The lore has forgotten that Appalachia is ruled by the women within it.Â
My grandmother married a mountain man at the age of 15. Living in what s now Shenandoah National Park, they remained on his family homestead until eventually moving into the Valley. Four kids and three grandkids later, Iâve been granted the perfect case study of Appalachian hierarchy and what it means to be a woman.Â
Although I spent half of my childhood at the epicenter of a very Southern family, Iâve never subscribed to traditional gender roles. Growing up in a family with these expectations was difficult in most regards, but Iâve realized that Appalachia isnât as clear-cut as I was led to believe.Â