historically women have often been confined to the home while their husbands were expected to earn a living to support their families. this was particularly true in resource communities as little job diversity existed, particularly for women, as the forestry and mining sectors have always been male dominated. these gender roles however are changing as we move into a post-industrial era characterized by the advancement of the knowledge economy. the knowledge economy is defined by the shift from an economy centered on the production of goods to the production and distribution of knowledge.