Appalachian Culture and Resistance

Abstract

David Cattell-Gordon's (1990) recent interpretation of Appalachian culture as culturally transmitted post-traumatic stress syndrome dramatizes the human costs associated with deindustrialization and unemployment. But it overlooks oppositional movements and actions in Appalachia and, consequently, the discussion minimizes the possibilities for agency and empowerment. Such an interpretation relies upon a one-sided reading of Appalachian history and incorrectly attributes a unified cultural ethos to the region. By offering an interpretation of regional cultures as discursive forums rather than as complexes of traits, we suggest an alternative approach for progressive social work in Appalachia as well as other regions experiencing economic crisis.

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