<p>it is against all kinds of laws to take a weapon onto a rig. Sheesh.</p>
<p>"Using your risk / benefit analysis then, MiamiDAP, I can only assume you have (or would have) advised your daughters (if you have them) NOT to attend college then, since these places seem to have some of the highest rates of sexual assualt and violence against women. "
-Incorrect assumption. There is no comparison and much more depend on a girl. You do not have to attend the wild parties. You have to report to work at certain hours, you have to live in certain places, and they are very far from Honors dorms
Any way, why are you arguing with me. You can advise based on your logic and life experience. I am advising based on mine. I have nothing against your advice. But I do not live in the most dangerous place and I cannot advise others (including my D.) to do the same. Nobody can guarantee anything. In fact, we are paying for way overpriced studio for our D. specifically because we felt that the building is more secure than many others with much better apartments. But again, it is OUR perception. We can be wrong, but else we can use for our decision?</p>
<p>If you get onto the scene there and find it threatening, perhaps you could outfit yourself one of those necklaces that seniors wear around the neck with an emergency call button to 911. Well, these are the kinds of suggestions you hear on a Parents Forum.</p>
<p>Bear spray. Or wasp spray with the long nozzle.</p>
<p>Where is this in the Dakotas? Near the man camps?</p>
<p>Any weapon you carry can be used against you. I like the call-necklace idea.</p>
<p>As someone else said, I know women who worked the North Slope back in the day without incident. The North Slope, however, was run by major oil companies, which had strict policies about everything - safety, environment, harrasment, etc. You flew up and back in a chartered 727 landing on a gravel runway.</p>
<p>In the Bakken, however, most of the operations are smaller independents, who generally don’t have the comprehensive and strict policies that the big oil companies do. Housing is a big problem in Western North Dakota - there just isn’t enough, and lots of people sleep in cars because there is not enough room in motels and man camps.</p>
<p>This is the place to be if you want to be on the cutting edge of petroleum geology, petroleum engineering and E&P operations. I would look closely at what policies and procedures the employer has in place, and most closely at what housing would be provided.</p>
<p>I don’t think a call-necklace, however that would work, would be very effective in this environment. The police forces out there are way overstretched, and you can’t depend on anyone responding (police or private security) in any reasonable amount of time.</p>
<p>Whenhen, does the Hillel or JCC offer krav maga? It would be good for you to know. The dog idea is good too. The rest of the advice you have been given is good. Be as smart as possible about your choices and your friends and you should be okay.</p>
<p>Buy a Plan B emergency contraception and bring it with you, and hope you never have to use it.</p>
<p>HIMom, I doubt I’d know anyone directly at this job although there would be friend of a friend type connections. I am well trained in self defense although that training only goes so far.</p>
<p>Paying3tuitions, it would likely be possible to develop a list of subtasks if I get the job. The person who recommended me is both my lab partner and the son of one of the higher ups at a service firm. If I get it, I will also consult with some DV people in rural Oklahoma (I’m in a class with the head of counseling at the OU so he would likely be able to connect me with people familiar with the challenges of a rural environment). As far as the dogs go, while I love them, the position is only for the summer. I cannot in good conscience, adopt a dog for three months and then send it right back to the shelter. Also, the area it’s in is a boomtown by almost all measures, so I’m not sure how effective a 911 thing would be although I’ll look into it. </p>
<p>Hunt, yes it’s just hearsay at this point. However, the claims came from female PetEs that have worked in the types of environments that I’m describing. </p>
<p>MaineLonghorn, as dadX3 pointed out, there’s a big difference in culture between the supermajors which dominate the Alaska industry and the service companies which are exploiting the relatively new ND/WY market. The bureaucratic structures which make Shell and BP so accommodating are often absent with the smaller firms. </p>
<p>Zoosermom, agreed. As it stands I no longer drink more than two beers at a time and only very rarely smoke marijuana. </p>
<p>Bullet, thanks for the quote. </p>
<p>Consolation and atomom, while the ideas of professional dress are slightly different for this industry (to put it mildly), I agree with your thoughts. I’m quite used to being around only males and for the most part, they treat me relatively equally. </p>
<p>Sopranomom, thank you for the suggestion of the RAD. I’ll look into it, and ask my professor (the head of counseling at OU) if he can recommend me one to look into. </p>
<p>Bluebayou, thanks for the reminder. Frankly given my total lack of experience with guns, I don’t think it would be wise to buy one, regardless of how useful or not they may be. </p>
<p>dstark, without disclosing too much, I’ll just say that it’s in the Southwest corner of the state and there is a man camp there. The actual facilities for females are rather nice since there are so few. </p>
<p>DadX3: This is a smaller company which means that the prevention strategies the supermajors have in place are largely absent. As you said, ND is the place to be for someone in PetE, geology, or a number of other non alternative energy related majors. </p>
<p>BoysX3: Hillel does not, but one of the guys in ROTC leads a self defense course at the campus gym. Though I’ve had years of training, and have successfully defended myself against a drugged out man (used to work as a sign dancer in a bad neighborhood), I’ll look into taking the ROTC course. </p>
<p>Arabrab: Thank you for the plan B suggestion. Hopefully it won’t be necessary.</p>
<p>How about Plan C: apply for a job w a supermajor</p>
<p>My GPA isn’t high enough and for my major they mostly take masters students.</p>
<p>What is your major?</p>
<p>Geology with a probable minor in math. Pure geology tends to be a field where a graduate degree is extremely useful, although it’s not one where it’s required, especially if the person is willing to work in less than ideal conditions.</p>
<p>whenhen, you sound like a sensible, thoughtful person. That alone substantially reduces your risk.</p>
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<p>Thank you! The idea of getting a dog solely for this reason is as bad as the idea of getting a gun. </p>
<p>And regarding the likelihood of sexual assault, I think in these circumstances it is wise to discriminate. Some people consider a guy putting his hand on your ass uninvited as “sexual assault.” While it is unpleasant and unwarranted, there is HUGE difference between that and being raped, or literally having to fight someone off. I strongly doubt that things are so wild there that every lone woman has to tote a gun to beat off attackers. (Pepper spray is not a bad idea, though…)</p>
<p>^^Totally agree with that post #36!</p>
<p>Consolation, I was just coming here to say that.</p>
<p>I don’t think this is referring to rape, I think it’s referring to unwanted sexual attention.</p>
<p>And for god’s sake don’t get a gun. So a guy touches you inappropriately…your reaction is…to SHOOT him? This country scares the hell out of me…</p>
<p>I think people were saying to get a gun for self protection, in case someone tried to break into your house and attack you, not shoot someone because they grab your butt.</p>
<p>I would only recommend a gun to someone who is very comfortable with firearms, to have in their house and not necessarily carry it around. Only for the worst possible scenario.</p>
<p>whenhen, have you seen this blog post? It does contain information about strippers and sex workers, but more relevantly, also about the environment for more “regular” women on the oil fields. The links to the New York Times articles may be especially interesting.</p>
<p><a href=“http://www.brownpoliticalreview.org/2013/12/fracking-stripping-speaking-the-politics-of-sex-work/[/url]”>http://www.brownpoliticalreview.org/2013/12/fracking-stripping-speaking-the-politics-of-sex-work/</a></p>
<p>I wish you the best, and am sorry that concerns of this type are legitimate concerns.</p>