Participation Type
Paper
Session Title
Session 5.04 Environment and Ecology
Presentation #1 Title
Those Stupid Hill Billies: Cultural Stereotyping & The Third Worlding of Appalachia
Presentation #1 Abstract or Summary
This paper explores how preconceived notions of the Appalachian population as poor, bigoted, ill-educated, and easily duped by the powers that be leaves much of the nation apathetic to the environmental and economic exploitation of the region and allows corporations to re-frame the issue. These notions paint the people of Appalachia as being sub-human, open to mockery, and undeserving of support, and by maintaining these viewpoints, the corporations which work to exploit both the natural resources and labor force of the region are given a pass. In much the same way that exploitation is excused in other parts of the world because of the perceived lack of infrastructure and inability to economically support themselves, corporate exploitation of Appalachia is excused in much the same way. By placing Appalachia within the same oppressive paradigm as these other exploited regions of the globalized world, such regional degradation becomes justified under the edifice of civilizing an uncivilized area.
At-A-Glance Bio- Presenter #1
Kira L. Cope graduated from Shepherd University in Shepherdstown, WV in 2010 with a BS in Sociology and a BA in English and is currently working on her MA in Sociology at Marshall University.
Those Stupid Hill Billies: Cultural Stereotyping & The Third Worlding of Appalachia
Smith Music Hall 110
This paper explores how preconceived notions of the Appalachian population as poor, bigoted, ill-educated, and easily duped by the powers that be leaves much of the nation apathetic to the environmental and economic exploitation of the region and allows corporations to re-frame the issue. These notions paint the people of Appalachia as being sub-human, open to mockery, and undeserving of support, and by maintaining these viewpoints, the corporations which work to exploit both the natural resources and labor force of the region are given a pass. In much the same way that exploitation is excused in other parts of the world because of the perceived lack of infrastructure and inability to economically support themselves, corporate exploitation of Appalachia is excused in much the same way. By placing Appalachia within the same oppressive paradigm as these other exploited regions of the globalized world, such regional degradation becomes justified under the edifice of civilizing an uncivilized area.
