In the past, financial crises have worsened the lives of many, directly or indirectly. In
crisis, often both incomes and social protection decrease, affecting the poor, who
frequently have a higher percentage of women and ethnic minorities. However, due to
the physical separation of China’s rural poor from its wealthier urban areas, the impact of
the global financial crisis on the poor is not entirely clear. In this paper, we discuss the
extent of the impact of the American financial crisis on China, its rural poor, and
particularly on vulnerable groups, including women and minorities. We use firsthand
qualitative data from Sichuan province to illustrate ongoing problems created by the
global crisis.