A Case Study of Battered Women's Shelters in Appalachia

Case studies of women's organizations have focused on urban programs but neglected the unique problems faced by rural programs. This article explores the organizational politics of four rural battered women's programs in Appalachia. The lack of feminist networks, the defensiveness of communities, and organizational isolation present special challenges to rural women activists. These factors have shaped the organizational structures and tactics of rural-based organizations and have resulted in organizations that are different from their urban counterparts. A successful social movement to end male violence needs to maintain its flexibility of tone and method and to support its programs' adaptations to the communities in which they are located.