I think the stereotypes of Appalachia play a huge role in understanding Appalachian discourse. It’s unfortunate that Appalachia is associated with so many negative stereotypes. Since taking this class, my mind has opened up to Appalachia and I’ve learned that these stereotypes are false based on the books we read and the videos we watched. There are stories and movies that still portray these negative stereotypes, but modern day showings of Appalachia like The Hunger Games and the show Justified are showing that Appalachia is so much than what people outside of Appalachia assume. Both of these sources shows Appalachia as a good place and reflects on the wholesomeness of the area while proving that certain stereotypes of Appalachia are wrong.
The stereotype that all Appalachian people are stupid and illiterate was proven wrong the Katherine Kelleher Sohn’s book Whistlin’ and Crowin’ Women of Appalachia where she depicts a group of women who go to college while continuing their lives as mothers and wives. Each of them has a story to tell about their goal to becoming literate and educated while bettering themselves. All of the women have a happy ending to their goal of literacy proving the stereotype wrong. This was just one the various sources that proved this stereotype wrong.
It’s hard to tell the future of Appalachian discourse. Appalachia is portrayed to the public’s eye as either negative or positive. Hopefully more books, like The Hunger Games and Whistlin’ and Crowin’ Women of Appalachia will come out to depict Appalachia as so much more than what is perceived.
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