It's not just JWs, any "new" religion, whether it's evangelicals moving into new areas (South and Central America are *huge* for conversions) or new religions altogether, those who feel powerless and disenfranchised under the former regime look to new religion to give them a different kind of power (recognition, social legitimacy).
Also, lots of these women are looking for religion to solve their problems with their husbands/families - alcoholism, abuse, etc. What they don't know isthat sometimes the new religion makes things worse.