Whistlin' and Crowin' Women of Appalachia: Literacy Practices Since College

Studies in Writing and Rhetoric

by Katherine Kelleher Sohn, Victor Villanueva (Foreword)

Even some enlightened academicians automatically—and incorrectly—connect illiteracy to Appalachia, contends Katherine Kelleher Sohn. After overhearing two education professionals refer to the southern accent of a waiter and then launch into a few redneck jokes, Sohn wondered why rural, working-class white people are not considered part of the multicultural community. Whistlin’ and Crowin’ Women of Appalachia: Literacy Practices since College examines the power of women to rise above cultural constraints, complete their college degrees, assume positions of responsibility, and ultimately come to voice.  

Sohn, a born southerner and assimilated Appalachian who moved from the city more than thirty years ago, argues that an underclass of rural whites is being left out of multicultural conversations. She shares how her own search for identity in the academic world (after enrolling in a doctoral program at age fifty) parallels the journeys of eight nontraditional, working-class women. Through interviews and case studies, Sohn illustrates how academic literacy empowers  women in their homes, jobs, and communities, effectively disproving the Appalachian adage: “Whistlin’ women and crowin’ hens, always come to no good ends.” 

Sohn situates the women’s stories within the context of theory, self confidence, and place. She weaves the women’s words with her own, relating voice to language, identity, and power. As the women move from silence to voice throughout and after college—by maintaining their dialect, discovering the power of expressivist writing, gaining economic and social power, and remaining in their communities—they discover their identity as strong women of Appalachia.

Sohn focuses on the power of place, which figures predominantly in the identity of these women, and colorfully describes the region. These Appalachian women who move from silence to voice are the purveyors of literacy and the keepers of community, says Sohn. Serving as the foundation of Appalachian culture in spite of a patriarchal society, the women shape the region even as it shapes them.

Geared to scholars of literacy studies, women’s studies, and regional studies, Whistlin’ and Crowin’ Women of Appalachia will also resonate with those working with other marginalized populations who are isolated economically, geographically, or culturally.

Genres: Nonfiction, Writing

224 pages, Paperback

First published March 1, 2006

Reviews

[George · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is an ethnography (or study of a sub-culture essentially) on the literary practices of women from the region of Appalachia in the United States. Where Sohn does the study is in a fairly run-down poor area of the country, where the people there could be classified probably as more rural and as the modern rural white poor. Appalachia itself basically refers to the central area of the Appalachian Mountains, which consists of different parts of Kentucky, West Virginia and Tennessee, where the majority of people there live far from bustling civilization and up in the mountains. The specific place she does her study is in Kentucky.

The ethnography follows more of a case study approach and Sohn outlines the literary practices of three women through a series of interviews and interviews with one of their relatives to discover the literary practices of the three women. This area of the country is sort of stuck in the past, and the women there are just expected to housewives for the most part, so the three women she uses are women who went to college long after they had graduated from high school, and then made a name for themselves.

It's done very well and as thorough as it can be according to the nature of the way the research was conducted. I read this book as part of college writing course, and despite not finding it incredibly interesting, it was well written and the study is done very well. She does seem repetitive with her conclusions, however, which takes away from some of the interest that it could have held.

Overall, a fairly interesting book and study, but because of its nature being highly specific it might not be very relevant to a lot of people, and unfortunately it suffers from being repetitive and slightly drawn out in some parts.

[Laura · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is written as a dissertation and should be read as such. It's an academic ethnography that clearly discusses many of the ethical issues facing ethnographers. The field study itself is interesting in that it sheds light on a dimension of American culture not commonly acknowledged.

[Megan Adams · Rating 5 out of 5]

An eye-opening look into the literacy practices of Appalachian women since college. The stories of these women will inspire and encourage educators and those who education.