User:Akb0036/Social and economic stratification in Appalachia

Outside perspectives and stereotypes[edit]
Though mainstream Americans assume that Appalachian culture is homogeneous in the region, many distinct locales and sub-regions exist. Over-generalizations of Appalachianites as impulsive, personalistic, and individualistic "hillbillies" abound. Many scholars speculate that these stereotypes have been created by powerful economic and political forces to justify the exploitation of Appalachian peoples through industrialization and the extraction of natural resources. For example, the same forces that put up barriers to prevent the development of civic culture promulgate the image of Appalachian peoples as politically apathetic, without a social consciousness, and deserving of their disenfranchised state. In spite of the region's desperate need for aid, weariness of being represented as "helpless, dumb and poor" often creates an attitude of hostility among Appalachianites.

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Origin of the stereotype
These stereotypes have been present for as long as people can remember, as people are unsure of exactly where titles like "hillbillies" came about. It is known that up until the 1880s, Appalachia was seen just like any other rural area. People then began to view the Appalachian cultures as 'behind' during the industrial revolution. The classical hillbilly behavior came about in the 1920s during the Great Depression. Appalachian music was a result of prohibition and the hardships that came along with this time period. After the stereotype was created the media took this and exploited the image of poor people without electricity that were lazy and it became known to be like that.

Television
Appalachian stereotyping was shown in early television when “Beverly Hillbillies” was released. The people in this show were portrayed to be the classic Appalachian resident which painted the culture in a bad way. The representation continued on after this and continued to portray those in Appalachia as hillbillies. From then on it was comedic to see an Appalachian family or Appalachian culture; as the representation that was shown was merely to make fun of the culture. This stereotype expands on more than just the physical characteristics of these people, but also their views. It is assumed that they are conservative, uneducated, and even racist. “Carter Country” is a show that demonstrates race in Appalachia. It gives a view on a newly integrated area and how people in the Appalachian area adjust to it.

Movies
Movies also highlight Appalachia in a negative way. This began as early as 1904 in a silent film titled “The Moonshiner”. In this movie, all that was featured was people making moonshine and trying to get away with it, which is a constant theme. Other genres also bring in an Appalachian theme like “Deliverance”. This movie is a thriller about people that camp in an Appalachian area, and it paints locals in a negative way. Though there are movies that get the culture wrong, some show Appalachia correctly. “Winter’s Bone” is a more recent movie that reveals the culture in a more real way. The movie has a more dark storyline that exhibits drug abuse and poverty but it features the culture more realistically instead of a “hillbilly” way.