Environmental Injustice: Re-Conceptualizing Fracking as Gender-Based Violence

• In Event: Gender-Based Violence and Victimization in Diverse Contexts

Abstract

Unconventional gas extraction technology involving horizontal drilling and hydraulic fracturing, commonly referred to as “fracking”, is the subject of extensive environmental controversies, and its adverse effects on the health of nearby communities are well-documented. However, its specific impact on women, particularly Indigenous women, women of color, and economically disadvantaged women, remains underexplored and theorized. This is particularly relevant in the context of ongoing debates related to what constitutes gender-based violence, crime, and social harm. Evidence suggests a correlation between fracking regions and high rates of interpersonal violence against women, necessitating further investigation, and exploration in terms of its complex relationship with other forms of social harm. By researching the experiences of women living in these regions in the US, this paper seeks to bridge existing gaps in the literature, providing a more comprehensive and nuanced understanding of fracking's impact on women and the intersectional relationship between gender-based violence and environmental issues.

Authors

• Jayne Mooney, City University of New York

• Fintan Mooney, Yale University