Date of Award
1-1-2023
Document Type
Thesis
Degree Name
M.A. in Sociology
First Advisor
James Thomas
Second Advisor
Kirk Johnson
Third Advisor
Ryan Parsons
School
University of Mississippi
Relational Format
dissertation/thesis
Abstract
The contemporary American South is characterized by significant inequalities that are deeply- embedded into the social fabric of the region. These inequalities are dictated by cultural and social dynamics that have shaped the Southern region over time; however, they are reinforced daily through the individual agency of Southern social actors. This thesis aims to analyze Southern inequalities through a symbolic-interactionist focused lens and data collected from semi-structured, qualitative interviews conducted with over 70 White Southerners in two places within the American South- Oxford, MS, and Memphis, TN. In this thesis, I argue that White Southern actors actively use their individual human agency to either oppose or reinforce systems of oppression in the American South. Additionally, I argue that identifying as a White Southerner and more importantly, being accepted into that group, often means adhering to the culture and norms which govern the Southern region. Findings are organized into three sections: Social Interactions and the Transmission of White Southern Rules, Symbols of White Southern Identity in Southern Social Structures, and Agents of Change. Funding for this research is provided by the National Science Foundation under Award # 2115147 and The Russell-Sage Foundation under Award # G-2101-30264.
Recommended Citation
Rankin, Angela, "It’s Just A Way of Life: A Symbolic-Interactionist Approach to Inequalities in the Contemporary American South" (2023). Electronic Theses and Dissertations. 2972.
https://egrove.olemiss.edu/etd/2972