Whistlin' and Cowin' Response

While reading this book I was very surprised by many of the things Sohn decided to include about the women and their families.  She depicted them to be uneducated, especially the men.  While these women overcame many struggles to obtain their own education it seems as if their stories almost proves the stereotype many people have about the area right.  Many of these people do not wish to be educated; many of the women’s husbands are a prime example.  The area is filled with individuals who are not formally educated and may even be completely illiterate.  So while these women overcame their stereotype they most certainly did not prove it wrong. I found it really interesting that the women seem to be the ones who want to get out of this type of lifestyle and educate themselves, meanwhile the men want keep themselves depressed of knowledge.  Sohn did convey some of the admirable traits about the Appalachian culture, for instance strong family bonds, but she did not skim over the disapproving qualities many of them have.  I found it most interesting that many of the more negative qualities were held with the men and the their old fashion view on marriage and as Lucy pointed out some of them have a lack of work ethic.  It made me question the control these men have on the women and the area itself.