Women geoscientists in the oil and gas industry make up a tiny number of elite professionals. They are privileged on every dimension – race, education, income – except for gender. But despite their rarity, I believe that their experiences can illuminate why equality in the corporate world remains an elusive…
Dr. Christine Williams is a professor of sociology and the Elsie and Stanley E. (Skinny) Adams, Sr. Centennial Professor in Liberal Arts at The University of Texas at Austin. Her research and teaching focus on gender and workplace issues. Williams would like to acknowledge the support of the Professional Women in EarthSciences (PROWESS) group of the American Association of Petroleum Geologists (AAPG).
Faculty website: https://liberalarts.utexas.edu/sociology/faculty/clwillia
Link to book: https://www.ucpress.edu/book/9780520385283/gaslighted
Oil and gas operations are commonly found in remote locations far from company headquarters. Now, it's possible to monitor pump operations, collate and analyze seismic data, and track employees around the world from almost anywhere. Whether employees are in the office or in the field, the internet and related applications enable a greater multidirectional flow of information – and control – than ever before.