The advanced drilling technology of hydraulic fracturing has revolutionized the energy industry in the United States. Hydraulic fracturing, or “fracking, is a method that injects a huge highly pressurized mixture of water, sand, and chemicals deep into the earth to break up dense shale rock and release oil and gas formerly trapped in it (Chemicals Involved in Fracking Are a Public Health Risk). This drilling technique had helped the United States petroleum production become the world leader. “It generates more than half of all oil produced in the U.S., up from less than 2 percent in 2000 (The fight over fracking). It also created tens of thousands of jobs and helped lower the price of gas. However, the technique used in fracking and the extensive use of it has raised concerns about environmental and public health risks in the United States (US).
Fracking destroys natural landscapes, contaminates ground and surface water, contributes to global climate change, and increases earthquakes. Fracking expanded too quickly to known and understand the full impacts of it. Despite the benefits of fracking, it does not outweigh the risks, thus fracking should be stopped. The fracking operation requires around five acres of land to be clear and level which means turning forests and rural areas into industrial zones and disintegrate wildlife habitat. It needs a lot of space to accommodate the well pad, drilling equipment, storage facilities, and new access roads. A fracking well involves drilling a vertical hole deep underground to reach the shale rock beneath the earth’s surface. Next, a highly pressurized mixture of millions of gallons of water, chemicals, and sand are injected into the shale to release gas and oil formerly trapped. Although the well bore is cased in metal and concreate, which claims to keep drilling materials and chemicals inside, critics contend that drilling materials can still escape into the ground and contaminate freshwater.
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The US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) found that “two-third wells in Pennsylvania showed that between 6 and 7 percent experienced leakage due to poor structural integrity between 2010 and 2012 (Fracking). The process of fracking also requires a huge amount of fresh water to flush out deep oil and gas reserves. Fracking “uses about 2 to 4 million gallons of water each time a well is fracked. The EPA estimates that about 35,000 wells are fracked each year and the amount used in annual drilling could supply five million people per year with drinking water (Chemicals Involved in Fracking Are a Public Health Risk). These huge volumes of water also exhaust resources needed for agriculture. Fracking potentially also contributes to global climate change. In the process of fracking, methane and a potent greenhouse gas are releases both accidentally and intentionally. Furthermore, during fracking, large volumes of wastewater mixed with fracking chemicals backflow to the surface of the well. In the US, a common disposal method for this waste has been to inject the backflow back into deep underground disposal wells.
These deep wells are designed to prevent the water from escaping and contaminating drinking water aquifers, surface water, and ecosystems. However, an inspection of Ohio fracking operations found “at least sixty-three cases in which improper construction or maintenance of wastewater impoundments led to contamination of nearby soil and water (Fracking). In addition, when wastewater in injected into underground wells, it can further destabilize rock layers and potentially induce earthquakes. For instance, “In Oklahoma, the rapid increase of fracking operations since 2008 has contributed to seismic activity forty times greater than previous years (Fracking). Further, fracking has possibly triggered dozens of small earthquakes in some other states as well. During the fracking boom the EPA received thousands of complaints about water from families that live near drilling locations, “private wells appearing yellow or brown, having a foul smell, clogging drains with sand and muck, or even igniting when exposed to flame (Fracking).
Those families who use contaminated water for consuming and bathing reported health complaints such as “stomach aches, rashes, dizzy spells, and difficulty breathing (The fight over fracking). In another example of fracking issues, a 2014 a study found that “children in Colorado who lived within ten miles of a gas well during their prenatal development faced a 30 percent higher risk of congenital heart disease, and twice the risk of neural tube defects, as children who were not exposed to gas extraction emissions (Fracking). Overtime, more and more of similar health problem had been reported. Another example of health problem resulting from fracking is the Headley family in Pennsylvania. In 2005 they bought a 115-acre ranch with a creek that ran through the property. Though they owned the property, they didn’t realize that the previous owner had leased the oil and gas property rights to gas companies before they move in. Those rights allow the companies to legally extract the oil and gas from their property at any time. Fracking by those companies lead to health issues including stomach aches, rashes, dizzy spells, and difficulty breathing. Several of their neighbors had similar experiences and it is believed that the chemicals used for fracking had leaked into the water supply, contaminating the creek and nearby water wells (The fight over fracking).
