Hick Or Hip?

Hick or Hip?

An Analysis of Southern Stereotypes

"Howdy, how ya'll doin'?" This southern slang along with "ain't," "younins," "over yonder," and "em'," are reasons the outside world such as northerners refer to the South the way they do--poor, dumb, and dirty hillbillies. In a Wall Street Journal editorial, senator Zell Miller reveals a hillbilly as "a term of derision that was first coined in April 1900 when the New York Journal had an article on 'Hill Billies'." This individual was described as "A free untrammeled white citizen who lives in the hills, has no means to speak of, talks as he pleases, drinks whiskey when he gets it, and fires off his revolver as his fancy strikes him" (1). The Beverly Hillbillies and The Dukes of Hazard still portray this image today. When reality is overlooked, it is only human nature to use stereotyping when describing a particular group. Such negativity, aimed at the South, often creates difficulties for hillbillies when trying to prove their intelligence and earn professional reputations. Thousands of Americans have derogatory perceptions of Southerners; however, most hillbillies spend their time wisely and are well-dressed moral individuals.

The hillbilly image is a constant target for the media and Hollywood. Movies portray hillbillies as living in trailers off dirt roads, wearing a wife beater, drunk, and eating cold soup beans, cornbread, and leftover fried chicken from the previous week. These perpetuated images show hillbillies as unfaithful and abusive spouses. Country star Deana Carter's song "Did I Shave My Legs for This" shows a southern lifestyle of trailers, beer, and romance. Carter sings, "Well it's perfectly clear, between the TV and beer, / I won't get so much as a kiss." Southerners with advanced education, qualifications, and experience are regularly insulted when being labeled with such reputations.

The dumb hillbilly image is overly exaggerated by the entertainment industry. Mountaineers are described as having greasy tangled hair, and few yellow teeth. Georgia's senator notes, "[...] author James Dickey has contributed to this false image of mountain people by portraying them as depraved cretins in 'Deliverance' " (1). Truly, mountaineers live sophisticated lives, love their families, trust in God, willingly accept responsibility, work to benefit others, and are proud of their heritage. Outsiders assume countrymen do not value their property. They believe hillbilly's yards look like a continuous flea market with old tires, discarded kitchen equipment, and used car parts scattered among their lawn. Despite the misconception, these down-home country folk do take pride in their land and have beautiful landscaping with begonias, azaleas, and often fescue or Bermuda grass. It is even common for southerners to hire professional landscapers to improve the beauty of their home. When looking at the South, hillbillies are not different from any other ordinary individual.

Visitors are shocked to find first-class restaurants, malls, and historical businesses when touring East Tennessee and the Southern region. For casual or fine dining Sevier County offers sit-down restaurants such as the Chop House, Olive Garden, or Red Lobster. The outlet malls near Gatlinburg are filled with a variety of stores like Gap, Banana Republic, and even Oshkosh for smaller children. Located in Knoxville, the two major shopping centers in this area are West Town and The Knoxville Center in which locals regularly visit. The popular stores range from Belk, JC Penny's, and Dillard's, to Aeropostale, Rave, and Wet Seal. Wearing Carhartt overalls, Wal-Mart specials, cowboy boots, and corncob pipes are not the only apparel people in the Appalachian area