Women in Energy Boom Towns

A certainty for the future of the United States is the increased development of domestic energy sources and, consequently, an increase in the number of energy boom towns. Although the negative social consequences for these small, rapidly growing communities have been amply documented, little is known about how energy development specifically affects women. Data from an exploratory study of women in an energy boom town and a preboom town suggest that women do not benefit equally with men and are even disadvantaged by energy development. Categories of families and employed women are discussed, and the findings are related to the broader topic of women and development.