Document Type
Encyclopedia Entry
Keywords
volunteer; volunteerism; historical perspective; social issue; American life
Publisher
East River Books
Publication Source
Social Issues in America: An Encyclopedia, Volume 7
Rights Management
CC BY-NC-ND
Abstract
To engage in voluntarism, as the term is commonly understood today, is to freely offer support in the service of others. Defining the concept in such general terms, however, ignores a number of important factors, such as the motives leading individuals to choose such action, the means by which the activity occurs, and the broader implications of voluntarism for society. This chapter looks at voluntarism from a historical perspective to demonstrate the numerous and sometimes conflicting ways the concept has been understood. Recognizing voluntarism as a social issue requires examining it in the variety of historical contexts and settings that have made it a significant aspect of American life.
Comments
Entry in: Social Issues in America: An Encyclopedia, Volume 7 / edited by James Ciment. Published by in Santa Barbara, CA: M.E. Sharpe, 2006.
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