In Strangers in Their Own Land, the renowned sociologist Arlie Hochschild embarks on a thought-provoking journey from her liberal hometown of Berkeley, California, deep into Louisiana bayou country–a stronghold of the conservative right. As she gets to know people who strongly oppose many of the ideas she famously champions, Hochschild nevertheless finds common ground and quickly warms to the … warms to the people she meets–among them a Tea Party activist whose town has been swallowed by a sinkhole caused by a drilling accident–people whose concerns are actually ones that all Americans share: the desire for community, the embrace of family, and hopes for their children.
Strangers in Their Own Land goes beyond the commonplace liberal idea that these are people who have been duped into voting against their own interests. Instead, Hochschild finds lives ripped apart by stagnant wages, a loss of home, an elusive American dream–and political choices and views that make sense in the context of their lives. Hochschild draws on her expert knowledge of the sociology of emotion to help us understand what it feels like to live in “red” America. Along the way she finds answers to one of the crucial questions of contemporary American politics: why do the people who would seem to benefit most from “liberal” government intervention abhor the very idea?
more
When Trump was elected, I realized (ton of bricks here) that I didn’t know, much less understand, half of my fellow countrymen. So I started reading–I couldn’t ask, as I didn’t know any Trump supporters–in an effort to understand. Hochschild’s study–written before the election, but valuable nevertheless–was one of the more enlightening books I’ve read. A social scientist, she leads us into the minds, the ways of thinking, the values of folks who–from the outside–appear to be working against their own interests–who vote and support policies that poisen their water and destroy their towns and lives. Excellently crafted, Hochschild is gentle, non-judgmental–and courageous in her investigation. A good example of digging into and understanding a world different and contra one’s own.
Phew! I’m thrilled to be finished with this one. Not that it’s not good. It’s well-written, highly-readable non-fiction that’s story based. But I felt uncomfortable the entire time I was reading. Here’s why.
As a blue state person myself, what made me so uncomfortable was NOT that the interviewees Hochschild profiles in the book can be dismissed as uneducated or stupid. They can’t. It’s simply because their thinking is so WILDLY different from my own, in SO MANY areas. And that those differences are so profound that I found myself getting increasingly demoralized about the prospect of these two sides ever finding a meeting point.
The author is a sociologist from Berkeley, CA — a blue state liberal who wanted to try to understand the thinking of people in red states, many of whom support Donald Trump. And Hochschild does a good job of humanizing this segment of the American populous whose collective voice seems to be on the ascendant. These are not devils. They are loving mates and devoted parents. They go to church and work hard. They’re friendly and supportive of neighbors.
Hochschild shows how the individuals profiled feel left out of the American dream. And it is true they HAVE lost a lot of ground during the last couple of generations. Particularly those who are high-school educated, white and male. Many traditional, decent-paying jobs have moved overseas. Technology has transformed the workplace so that others jobs are now automated. Income is stagnant. And instead of sitting at the top of a world built on white privilege, this is a group that must now compete for employment against women and minorities. (Not so 50 years ago.)
They are also tired of being told to be politically correct and are just plain angry at those they see passing them on the ladder of success. I do now understand how these people are drawn to what I personally see as Trump’s anger, vitriol, racism, and promises to make America great again. (This actually seems to mean return American to the way life was in the 1950s — few women in the workplace, little competition from minorities, and plenty of jobs for unskilled or low skilled workers).
All the interviewees are from Louisiana, home of the so-called “cancer corridor”, reflecting the large number of cancers reported in certain areas of the state. Also where many large chemical companies (Dow, Monsanto) and oil and gas companies run huge facilities. But instead of holding companies responsible for local pollution (and its potential health threats), these folks blame a bloated government imposing too many regulations. And they don’t understand why government should be helping out those with no health insurance (Obamacare) or no income (welfare) or immigrants seeking asylum. Not when too many “regular” Americans are struggling. They believe THESE are the folks whose welfare should be prioritized. Which, honestly, strikes me as a fair argument. Hochschild labels this a great paradox. While believing in smaller government and opposing government hand-outs — about 50% of Louisiana’s annual budget comes through federal funding.
But it’s not just anti-government sentiment that left me discouraged. Or faith in American corporations. Or even feeling that women and minorities should remain disadvantaged. There’s also a culture that doesn’t value advanced education. That accepts pollution as an acceptable by-product of industries that provide jobs and manufacture the consumables we all demand. And then there’s that widespread belief that the United States should essentially be a Christian country, guided by the teachings of the Bible (i.e. no abortion, no Muslims, women’s primary role is to support their men, no belief in global warming except perhaps as a portent of The Coming Rapture).
No need to go on, right? Will this book help humanize Trump supporters? Yes. Will it help you understand why they feel as they do? Yes. Will you empathize with their struggles? Definitely. But will it encourage you about the future of the country? I’m not so sure. Instead, like me, I’m afraid it will leave YOU feeling like a stranger in YOUR own land.
A must read, especially in our socially
fraying time.
As most non-fiction tends to be, the book was fact-heavy. I live in Louisiana, and cannot quite figure out the far right. This book helped me to understand.
They have been willing to trade the availability of good jobs for the trashing of our environment. Industry has been given the best tax exemption in the country here, and we are okay with sacrificing our pristine land. In this book, you will meet real people who were both part of the industry and part of the protest against the pollution.
For folks on the left who just don’t understand why someone would be on the right–this is one of the best illustrations of the conservative world-view
provides an in-depth look at the culture of Louisiana, offering some insights on why so many southerners distrust government, hate regulations and take pride in enduring troubles with the help of church and family.
Nice scholarly work to explain the extreme right phenomenon. Helped me understand some of the rationale but I’m still baffled by it.
An excellent study of “tea party” Trump supporters in the bayou country of Louisiana. They live in one of the most polluted parts of the US, but don’t believe in environmental protection. Louisiana receives 44% of its budget from the federal government, but they don’t think the government gives them anything. They resent those who “cut in line” and prevent them from attaining the American Dream. They watch Fox News, go to church, and are losing their livelihood and their way of life. A fascinating study of people I now understand, at least a little.
The research in this book is fascinating. The author takes you on a journey into the minds of rural Southerners who supported Trump in the 2016 presidential election and ends up writing a book that seeks to unite the polarized communities of this torn country. So well written.
I would like to see this book be required reading in our schools