The expansion of fracking has played a major role in the US. It helped the US produce more oil domestically and less dependent on foreign oil. This avoided us from global disputes and spikes in prices. The fossil fuel experts insist that “fracking is safe, and that the oil and gas industry follow guidelines to prevent water contamination (The fight over fracking). Fracking also help the US transition away from coal which is considered as a “dirty fossil fuel, as compared to natural gas that comes from fracking (The fight over Fracking), and it is what scientists believe is a major contributor to climate change. Fracking provided jobs and has bought money to the poor parts of the US. Many places have benefited from fracking, and with thousands of workers, new restaurants, big grocery stores, and hotels have been built to accommodate the new workforce. However, the boast of “new jobs created by fracking only last through the construction phases of development. Fracking might seem to have many good benefits for the US however, with the risks that come with it, many people don’t think it is worth it. Fracking should be studied more to find ways to limit the risks and possible harm. Fracking should probably have more oversite and regulations to ensure that it is done without harming the environment. “The gas isn’t going anywhere, so what’s the rush? If we do it, we should do it right (Chemicals Involved in Fracking Are a Public Health Risk). Without due care, fracking might cause more harm in both the short and long term than any immediate benefit received.
Transgender Youth Coming Out
Transgender youth all around the world face the common social and emotional challenges of “coming out”. This can be a struggle for many of these individuals who are in young adulthood, still developing. Trying to balance dealing with the process of coming out and the stigma that comes along with it while attempting to explore, make commitments and deal with the social norm’s society creates are all challenges that may hinder a young adult’s development.
Young adulthood is a very challenging and exciting time in life, bringing new opportunities and new challenges. Some of the known social role transitions for these young adults are, gaining independence in decision making, leaving home, taking on work or education tasks, making a partnership commitment and more (Hutchison,2015). Young adults are confronted with new opportunities along with the stressors that come with emerging adulthood like finances, planning, education pursuits and in a young transgenders case, another stressor – “coming out”.
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Identity development is a major aspect of young adulthood, especially for transgender individuals. This is known as the transition from dependency in childhood into increasing responsibility for one’s own needs, interests, drives and desires in adulthood. Researchers have found that the transition into young adulthood excites new definitions of identity and one’s place in society, which then leads to potential changes in self-esteem and self-concepts. This is where these individuals take place in self-understanding, coming to a realization of who they are and who they want to be through gender identity and/or sexual orientation (Hutchison,2015).
There are many factors that put individuals at risk when making this transition into young adulthood. Being a transgender trying to come out is a major risk for these individuals outside of the social norm, dealing with loads of stigma. Dealing with challenges in their homes, school, work place etc. are all factors that take a toll on one’s stress level. A national survey found that 75 percent of transgender youth feel unsafe at school, and those who were able to endure the uncomfortable feelings still had significantly lower GPAs, were more likely to miss school out of concern for their safety and were less likely to plan on continuing their education (Youth&Students,2018).
Unfortunately, schools are not known as the safe spaces they should be for transgender youth, who are known to experience bullying and harassment at very alarming rates. Studies show that between 78 and 86 percent of transgender students experience verbal harassment in their schools due to their sexual orientation or gender identity (Cray,2013). Bullying can and is known to directly result in physical injury and significant emotional distress. The health effects of bullying and stigma these individuals face also go beyond the time of the harassment. These youths who are victims of bullying are at increased risk for depression, anxiety and other negative health outcomes in their futures as well. These issues put transgender youths at a disadvantage and very well hinders their development.
It is not just hostility from peers that threatens the development for these young transgenders. The lack of acceptance from one’s own family is a major emotional challenge these individuals face. Lack of communication and misunderstanding between parents and their trans youth increases family conflict. Problems with communication and lack of understanding about sexual orientation and gender identity can lead to fighting and family disruption that can result in major emotional challenges for these individuals (Ryan,2009). These factors increase their risk for serious health and mental health problems. For example, research shows that transgender people who were rejected by their families because of their identity have much lower self-esteem and have fewer people they can turn to for help. They are also more isolated because of their lack of support and overall have less support than those who are accepted by their families (Human Rights Campaign,2018).
Young adults with severe emotional difficulties like many of these transgenders, are likely to face more challenges in the transition into adulthood (Hutchison,2015). These individuals are known for having trouble forming meaningful interpersonal relationships, maintaining employment, managing health needs and gaining financial independence. Many of these young adults with little to no stable support systems are left with the risk of becoming homeless. Without emotional support a number of stressful events are bound to occur, and it will be very difficult to overcome.
As a social worker handling cases of these youths facing the stressors, struggles and stigma that come with “coming out”, I would use the Intersectionality theory and Erikson’s Psychosocial theory to analyze the factors that affect the development of young transgender adults. Intersectionality theory consists of overlapping various social identities of an individual such as race, gender, sexuality, and class which contribute to the specific type of systemic oppression and discrimination experienced by an individual. Erikson’s Psychosocial theory consists of eight stages of psychosocial development, young adulthood being one of the eight. Within this theory, young adulthood is described as the time when individuals move from the identity fragmentation, confusion, and exploration of adolescence into more intimate engagement with significant others. Erikson believed that an unsuccessful effort at this stage might lead the young adult to feel alienated, disconnected and alone (Hutchison,2015).
In this case of young transgenders facing numerous of emotional and mental issues, intersectionality is useful because the individual’s gender and sexual identity contribute to the stigma society puts on them.
