Society Archives

Myth of Socioeconomic Mobility in America (Hillbilly Elegy)

How flexible is socioeconomic mobility in America? Is socioeconomic mobility a myth? And when is economic mobility detached from social mobility? Hillbilly Elegy sets out to explore the struggles of the rural white working class in 21st-century America and the barriers to socioeconomic mobility. The book tells a story of dysfunctional families; substance abuse; the material, spiritual, and moral decline of Appalachia; and the struggles to achieve true economic and social mobility in the United States.

4 Appalachian Stereotypes: Are Hillbillies Lazy and Violent?

What are the most common Appalachian stereotypes? Are they accurate? Hillbilly Elegy sets out to explore the struggles of the rural white working class in 21st-century America through the personal story of its author, JD Vance. Part autobiography, part sociological text, and part political manifesto, the book tells a story of dysfunctional families; substance abuse; the material, spiritual, and moral decline of Appalachia; and the struggles to achieve true economic and social mobility in the United States. Ultimately, JD overcomes the odds and achieves a life of success and respectability outside of the hillbilly culture from which he came—but at

Hillbilly Highway: Hillbillies Come to Town, Alarming Locals

What was the “Hillbilly Highway”? How did this phenomenon start, and where? The “Hillbilly Highway” is a name for stretches of U.S. Route 23 and Interstate 75. It earned its moniker from the mass migration of “hillbilly” families from Kentucky to the midwest in search of jobs. We’ll cover how the “Hillbilly Highway” came to be and how JD Vance’s family arrives in Ohio in Hillbilly Elegy.

Education in Appalachia: How a Culture Is Failing Its Kids

How is the system of education in Appalachia? How is education in Appalachia portrayed in JD Vance’s Hillbilly Elegy? In Vance’s book on life in Appalachian Ohio, education in Appalachia is in a sad state. Learn how he views the education system in his home community and why he thinks that the culture puts such little emphasis on education.

Appalachian Culture: As Dysfunctional as in Hillbilly Elegy?

What are the hallmarks of Appalachian culture? Are these hallmarks actually stereotypes? JD Vance says they’re not. Hillbilly Elegy sets out to explore the struggles of Appalachian life in 21st-century America through the personal story of its author, JD Vance. Part autobiography, part sociological text, and part political manifesto, the book tells a story of dysfunctional families; substance abuse; the material, spiritual, and moral decline of Appalachian culture; and the struggles to achieve true economic and social mobility in the United States.

Culture of Honor: Why Hillbillies Get Into so Many Fights

What is a culture of honor? What role does it play in JD Vance’s Hillbilly Elegy? A culture of honor is a culture that encourages its members to defend their honor through retribution and violence. It’s characterized by an extreme unwillingness to tolerate personal insults and a high propensity, particularly on the part of males, to defend one’s reputation. Learn more about the culture of violence and how it characterizes life in Appalachian Ohio.

Doctors Make Mistakes; Checklists May Be the Solution

Doctors make mistakes. How can those in the medical community avoid the avoidable errors that sometimes cost patients their lives? The answer is the checklist. We’ll cover studies that show how a simple checklist can help doctors avoid making avoidable mistakes.

Aircraft Checklist: How It Works + How to Harness Its Power

How do aircraft checklists keep us safe? The field of aviation was one of the first to adopt the use of checklists, and we can learn a lot from how the rigor of these checklists (and the professionals who use them) keep passengers safe. We’ll cover aviation checklists at Boeing and discuss how checklists can benefit the rest of us.

Appalachia’s Poverty—Welfare Can’t Save these Hillbilly Towns

Why is the Appalachia poverty level so high? What can we learn about poverty in Appalachia from JD Vance’s Hillbilly Elegy? Hillbilly Elegy: A Memoir of a Family and Culture in Crisis examines the spiritual and social decline of the Appalachian white working class through the life story of its author, JD Vance. Growing up in a post-industrial Ohio town, Vance encountered the symptoms of Appalachia’s poverty and at a young age started analyzing the source of Appalachia’s poverty.

White Working Class: Do They Cause Their Own Misfortunes?

Who are the white working class? What do they believe? What are their values? Hillbilly Elegy explores the cultural pathologies of the white working class in America through the personal experiences of its author, JD Vance. Growing up in a dysfunctional family and spending most of his childhood and teenage years in Middletown, Ohio, Vance saw firsthand the destructive attitudes and values of this culture—attitudes and values that he believes are primarily responsible for its perilous state. We’ll cover Vance’s views on the white working class in Appalachian America.