Even some enlightened academicians automatically2;and
incorrectly2;connect illiteracy to Appalachia, contends Katherine
Kelleher Sohn. After overhearing two education professionals refer
to the southern accent of a waiter and then launch into a few
redneck jokes, Sohn wondered why rural, working-class white people
are not considered part of the multicultural community. "Whistlin7;
and Crowin7; Women of Appalachia: Literacy Practices since College"
examines the power of women to rise above cultural constraints,
complete their college degrees, assume positions of responsibility,
and ultimately come to voice.
Sohn, a born southerner and assimilated Appalachian who moved from
the city more than thirty years ago, argues that an underclass of
rural whites is being left out of multicultural conversations. She
shares how her own search for identity in the academic world (after
enrolling in a doctoral program at age fifty) parallels the
journeys of eight nontraditional, working-class women. Through
interviews and case studies, Sohn illustrates how academic literacy
empowers women in their homes, jobs, and communities, effectively
disproving the Appalachian adage: 0;Whistlin7; women and crowin7;
hens, always come to no good ends.1;
Sohn situates the women7;s stories within the context of theory,
self confidence, and place. She weaves the women7;s words with her
own, relating voice to language, identity, and power. As the women
move from silence to voice throughout and after college2;by
maintaining their dialect, discovering the power of expressivist
writing, gaining economic and social power, and remaining in their
communities2;they discover their identity as strong women
ofAppalachia.
Sohn focuses on the power of place, which figures predominantly in
the identity of these women, and colorfully describes the region.
These Appalachian women who move from silence to voice are the
purveyors of literacy and the keepers of community, says Sohn.
Serving as the foundation of Appalachian culture in spite of a
patriarchal society, the women shape the region even as it shapes
them.
Geared to scholars of literacy studies, women7;s studies, and
regional studies, "Whistlin7; and Crowin7; Women of Appalachia"
will also resonate with those working with other marginalized
populations who are isolated economically, geographically, or
culturally.
General
Is the information for this product incomplete, wrong or inappropriate?
Let us know about it.
Does this product have an incorrect or missing image?
Send us a new image.
Is this product missing categories?
Add more categories.
Review This Product
No reviews yet - be the first to create one!