Women Community Warriors of St. Croix

Abstract This essay highlights some of the unexpected leadership roles that women have played in relation to oil industry on St. Croix U.S. Virgin Islands (USVI) from 1965 present. The people (Crucians) a long and proud history strong as community family leaders. Despite their invisibility contemporary narratives refining under colonialism Croix, Crucian contested commonly held stereotypes women’s contributed to, well challenged, refinery own terms. article is part broader literature about across civil society, private sector, public sector Caribbean Latin America focuses agency. also unequal situations places like face when negotiating with multinational corporations colonial circumstances. While generates income for USVI, has environmental impacts injurious local population. colonial, neocolonial, patriarchal characteristics societies, leaders Caribbean, been constant phenomenon, not just recent occurrence. All this demonstrate centrality guidance, leadership, actions play fostering, functioning, protection families, communities, institutions Croix. created opportunities took matters into hands, demonstrating alternative expressions self values, action agency, whether through personal relations, labor protests, stringent economic negotiations, occupying political office, and/or community-based activism.