Reflections on Whistlin' and Crowin' Women of Appalachia

            I thoroughly enjoyed reading Whistlin’ and Crowin’ Women of Appalachia by Katherine Kelleher Sohn.  It was interesting to see someone focus and write about an area of land that people say negative things about, but really know nothing.  It was more than just a study that Sohn did.   It was showing me as a reader the hard lifestyles of a woman in Appalachia and their goal to becoming literate.  Being able to explore the lives of these women and how far they came and what they went through to becoming literate was really moving.

            What surprised me most was just how Sohn portrayed these women’s lives to me as a reader.  I felt like I connected with what Sohn was writing about these women.  She was able to describe them so vividly, I felt like I knew these women in real life.  The things that happened in each woman’s life, while they were striving to better themselves and get their degrees also surprised me.  The women’s passion for education really makes someone like me reflect on how much some college kids don’t care about education.  They want to get insanely drunk and smoke their brains out.  These women care enough to get the education while taking care of their children and husbands. 

            The only thing I would disagree with is the part where she relates the women to flowers; it was really corny to be honest.  I also disagree with the fact that she didn’t use the actually women’s words.  I understand that it was a scientific study and Sohn should write in proper English, but I feel that actually having the women’s real voice come out would of enhanced the book.  Just look at Huckleberry Finn, the language in that book enhances the geography and the way things were said back then.

            If I had to pick something that I could relate to from this book, it would be seeing older people go back to school.  Before I transferred to Ohio University I went to a community college and saw people in their late thirties to late seventies coming back to school to better themselves.  Most of the people I met were out of work because of the struggling economy and they wanted to take a positive step forward to enhance their education and improve their lives for not only themselves, but for their families especially.  Some were also in college and cracked under pressure and had to dropout and some had children in school and didn’t get the opportunity.  Every person I met encourage me to not fall into the situation they did and always encouraged me until I graduated with my Associate of Arts.  I don’t know what kind of student I would be today; if I didn’t get some guidance and advice from those people I met.  These people are just like the women in the book, they care about their education and are willing to do what they can to better themselves. 

            I think that Sohn’s book helps to support feminism and provide a voice for women, who’s voice seems to go missing in the American culture where we don’t seem to value them as much.  It helps to fight the stereotype of people from Appalachia and the perception that they’re stupid and uneducated.  Finally, the book states that we shouldn’t look down on a particular area based on preconceived notions of said land.  More and more judgmental people should read this book.

Whistlin' and Crowin' Response

Whistlin' and Crowin' allowed me to view education from a different perspective. In past courses, I've researched Appalachian culture through documentaries and photography. This was my first opportunity to read about how education personally influenced 3 individuals lifestyle. I enjoyed approaching this widely studied topic from a different perspective.
I think what surprised me the most was the amount of motivation that these women had to pursuing their degrees. Although there were a few times when the women would talk about how certain classes were difficult, they never actually complained about the workload they had to do. It was a bit of a reality check, because I complain about classes all the time. Jean, Sarah, and Lucy all have children to feed, bills to pay, and chores to be done around the house. My most stressful situation outside of the classroom is when my laundry hamper is full. What I'm trying to say is, if these women could graduate college while raising children and a home, there is no excuse for any regular college student to be less motivated than they were.
My only real complaint about this book was how detailed it was. I think the topic at hand could be interesting, but I didn't really enjoy reading about all of the tedious, detailed tasks that each woman does in her workplace.  Like I said in my rhetorical analysis, I think the book could've been spiced-up a little more if Sohn had included interviews from the husband or children's perspectives.
I think that Sohn succeeded in making a point about stereotyping Appalachian culture. What is portrayed in the media might look true on the surface, but when you sit down and talk to people, you'll see that they're human too. They have their faults, but they're also kind, smart, organized, and motivated. They should not be placed on a lower pedestal than anyone else just because they earn a lower salary. They choose to live the life that they life, and use what they're given to excel in the world. That is what I got out of reading this book.

