income women and children, indigenous population). Women’s participation in TSOs has tended to become more professional over the years. Nevertheless, it remains largely voluntary and non-paid. Although increasingly professionalised, women tend to make use of traditional ways of fundraising, such as raffles, bazaars, and the use of personal contacts.

Ruben D. Flores Sandoval is a Mexican PhD researcher at the University of Kent, Canterbury.