Traditional and Sustainable Life Practices of Southern Appalachian Women

Abstract

This study examines the lives of seven Southern Appalachian women residing in the state of Tennessee who practice traditional or environmentally sustainable techniques as a part of their livelihood. Using abbreviated life history interviews I explore how participants use traditional and sustainable practices as a form of self-identification and agency. Detailed narrative accounts explore notions of ecofeminism, agency, and heritage, critically examining how participants identified themselves, their practice, and their place within the region through changing historical and social contexts.