Whistlin' and Crowin' Women of Appalachia Response

Well, we finished reading Whistlin' and Crowin' Women of Appalachia a few days ago and I've had some time to reflect back on  what it means, how it pertains to my life and what to get out of the book. The most important thing I have gotten from this story is we need to stop the stereotyping  It's just not right, we as humans have no right to go around and make fun of others because of the way they are raised or the way they live their life. Sure it may be a little different than ours but that gives us no right to go and poke of another. Sohn's text focused most importantly on these women going back to college and getting their degrees and that's all well and good but that's not what really interested me the most. What interested me the most throughout this text was our class discussions on stereotypes and relating it to Sohn's text of course. In America stereotyping has come a long way, as of today we do not see as much stereotyping as in the past, but its still there. I do agree with Renee Middleton's argument that in order for it to come to an end it needs to stop within us first. We can't go around yelling at other people to stop stereotyping if we can't do it ourselves. The one way to do that is when you're about to stereotype someone or make fun of someone just stop and think, would I really want someone to be doing this to me? or my family and friends? I guarantee the answer's probably going to be no. So before we go stereotyping others we need to start with ourselves. 

I do believe that Sohn has constructed a great study about Appalachia and these women but I'm not sure if it's the best study out there. One thing that really bothered me the most about her work was she didn't include the original conversations exactly how she heard them. How are we as the reader supposed to truly understand and get a grasp of the situation if we are not being exposed to it. By Sohn editing out a lot of the conversation and converting it to somewhat normal english she is taking away from who they women really are. How are we really supposed to get a true understanding and feel for what it's like. I think that Sohn wanted us to get a grasp for what these women sounded like and for why they were being stereotyped but how can we do that if they sound just like you and me? That was my biggest issue with Sohn's text, not truly showing who these women are. Aside from that I thought the book was great. 

White House on Stewart Street

            There is an old white house on Stewart Street that people pass by everyday. From the outside, it looks like an average house in a college town. Every year it houses four men that are not your typical college students. They are all majoring in familiar programs at Ohio University such as education and engineering. The house throws late nights parties that bring the cops because of loud music. While these four men from year to year have very different personalities they have two important values in common, their love for Jesus and their love for others. Because of their values, the house has visitors at every hour of the day. Guests come for food, soda, games, meals together, and fellowship. 

            Almost all visitors share in the values in their love for Jesus and their love for others. Many visitors, myself included, have or are leaders in a ministry called Young Life. It desires to share the love of Christ with teenagers in one local middle school and six local high schools. Leaders volunteer to spend anywhere from one to three years building relationships, being mentors, and inviting teenagers to share in their love for Jesus. As you can see, from the outside this house may look like an ordinary house, but in the inside laughter is shared, bread is broken, walls are coming down, and there is more love than you can find anywhere in Athens. I was blessed to find this house my freshman year at Ohio University, and I am so grateful that I did.  

Lake Hope

Joe Pavlik, Steve Saraniti and I visited Lake Hope, which is just outside of Athens, a couple of days ago to go fishing. We really got a sense of the nature around us as we were surrounded by a variety of animals, trees, and the lake. We could see many pine trees lining the lake, along with a few maple and oak trees. We also came across different animals. Along with the many bass we caught, we were able to spot a few different types of birds, and even saw a snapping turtle and bullfrogs.

Lake Hope in the Summertime

After a couple hours of fishing, we put our fishing poles in the car and began to hike along the trails in the surrounding woods. There is always something better about getting on your feet and seeing your surroundings rather than out of a window of a car. We were able to see the little things, such as spider webs and deer prints, which is one of the great things about nature. After trekking around for quite some time, we came across a very old tree, that must have been knocked down by a summer storm. You could see how it was now a home to many different animals, and also how massive it had become over it's long life. It was also cool to think about how it's purpose had changed. It was once a home for all types of birds, squirrels, etc, but it now on the ground and home to raccoons, bugs, groundhogs, etc. The role-reversal was something that reminded me about the cycle that life has.


It was nice to get away from the everyday noise of Athens and be in a place that was quiet and peaceful. Joe commented that we should do these trips more often, because it was nice to be outdoors surrounded by hills and trees. Overall, it was a great time, and made us all appreciate what the Athens area has to offer as far as scenery goes. We can see why people such as those that live in the Appalachian areas appreciate their surroundings and its beauty.

