Kentucky Stereotypes
For some people making fun of Kentuckians is just that, fun! All they know is what they hear and see in movies. Kentucky has long been stereotyped as a place of coal miners, horse farms (which are exceptionally beautiful by the way), hillbillies, rednecks, and hicks. According to the rest of the world most of us women are pregnant, barefoot and pregnant, or barefoot +pregnant with no teeth. The men are characterized as uneducated love-to-fight redneck NASCAR fanatics with no teeth(sorry nascar fans, I'm not making fun of you. I just don't like the sport).
I’m here to put a stop to those stereotypes. Well, for myself anyway, because we’re not all like that. I’m not your stereotypical Kentuckian even though I am known to walk around barefoot…and I do have that Southern accent (which I LOVE by the way). I don’t want anyone else’s accent just like you don’t want mine. Isn’t nice that we are all different?
I’m sure I do have some hillbilly tendencies since I grew up in a small mountainous town with a population less than 500. I went on to a small town university two hours away and that is where we currently reside. Sure, you are going to see stereotypical people around town but don’t confuse me with them. I’m educated (MBA & BA in psychology). I have teeth (aren’t you excited?). I hate NASCAR (we’re football fans here). My husband is far from uneducated (unless you consider PHD candidates dumb) and far from redneck but it’s possible that he is a hillbilly geek if there is such a thing because when he wants to be, he sure is country. And, I’m country when I want to be. I like me some soup beans, cornbread, and killed lettuce. Anyone besides me know what that is? I don’t say y’all. I do say ain't. I don’t listen to country music except for the occassional Dixie Chicks song. I do have Southern Hospitality. Is it bad that I'm nice and don't mind making small talk with strangers? Contrary to popular belief, you can be smart, a good parent, and eat healthy and still live in KY.
Sure, we have a few redneck friends and country/hillbilly family but the love, family values and hospitality is so worth it. I’m sure once you hear my voice you would automatically assume I am dumb like Britney Spears. But you know what, I don’t think she is as dumb as everyone thinks. It’s the accent that gets her. If I had to pick a celebrity to reflect where I’m from, how I sound, and some hillbilly tendencies that I have, I would say for lack of better Southern choices, Britney Spears (minus her bad parenting decisions) or Ashley Judd. Go ahead and laugh. Do you think I really care? Does saying that make me sound dumb? If it does, then so be it.
Don’t we have better things to do in this world rather than poking fun at other people? Don’t get me wrong, I do it sometimes too especially when it comes to celebrities but I’m not likely to judge your everyday real people based on what state they come from. In all honestly, I don’t have one bad thing to say about any other state or the people in it. Sure, sometimes it makes for good writing and it’s funny but when it comes down to it, I’m just not like that. I'm not upset when someone makes a comment about the people in Kentucky because most of the time I know it's all in good fun. But I do want everyone to know I'm not your typical hillbilly.
>Go to the Mom blog Homepage
For some people making fun of Kentuckians is just that, fun! All they know is what they hear and see in movies. Kentucky has long been stereotyped as a place of coal miners, horse farms (which are exceptionally beautiful by the way), hillbillies, rednecks, and hicks. According to the rest of the world most of us women are pregnant, barefoot and pregnant, or barefoot +pregnant with no teeth. The men are characterized as uneducated love-to-fight redneck NASCAR fanatics with no teeth(sorry nascar fans, I'm not making fun of you. I just don't like the sport).
I’m here to put a stop to those stereotypes. Well, for myself anyway, because we’re not all like that. I’m not your stereotypical Kentuckian even though I am known to walk around barefoot…and I do have that Southern accent (which I LOVE by the way). I don’t want anyone else’s accent just like you don’t want mine. Isn’t nice that we are all different?
I’m sure I do have some hillbilly tendencies since I grew up in a small mountainous town with a population less than 500. I went on to a small town university two hours away and that is where we currently reside. Sure, you are going to see stereotypical people around town but don’t confuse me with them. I’m educated (MBA & BA in psychology). I have teeth (aren’t you excited?). I hate NASCAR (we’re football fans here). My husband is far from uneducated (unless you consider PHD candidates dumb) and far from redneck but it’s possible that he is a hillbilly geek if there is such a thing because when he wants to be, he sure is country. And, I’m country when I want to be. I like me some soup beans, cornbread, and killed lettuce. Anyone besides me know what that is? I don’t say y’all. I do say ain't. I don’t listen to country music except for the occassional Dixie Chicks song. I do have Southern Hospitality. Is it bad that I'm nice and don't mind making small talk with strangers? Contrary to popular belief, you can be smart, a good parent, and eat healthy and still live in KY.
