Book profiles women in Alaska’s petroleum industry
July 26, 2018
The University of Alaska Press recently released "Wildcat Women: Narratives of Women Breaking Ground in Alaska’s Oil and Gas Industry," by Carla Williams.
"Wildcat Women" portrays the lives of 14 women working in Alaska’s North Slope oil
fields. They share their experiences working outside in minus-50-degree winds and
inside warm offices.
Having left friends and family across the United States, the women arrived to find
challenges in the barren landscape and the traditionally masculine jobs. Enduring
12-hour days for weeks without a break strengthened their resolve and reinforced their
ability to transcend workplace gender roles. These women represent today’s pioneers
as equal agents of progress in a new frontier.
Williams grew up in Crosby, Minnesota. She lived in Alaska for 40 years, in Anchorage
and Fairbanks, and graduated from UAF with a bachelor's degree in English. She spent
most of her career working in Alaska’s oil and gas industry. She is married to Don
Williams and has a son, Shane.
For more information about this title and more, visit www.uapress.alaska.edu or call 800-621-2736.