ST. CLAIRSVILLE, Ohio – Ohio University is committed to diversity and the Eastern Campus wants students to realize that diversity does not mean only differences in race and ethnicity. Diversity can also refer to gender, socio-economic groups, and education levels. Further, the Campus Diversity Committee wants students to realize that the Ohio Valley is part of Appalachia and wants the students to be proud of their heritage. To reinforce this point, professors will include the book, "Whistlin’ and Crowin’ Women of Appalachia: Literacy Practices since College," by Katherine Kelleher Sohn in several courses this fall.
According to Sohn’s publisher, Southern Illinois University Press: "Even some enlightened academicians automatically – and incorrectly – connect illiteracy to Appalachia. . . . After overhearing two education professionals ridicule the southern accent of a waiter, Sohn wondered why rural, working-class white people are not considered part of the multicultural community. [This book] examines the power of women to rise above cultural constraints, complete their college degrees, assume positions of responsibility, and ultimately come to voice."
In this book, Sohn looks at the lives of eight women who became college students later in life. She examines what their fears were when starting college - fears like not being successful in class or losing their common sense once they earned their college education. Several of the women went to college to set examples for their children, but they did not want to lose their own identity – their accents, their popular sayings, their culture – in the process. They wanted to be true to their heritage.
Sohn emphasizes that there are different kinds of literacies. Literacy is not just the ability to read and write. Rather she stresses that common sense is a type of literacy. Quilt making is a type of literacy. All skills represent a type of literacy, and they are all important. They are no less important than the literacy of book learning, and the women in this book brought many types of literacies with them when they started college. The professors then helped them to aquire academic literacy and appreciate the power that this type of literacy can have on one’s life.
Dr. Jennifer Diamond, assistant professor of English, will have her freshman composition class read the book fall quarter. "Studying ‘Women of Appalachia’ helps students recognize that diversity, an over-used buzzword in education and politics, does not apply only to race and ethnicity, but extends to gender, socio-economic, and educational achievement statuses," Diamond says. "I believe that Ohio University students will recognize themselves, their parents, and their grandparents in Sohn’s work and in doing so can honor the achievements and history of the Appalachian region as well as recognize the challenges that they, as educated leaders, will face in their communities."
Dr. Jason Wrench, assistant professor of communication studies, will have his public speaking students and the students in his communication theory class use this book. "I’m actually going to have my students use themes from the book for impromptu speeches. In Sohn’s book, there are a lot of gender issues and socioeconomic issues that are discussed that make great topics for impromptu speeches," Wrench says.
Wrench goes on to explain: "As for my communication theory class, we can actually explore Sohn’s book utilizing every theory we discuss in class. For example, if we are discussing interpersonal communication, we can examine the interpersonal dynamics discussed by the women."
The entire student body was able to meet and hear Katherine Sohn speak during the afternoon of Oct. 19, 2006. The public was invited to an evening lecture and book signing.
