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https://hdl.handle.net/2142/80294
Description
Title
Small Town: Urban Struggles in a Rural Community
Author(s)
Pifer, Darryl Andrew
Issue Date
1998
Doctoral Committee Chair(s)
Trent, William T.
Department of Study
Education
Discipline
Education
Degree Granting Institution
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
Degree Name
Ph.D.
Degree Level
Dissertation
Keyword(s)
Sociology, Ethnic and Racial Studies
Language
eng
Abstract
Based upon the premise that individuals make sense of the world according to the stories they have for representing it, this research is presented in narrative form. Stories inscribe historical moments, providing opportunities for readers to reflect upon their own race, class, and gender constraints as well as learn about the lived experiences of others. The development and context of this research is depicted through the stories in Part One. They describe the research objectives, illustrate the selection of participants, and inscribe reactions and thoughts about what was observed in the school. Parts Two and Three contain stories constructed from the lives of Geoff and Michael, the two individuals who participated in the research. Their stories illustrate several of their lived experiences and provide a glimpse into Fairmont, a small rural village in Central Illinois. These stories depict several challenges faced by Geoff and Michael and the ways in which they dealt with them. Their life stories provide an interpretive ethnographic depiction of a small town, showing the prevalence of violence, gangs, and sex in a rural community. They also illustrate issues of race, class, and gender. Part Four is a play that focuses specifically upon race in a rural area, highlighting the reaction to a race riot that occurred in Fairmont. The text ends with an Epilogue explaining the usefulness and appropriateness of constructing stories as a means of presenting the research.
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