Putting Inequality in Its Place: Rural Consciousness and the Power of Perspective

Abstract

among 37 regularly occurring groups in 27 communities sampled across Wisconsin, this study shows that in some places, people have a class-and place-based identity that is intertwined with a perception of deprivation. The rural consciousness revealed here shows people attributing rural deprivation to the decision making of (urban) political elites, who disregard and disrespect rural residents and rural lifestyles. Thus these rural residents favor limited government, even though such a stance might seem contradictory to their economic self-interests. The results encourage us to consider the role of group consciousness-based perspectives rather than pitting interests against values as explanations for preferences. Also, the study suggests that public opinion research more seriously include listening to the public.

Citizenship education for proactive democratic life in rural communities

“…Each assertion presents challenges and possibilities. This section illuminates pathways teachers can take to improve democratic life through utilizing the possibilities, so rural people do not have to accept urban answers to rural questions or accept the decisions imposed from governments that misunderstand them (Walsh, 2012). Table 1 provides an outline of the key points from this section.…”

“…While geographically and ethnically diverse, rural communities across North America often share common sociopolitical factors that affect conceptualizations of citizenship within those communities. These sociopolitical factors include a strong sense of place (Corbett, 2007), economic hardships (Herzog and Pittman, 1995), conservative political ideologies (Brown and Schafft, 2011;Gimpel and Karnes, 2006), and distrustful sentiments toward government (Walsh, 2012). These factors hold potential to contribute either positively or negatively to citizenship education, and as curriculum 'gatekeepers' (Thornton, 2005: 10), social studies teachers can decide how these factors influence their citizenship instruction.…”

When Canvassers Became Activists: Antislavery Petitioning and the Political Mobilization of American Women

“…Our hope is that, although certainly constrained by space limits, the qualitative evidence examined in the article helps establish most plausible mechanisms that can account for the larger aggregate patterns observed. To be sure, there are many uses for qualitative and historical research other than the examination of mechanisms (e.g., Lee 2002;Walsh 2004Walsh , 2007Walsh , 2012). Yet when particular individuals can be studied through their narratives as well as in their status as "data points" in a larger quantitative exercise, the context of information is correspondingly richer than without the narrative evidence.…”

Examining the Nuance in Public Opinion of Pro-LGB Policies in a “Red State”

“…A majority of Nebraskans who live outside Omaha and Lincoln opposed same-sex marriage and adoption rights; they also supported protections for gay men and lesbians from housing and job discrimination at significantly lower levels than their urban counterparts did. Indeed, the effect of urban versus rural residence remained significant in the models that controlled for other characteristics, including education and age, suggesting that people who live in rural areas might have distinct perspectives on social issues compared to urban citizens (Walsh 2012). However, it is important to note that a majority of rural respondents supported protections for gay men and lesbians from housing and job discrimination, indicating that the rural narrative misses a more nuanced picture of public opinion of pro-LGB policies among rural citizens.…”