This study examines how class, gender, socialization, and member selectivity relate to the importance members of a higher-status women's organization attach to community problems. Most members come from the traditional, business-oriented middle class and politically moderate upper class. They see child welfare and health, education, substance abuse, adolescent issues, economic well-being and environment as the most important issues, but adopt establishment-oriented approaches to solving them. Lowest ratings go to issues associated with confrontational activism or the liberal agenda — citizen involvement, urban revitalization, and race relations — and cultural enrichment. Class standing, personal characteristics, and length of membership are little related to importance ratings, nor do newer members have more diverse views. The organization evidently achieves consensus by attracting members with similar views rather than by socialization.
