Due in large part to feminist action, domestic Violence against women is now recognized as a serious social problem in many contemporary societies. In spite of heightened awareness, state responses to protect and assist victims have usually been inadequate and underfunded. In many communities, feminists have organized to provide help to sisters in crisis. This project examines the origins, organization, and activities of an exceptionally effective grass-roots movement against violence on the small Caribbean island of St. Croix. It provides a useful model for other communities, particularly those of racial, ethnic, and economic diversity. The resource mobilization theory of social movements appears to best explain the emergence of this movement at a time when there was a large influx of new residents and capital on the island. Other relevant factors include extraordinary feminist leadership, the Caribbean cultural history of women's strength and activism, and the willingness of the Women's Coalition of St. Croix to deal with issues of race and ethnicity as well as gender in their struggle against all forms of social domination.