Sure, we have a few redneck friends and country/hillbilly family but the love, family values and hospitality is so worth it. I’m sure once you hear my voice you would automatically assume I am dumb like Britney Spears. But you know what, I don’t think she is as dumb as everyone thinks. It’s the accent that gets her. If I had to pick a celebrity to reflect where I’m from, how I sound, and some hillbilly tendencies that I have, I would say for lack of better Southern choices, Britney Spears (minus her bad parenting decisions) or Ashley Judd. Go ahead and laugh. Do you think I really care? Does saying that make me sound dumb? If it does, then so be it.
Don’t we have better things to do in this world rather than poking fun at other people? Don’t get me wrong, I do it sometimes too especially when it comes to celebrities but I’m not likely to judge your everyday real people based on what state they come from. In all honestly, I don’t have one bad thing to say about any other state or the people in it. Sure, sometimes it makes for good writing and it’s funny but when it comes down to it, I’m just not like that. I'm not upset when someone makes a comment about the people in Kentucky because most of the time I know it's all in good fun. But I do want everyone to know I'm not your typical hillbilly. >Go to the Mom blog Homepage
18 Comments:
I'm from West Virginia, so I know how it feels to be the butt of those kind of jokes! I didn't realize how deeply ingrained some stereotypes are in our society until I went to college out of state and heard so many jokes when I told people where I was from. I'm nothing like the stereotypes and a lot of people I know break the mold, too.
Honestly, I've never ever heard anyone even talk about KY except you and D! LOL! I don't think people think that of you just because you live somewhere. People could say those living in cities are snobs and shallow. That our way of living is bad. Ya know? Sorry you've been so offended!
Hmm, soup beans, killed lettuce, cornbread. YUMMY! I'm coming over for dinner when you make it! lol I fit the mold of a hillbilly because of my accent, I am always barefooted when at home even if I am outside. I loved being pregnant and having babies. But, I guess that you one upped me because you have a college education and I don't. I am the typical stay at home stupid mom who is lazy and sits on the sofa all day watching soap operas. By the way, I hate soaps, I very seldom sit, and I know that you understand what I am saying lol. I hate the stereotypes too and I think that noone else understands it unless they are from here. Oh yeah, I was born and raised for most of my life in West Virginia. So, I am double time hillbilly. lol
We have our stereotypes here in Iowa. We're all hicks, living on farms, wearing overalls with hay sticking out of teeth, cow tipping for fun. Oh, and do you even have McDonald's there?????
Yes, on every corner! And I've never been on a farm in my life. LOL
Great post. I think alot of places have unfair stereotypes attached to them and good for you for sticking up for Kentucky.
I love southern accents!!
"I'm not your typical hillbilly." Is there such a thing as a TYPICAL hillbilly?
Even if you were a hillbilly, we'd still love you! Besides, who says you can't be an intelligent and classy hillbilly?
One more thing...stereotypes exist everywhere...think about what people think of WAHMs that is SOOO not the case! :)
I have never thought about Kentucky people like that. When I was a little girl- I wanted to move to Kentucky and own a horse ranch. I wanted to breed, show, and train horses. So when I think of Kentucky, I think of The American Saddlebred Horse and think of people being all dressed up and riding them:) I have read the stereotype "You know you are from North Charolina If...." it matches me so well! LOL. I love those things.
I agree with everyone that every place has their own set up stereotypes and I was just thinking about this recently after seeing this written about in 2 different places in the same week.
Arika, what I meant by typical hillbilly was "stereotypical hillbilly". I guess what I meant and wanted to get across was that I'm not Ellie Mae and my husband is not jethro from the Beverly Hillbillies. LOL.
And, I'm not judging other people from KY either. I love kentucky. I love that I am from here and I love the people here and I like who they are regardless of what other people think.
I've never heard any jokes about Kentucky honestly.
Shoot, compared to where I'm from (Louisiana, or as my husband likes to call it, "Loser-ana"), you're practically a Yankee! I know what you mean about non-Southerners hearing the ya'lls, the ain'ts, and the accent in general and thinking "D-U-M-B." But I'll have to admit that I'm actually, unlike you, not so crazy about the way I sound, either! Wish I had a bit less "twang"!
Thanks Diane..Finally, someone who really understands(beside bluegrass mama, I know you do too)...I do think alot of it has to do with the accent. I'm fine with mine but I do know what comes along with it.
Thanks for commenting.
I do not hold such beliefs.
However, I would like to thank you
for clearing that up for folks that do.
RELAX
I love southern accents, and I'm hoping to adopt one since I moved down south to Florida- but the area I live in has lots of us up north transplants, so I'm more likely to pick up a NY accent down here LOL.
Your the first person I've ever known from Kentucky, so all stereotypes I have are based on you (LOL)and none of them are bad.
Hey girl, I understand what you mean, I just wanted you to know that no matter who you are or where you live(ya'll know us southerners gotta stick together), we will always love ya! :)
Hi! I just found your blog via Karen @ The Stealthy Skirt! I'm from KY too - born and raised! And I loved this post!!
Kentucky=shit hole
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