ABSTRACT
Women are the majority of the population, and like men, they are to be found in every category of every social classification of people. Thus, it is neither possible nor desirable to discuss the situation of women in resource communities as if all women have similar experiences. To do so would only perpetuate the stereotypes and assumptions regarding women in these communities that are commonly held by planners and policymakers in government and industry. On the other hand, theory and research suggest that members of a gender have a great deal in common: experiences, values, expectations, constraints, and worldviews that set the genders apart from one another. Since there are gender-related differences in attitudes, values, behavior, etc., between rural and urban dwellers, in-migrants may be different from longtimers and be in the vanguard of social change in the community. Middle-class women, who are generally more readily accepted by the local community, may throw themselves into volunteer work.
