Most people believe that men control more money than women. Men are also thought to give more to charity. Both are untrue. Women actually control slightly more than half of all personal wealth. And women give twice as much to charity as men do.
Minorities also give more than is commonly believed.
Black women, for instance, are more likely to donate to charity than white women. Minorities generally are more likely to give if asked but are asked less often than whites. Myths pervade giving patterns, too. Most Americans think children and the poor should receive more donations than women. But women represent more than 50 percent of the poor.