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Beyond bonding? Voluntary associations social capital and gender: a case study of women’s participation in context
Christie Robertson
School of Social Science and Policy and Social Policy Research Centre, UNSW
Contact Email: c.robertson
student.unsw.edu.au
Voluntary associations are core sites for the production of social capital. The ties that bind members enable access to resources that enhance the agency of individuals and groups, and can facilitate the creation of collective goods. This can provide for women vital opportunities for social connection and empowerment that are central to a feminist enterprise. Social capital research however often decontextualises participation in voluntary associations: neglecting the gendered dimension of involvement, and the way that social capital operates in particular organisational contexts. This paper addresses these issues, presenting data from a qualitative case study of a women’s service organisation in the Australian context. The analysis reveals that social capital, when viewed in context, both enables and constrains the effectiveness of organisations. Understanding these processes provides valuable information for those interested in investing in social capital.
Paper
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Paper165.ppt
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Copyright © 2007 Social Policy Research Centre.
