The status of women throughout the world continues to be a position of inferiority despite recent strides in equality. The advances between the sexes is often negated as wealth inequality between the poor and rich continues to widen, disproportionally affecting women and their families. Some women have addressed these social ills by constructing or engaging in community organizations that challenge the oppression and discrimination faced by their communities. Some of these organizations provide direct services for individuals discarded by society, while others target the systemic issues that perpetuate social inequalities.

The aims of this exploratory study were to explore (a) the conditions that prompted the formation of the women's organizations, (b) the experiences of poor women who develop and lead community organizations in China and the United States, and (c) and the affects of engagement of community work on their accumulation and/or depletion of capital. Framed by feminist epistemology, the data for this study was derived from semi-structured in-depth interviews with 16 poor women who related their experiences as initial developers and leaders in community organizations. Twelve women from the United States and four women from China participated in the study during the summer and fall of 2007. Data analysis included the use of qualitative and descriptive methods by using an inductive approach geared toward identifying general patterns.

By providing invaluable accounts of their personal experience, this study suggests poor women, who engage in community work, employ various strategies for capital accumulation for themselves and their communities. Yet, because of their neglected status in society, many of the participants had to shed the bonds of internalized oppression, which became possible through the critical consciousness-rising activities used in their community work. Despite sociopolitical-cultural differences between the two samples, both groups were about exchange and negotiate capital for the benefit of their families. Differences between the organizations in China and United States were explored.

Because of the dearth of research on community organizations by poor women, future research is needed to further explore the experiences of these dynamic women. The women reflected on the many benefits of engaging in community work for both themselves and their communities. Social work needs to again embrace this method. Specifically, social work educators should incorporate knowledge and skills about community organization methods into curriculum because of the success and benefits to marginalized communities and individuals. Dilemmas arising in cross-national research were also discussed.