Media Affects Stereotypes of Southerners

With a confused facial expression I replied “No sir I have no idea where you can buy gator.” I assured the gentleman visiting from the north, that despite his persistence, I honestly did not know where he could find alligator to eat. The gentleman’s assumption was that I live in the south therefore I must eat alligator. I may live in the south but let me clarify I do not digest any animal that you cannot find at your local grocery store. This brings me to my topic of discussion. Stereotypes of southerners. It has come to my attention that people still believe southerners are “redneck” among other things. The media has portrayed the south in such a way that it has influenced people’s views on southerners. Causing a ripple effect of inaccurate stereotypes. To get to the bottom of what others thought of southerners, Interviews needed to be completed and internet research was needed.

I began interviewing non-southern living people to find out if the media really was influencing people’s views. When asked to describe a typical southern male the most common responses were “polite, slow, and redneck.” Those of whom answered with one or more of those said they had gotten that idea from a book, movie, television, or another person. A man from Rhode Island explained that his view of southern men being redneck stemmed from watching the television show and movie “Dukes of Hazzard.” A Massachusetts woman explained her view was influenced by her fathered who described southern men as being redneck. A gentleman from Vermont explained his view of southern men being slow was due to watching the television show “The Beverly Hillbillies.” A young woman from Michigan admitted that her belief that all southern men were polite was influenced by several novels and the movie “The Notebook.”

I then proceeded to ask non-southerners to describe a typical southern lady. The most common answer was “intelligent, well mannered, and dependent” The woman from Massachusetts described her view of southern women being intelligent due to the way women acted in the book “Gone with the Wind,” and the movie “Fried Green Tomatoes.” A gentleman from Vermont stated that his belief that southern women were well mannered was influenced by films and historical novels he has read. Another woman from Wisconsin stated that she believed southern women were dependent on men due to the movie “Gone with the Wind.”

The interviews were an eye opener but those interviewed held their tongues and sugar coated what they believed. The internet research was more direct. Shyla Martin’s blog “Southern’s Stereotypes: Reflections on growing up in the south” states many counts against southern people. For example Martin implies that southern people support inbreeding, are obese, and unintelligent. Steve Persall’s article “Film produce southern discomforts” defends southerners by saying “Not all true Southerners keep a coonhound on the porch or bologna cake in the icebox. We don't all talk slow like Forrest Gump or shifty like Boss Hogg. Only a relative few of us dress in Confederate uniforms and pine for a different finish to the Civil War. Double-wide trailers aren't standard issue. We don't always have names like Pooter and Lurlynn, or IQs too low to spell them. I never heard anyone invoke "Ya-Ya" or "Towanda" for spiritual guidance until the movies suggested that we do.” Persall’s article attempts to close the gap between southerners and people from other walks of life. Chelsea Kaplan’s article “A guide to loving southern men” is self explanatory. The article claims to give “advice for snagging a southern guy,” implying that a southern guy is completely different than other men.

The stereotypes of southerners are everywhere. Posted all throughout the internet and imbedding in people’s heads. Unfortunately all southerners are stereotyped however not all of them always apply. For instances I am intelligent and well mannered but I am not dependent on a man or others. I do not support inbreeding despite what Miss Martin implies in her article and I am far from obese. And for the other articles, Mr. Persall’s statement is correct. I consider myself to be a southerner, born and raised in South Carolina to South Carolinian parents. But I do not have a coonhound, talk slow, or dress up like a confederate. As for Mrs. Kaplan’s article, she stereotypes all southern guys and she offers advice for snagging one, when she clearly states she married a northerner. Is her advice all that creditable? Bottom line is that stereotypes of southerners originated from some truth however they are not completely accurate and do not apply to everyone.