A Feminist Comes A-Calling

Braided Roots: Appalachian Grrrls in Women’s and Gender Studies Taking inspiration from fieldwork experiences, Women’s and Gender class discussions, and student lived realities, this panel practically engages gender and women’s issues in Central Appalachia today. In “A Feminist Comes A-Calling” Rebecca Adkins Fletcher (WGS instructor) draws upon fieldwork and teaching experiences to describe the complexities of living and practicing feminism in Central Appalachia and understanding local community and regional issues in context. This will be followed by papers presented by undergraduate students from the Ohio University Southern Issues in Feminism (WGS 2000) course from the Spring 2013 semester. Danielle Doss will present “Gender, Youth, and Substance Abuse in Appalachia,” highlighting the gendered links of substance abuse and the heavy toll this epidemic is taking on Appalachian youth and children. Nichole Helmstetler will present “The Economic Challenges of Motherhood in Modern Appalachia,” where she details the problems of under-education, low-waged work, and the economic responsibilities for mothers in the U.S. and Appalachia. Tiffany Williams’ paper “Challenging the LGBT Bullies” discusses issues faced by the local LGBT community, gender bullying, and offers activities for education and gender inclusion. Taken together, these papers provide insights into the gendered nature of important issues affecting Central Appalachian residents today. Equally, taking inspiration from class discussions of Elizabeth Engelhardt’s Tangled Roots of Feminism, this panel offers a space for young women from the region to untangle the roots of their own brands of feminism and confront issues that affect their daily lives.