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The influence of society on the behavior of the individual
Culture of the Appalachian people
Culture of the Appalachian people
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"Excuse me miss, but you have the cutest little accent," the pizza delivery guy said. "Well, thank you," I replied. "If you don't mind me asking, where are you from? I know that you aren't from around this area with an accent like that." "I am from a little town called Hazard," I replied reluctantly, realizing exactly where this conversation was headed. "Oh, is that where the Dukes of Hazzard are from?" he asks chuckling. "No, that place is Hazzard, Georgia. I live in a little town in southeastern Kentucky." "I bet you all have a lot of barefoot, pregnant people there don't you?" he asks with a discriminating smile. "Well actually we don...." "Huh, I bet you all don't even have paved roads or indoor plumbing," he persisted. "You know what? I don't feel very hungry anymore. Why don't you take that pizza back?" I asked. "Oh, miss, I was just joking with you." This conversation actually took place during my first semester of college. However, being quite accustomed to the questions that I am frequently asked about the place I call home, this conversation somehow made me more upset than usual. This conversation made me realize just how blind society can be towards other groups in society. Different stereotypes are placed on groups for various reasons-race, sex, occupations, and geographical locations-just to name a few. The last of these four different classifications is the one that distinguishes me from most of society. Growing up in Appalachia has made me a minority (different from the rest of society), and also plagued me with many stereotypes. Everyone in society has heard the stereotypes. However, I would like to focus on the how's and why's of them. How they came to be. Why society does perceive... ... middle of paper ... ...ut trying to find your place within society as a minority is even harder. When you go for a job interview and see the person you are being interviewed by shake their head when they hear your accent, you know that you are in trouble. It's the education that is lacking in America. We are known to be this great melting pot. But it isn't until the stereotypes that plague so many Americans come to an end, that we will truly be united as one. Works Cited Asfahani, Magdoline. "Time to Look and Listen." Newsweek Dec. 1996: 18. Billings, Dwight B. "The Road to Poverty: The Making of Wealth and Hardship in Appalachia." Booklist 36 (1999): 38. Norman, Gurney. Kinfolks: The Wilgus Stories. Frankfort: Gnomom Press, 1977. Waller, Altina. "Two Words in the Tennessee Mountains: Exploring the Origins of Appalachian Stereotypes." Journal of Social History 32 (1999): 963.
Bergeron, Paul H, Stephen V. Ash, and Jeanette Keith. Tennesseans and Their History. Knoxville: University of Tennessee Press, 1999. Print.
While Appalachian stereotypes changed over time early images of the land and people are seen as very separate entities. The land being lush and the fertile while the people are shown as the crude and undeserving of such a beautiful home. These separate images would gradually fuse together as the arts industry gradually took over the changing social and economic landscape of the Appalachian Mountains.
So what is Appalachia? Appalachia is no different from any other person in this world. The people had to struggle just as bad as some of us did, but were criticized because they lived in the mountains or away from other people. They didn’t know that once they sold their land for the oil miners that they would loose everything and eventually be run out from their own homes. They couldn’t help being poor or not being able to go to school and get the proper education like most of us got. So why do we still have these same stereotypes now as they had before? One description was that they walked barefoot and I guess I’m part of the Appalachian region because I walk outside almost everyday barefoot even though I had my thoughts about which Appalachian people were. Appalachia is part of our history that people don’t know much about or they wouldn’t have these stereotypes.
Rednecks have been around for centuries, but what is a redneck? In today’s terminology, redneck is used as an insult towards many southerners. Originally, redneck was used to describe someone who has been outside working all day, and has developed sunburn on their neck. Due to modern day stereotypes, the word redneck has become an insult rather than a way to describe a hard worker. Through research and personal accounts, the history of the word redneck can be examined, the comparison of the “modern day” redneck and the old meaning, and the way it impacts certain groups, can be used to demolish modern day stereotypes. The word redneck should return to its original form and should not be used as an insult toward southerners.
Today, tourism in the Appalachian Mountains is a popular thing to do. For example, in Gatlinburg Tennessee, more than 11 million visitors come to tour the area each year. However, this area is more than just a tourist trap. By today’s standards, Appalachia is considered a minority. The individuals in this region are looked down upon by cultural, social, and economic standards. They are perceived as uneducated and uncivilized. These stereotypes are influenced by popular culture today. Appalachia is a diverse region due to its people and landforms.
"This is an island. At least I think it's and island. That's a reef out in the sea. Perhaps there are not any grownups anywhere."
At one point in time, these stereotypes may have been true; however, in today’s modern society, most of these stereotypes are outdated and false, which leads them to turn into misconceptions. Usually, stereotypes are utilized to humiliate and degrade the person or group; they also do not provide any beneficial outcomes. Stereotypes focus on how a particular group acts because of the radical ideas and actions of the few, how a particular group looks, or how that group is physically lacking in some way. These stereotypes often lead to conflicts because the group does not appreciate the way it is perceived. Seldom are the stereotypes placed on a group of people truthful and accurate.
Imagine that you are of Arab decent you being screened more thoroughly than others at the airport. The only way the airport staff can identify that you are of Arab decent is based on your family name, Najjar. The airport staff constantly takes extra measures to confirm that you are not a terrorist. Stereotypes have existed in American culture for centuries. Early in American history stereotypes of Negroes and Mexicans predominately associate them with lower-class attributes (Campbell, 1967).
The region Of Appalachia is generally considered to be an area full of people with little intellect and who are incapable of functioning as normal members of society. Since the early history of American Appalachia has been believed to be an area where there is not science or philosophy. It is believed to be an area full of people who are extremely gullible and superstitious. Many people have come out of Appalachia to challenge these stereotypes.
Sometimes, people think that other people from different races can’t or can do something simply because the people heard or saw the other race do it. People have sometimes believed that all black people are athletic or that all white girls like starbucks. Movies these days are almost always filled with stereotypes. I think that this story is from a child’s point of view is because some kids can be more observant of events that happen around them. Kids may see racism and people that were labeled.
“Of course, there is so much information on the internet, but they won’t use it.”
“You don’t know me.” My voice sounded as unsteady as his stance. He shrugged as he chuckled; the laughter turned my blood cold. He seemed to know something I did not.
In the modern era, stereotypes seem to be the ways people justify and simplify the society. Actually, “[s]tereotypes are one way in which we ‘define’ the world in order to see it” (Heilbroner 373). People often prejudge people or objects with grouping them into the categories or styles they know, and then treat the types with their experiences or just follow what other people usually do, without truly understand what and why. Thus, all that caused miscommunication, argument or losing opportunities to broaden the life experience. Stereotypes are usually formed based on an individual’s appearance, race, and gender that would put labels on people.
“Really? I never thought of it that way. You speak really good English, are you from here?”