Recently, it has come to my attention that many, if not most, charity organizations engage in gender discrimination. It is one thing if a charity is labelled specifically for women or men or or single fathers or single mothers. A person can choose whether or not to donate to them by their own conscience. Indeed, there are many times when gender specific charities are necessary because of the differing needs of people of different genders or orientations in different areas. In some places, for instance, Gay men face violent oppression that Lesbians do not, because the latter are considered less of a threat. In some places, single mothers are stigmatized more than single fathers to the point that their children are harmed or deprived.
I’m not saying that gender specific charities are wrong, it’s just that I want to know exactly who is getting what and why, when I give the tenth of my income that I must, to a charity or spiritual organization. If I am giving, for instance, to earthquake relief, I want to know that everybody who has been hurt will get care regardless of their gender or orientation. If anything, the main consideration should be age, not gender.
I want to know that if a teenaged boy has been injured or rendered an orphan and homeless, he is not going to get passed over in favor of a woman with a splinter whose relatives with a summer house in the Bahamas are waiting to take her in. I want to know that if it was me who was looking for shelter in a war or natural disaster, my sons would be as welcome as my daughters.
So I am seeking charities that are not gender biased. It is important to me because in a bad situation wherein strong hands and arms and legs are needed to fix a situation or rebuild, men are needed. I believe that there would be much less looting and other chaos if men are brought into relief efforts instead of being shut out.
If you know of any organizations that are truly egalitarian, please comment.
