The construction of self by rural low-status Appalachian women

Abstract

The author’s qualitative study of 18 rural low-status women high-lighted three aspects of social process that contribute to an understand-ing of the women’s construction of self. These aspects are the women’s (1) expectations of their performance of their roles in their families, (2) behavioral expectations for interpersonal relationships outside their families, and (3) presentation of self through their positive character-istics and accomplishments. Knowledge of the perceived social reality of specific groups of clients, such as these women, is important for social work practice and education at all levels. In the past 25 years, some attention has been given to the perspectives of poor people and others who are stigmatized b