Abstract
Given the polarization apparent in the wake of the 2016 presidential election, there is need for mindfulness surrounding the ways both scholars and activists use Appalachian identity to define and politically mobilize people. This article combines insights from prior discussions with an analysis of recent in-depth interviews (n = 11) conducted within Central Appalachia to show the ways that place-based identity informs and norms individuals’ sense of self and political preference. This qualitative data underscores the complexity of Appalachian identity. Individuals communicate both an awareness of stereotypes and a resistance to such stereotypes. This article examines evidence that these resistance identities have unintended consequences. Rather than bridging divides or challenging the larger systems and structures that created the stereotypes, resistance identities tend to maintain barriers among and between marginalized groups. The authors discuss alternative ways to politically mobilize Appalachians—ways that recognize and value their lived experiences while also bridging divides and fighting the polarization that marked recent elections.
