Women, according to a new study in the Journal of Consumer Research, are more likely than men to give overseas. An excellent analysis of the study and speculation about its implications can be found in Sex and Giving, on Philanthrocapitalism blog.

Blog writers Matthew Bishop & Michael Green speculate on reasons why women are more like to think globally in their philanthropy focus, based on this elemental research study.

Bill and Melinda Gates via Tedizen on FlickrTheir reasons are valid — yes Melinda Gates has influenced Bill’s conscience and awareness of the world at large. Smart Sensuality women — while stylish and not unconsumers — are less concerned about the clothes in their closet than starving children in India.

At a fundamental level, I believe the real answer to the gender difference lies with the Cultural Creatives vs Modern values sets.

Men are more likely to be Moderns, whereas 65% of the Cultural Creatives are women. CC’s remain smaller in numbers than Moderns (about 30% of the American population, compared to 45-50% Moderns, but they are growing rapidly and probably even stronger in the college population surveyed in the study.)

Global Village Festival Amersfoort 2006, via Flickr’s hansspeekenbrinkCultural Creatives are more likely to be global givers’ generally. Moderns want their names on the building, and Traditionals tend to be church givers.