ABSTRACT
Leading theories in the social sciences consider women's activities and their positions in society as subsidiary to those of men. Consequently, many studies overlook women completely. As Lynda M. Joyce and Samuel M. Leadley point out, research often treats women as a "factor" which explains the success of men. As is true of the general female population, age at marriage and divorce rates are increasing among rural women while fertility and household size are declining. During the 1960s and 1970s, women accounted for nearly all of the employment growth in nonmetropolitan counties. Rural industrialization has increased the rate of labor force participation among nonmetro women, but the jobs are concentrated in low-skill and low-wage occupations and industries. Research on rural women in the 1980s should examine both individual and social consequences of maintaining and changing sexual inequalities. Research on human relationships is important to resolving occupational health and safety, sexual harassment, and other work place issues.
