It’s All About Reputation, Or Is It?
The wealth disparity in The Woodlands and the surrounding areas, I argue, is greatly reflected in the prevalence of the Oil and Gas Industry giant, ExxonMobil. Furthermore, I believe that the populous of The Woodlands tries to uphold a reputation of a higher-class society, which furthers the wealth gap. During normal economic conditions, ExxonMobil routinely hires various professionals and forces these new hires to re-locate to a closer proximity to their offices. For instance, in 2015, ExxonMobil opened an enormous campus to ensure a return on their immense physical investments. The Oil Conglomerate often hires the upper echelon of professionals, typically matching their employees’ skills with a generous paycheck. Thus, more upper class individuals are encouraged to find residence within the nearest city, furthering the reputation of The Woodlands and the subsequent wealth gap. I think it is also important to note, as brought up by one of my peer reviewers, The Woodlands actively works to maintain a reputation, which appeals to upper class individuals. For example, construction projects often gain more traction when the resulting development appeals to a wealthier population: evident in the construction of the two-story Louis Vuitton outlet in Market Street, the further development of expensive gated communities, and the lack of lower income consumer stores (the populous of The Woodlands would often rather have a new Whole Foods than a Costco). As for remaining questions, researching the public perception of lower income people living in The Woodlands is an important aspect of understanding the perceived reputation of The Woodlands. How do current residents view more equitable additions to the city? Also, is the reputation of The Woodlands furthered by factors other than high paying jobs? Finally, did this reputation of an extravagant society exist before ExxonMobil began operations in The Woodlands area? If so, what factors initialized this wealth disparity? Furthermore, specifically obtaining data regarding the median income of The Woodlands and statistics of ExxonMobil’s median pay will be enlightening to whether the wealth disparity is a tangible amount or simply a side-effect of the upper class reputation which The Woodlands’ populous tries to maintain.