The Front Room

Front Room is a place that I find myself spending much of my time during the week here in Athens. This comfortable little room has just the right environment for those who look to enjoy a coffee with friends or sit and cram for their next final. The room is full of tables and chairs meeting both the needs to sprawl out their notebooks or to simply just sit and chat in a nice cushioned chair. There is no doubt that the Front Room made sure this it was both comfortable and quite to bring in students every day.

            The front room normally attracts students who are interested in studying or getting an assignment done but it also allows for a bit of conversation. Front room has established an environment in which it is okay to talk and listen to your music but with an overall volume that is sure not to disrupt others. For me the front room is relaxing whenever I have a stressful assignment to complete it offers both a place to work and coffee to fuel me throughout the day.

            The Front Room provides people with a plethora of things starting most notably with coffee. As college students everyone is feeling the fatigue from the late nights studying, to wild weekends out with friends. The Front Room however, also serves a place for those who want the opportunity to perform in front of others. On Friday nights the Front Room offers an open mike night, which I have attended countless times. One of my closest friends has found his voice at open mike night and gained newfound confidence in front of others as a result of Front Room.

            The Front Room overall is a great example of what Athens is. This friendly little shop describes so much of what OU in Athens means. This shop is a place to meet, study, and relax the perfect combination describing the life of your typical college student. If ever a person is looking for a location to study for an exam or meet for a casual conversation this shop accommodates at every level.

Wild Wings and Weck

Known to many by their slogan, “wings, beer, sports,” Buffalo Wild Wings has an upbeat and friendly atmosphere, even on a Tuesday night. We arrived just in time to watch Team USA take on Jamaica in the World Cup Soccer qualifying match. As it was a weeknight, the bar was less rambunctious than we were used to, but a pretty good turn-out nonetheless. Chants of “USA! USA!” and “Gomie! The Herc!” intermingled with the clink of dinnerware and the snuffling of Colton's head cold.

Downtown, close to student dorms, right off a major city road, and accessible to all; it's the perfect location. Offering a multifunctional space, this Buffalo Wild Wings, or BW3, is at once both a sports bar and a casual dining environment. Split into two sides, one has the option of a quieter, family-friendly space, or a more rowdy bar section. BW3 supplies Athens and OU with a central meeting place for all ages, those that are 21 and those that are not. Students are able to talk, get a bite to eat, or grab a drink, all while watching their favorite sports team. With TVs wall-to-wall, you’re almost guaranteed to find the sporting event you’re looking for.

Athens is generally considered to be about half non-native undergraduate students, and half “townies,” all of whom could be found at BW3. On weekends, when the Ohio Bobcats tend to play American football, we've often noticed an older, more local crowd of fans and enthusiasts – even radio hosts occasionally utilize the space for their broadcasts. Soccer, or “futbol,” tends not to be as popular amongst rural mid-westerners, which we believe accounts for the student-heavy ratio we encountered that evening.

Interestingly, the game was being played in Columbus, which also happens to be the birthplace of this chain. Nearly ubiquitous nationwide, most Ohio University students have already been to another location, back home or otherwise. This is undoubtedly the main appeal of visiting a chain restaurant; it's comfortable. The Athens location is in fact so typical of the chain, its visage even appears on the wikipedia article (see attached picture). Our friend Scott considers the restaurant his “fave,” and cites the consistency of the menu as the main reason. “I always get mild, traditional wings,” he says, “because they're dope. Honestly, I don't even like sports.”

In some communities, the presence of national chains can be a point of pride, a justification of their importance as consumers. In rural south-eastern Ohio, families who often eat at home to save money might view this restaurant as a “big deal,” an example of “city dining”. Between the students who might care for a “taste of home” or some “dope chicken,” and families from the surrounding area on a night out, this location must see a lot of business. We certainly enjoyed ourselves, and will be back again soon.

by Colton B. Creal and Truman F. Hatch, Paris '09