Marriage Education Marriage Education for Good Old Boysfor Good Old Boys

Amanda Schroeder, B.S.Amanda Schroeder, B.S.Jennifer Baker, PsyD LMFTJennifer Baker, PsyD LMFT

Labels for Folks in Rural AreasLabels for Folks in Rural Areas

““Good Old Good Old Boys” Boys”

““Rednecks”Rednecks” ““White Trash”White Trash” ““Hillbillies”Hillbillies”

How are these How are these labels different labels different or similar from or similar from one another?one another?

Stereotypical ThinkingStereotypical Thinking

What images come to mind when you What images come to mind when you think about “good old boys” or think about “good old boys” or “rednecks?” “rednecks?” These elements constitute a culture.These elements constitute a culture. They can exert a powerful influence They can exert a powerful influence

over our thinking about behavior.over our thinking about behavior.

Common Stereotypes Common Stereotypes IncludeInclude

RacistsRacists UneducatedUneducated Drunks Drunks InbredInbred ConservativeConservative

DirtyDirty Slow Slow OffensiveOffensive Stupid Stupid BackwardsBackwards

Confirmation BiasConfirmation Bias

- If we believe something to be true we If we believe something to be true we look for information to support our look for information to support our bias. bias.

- Can influence the thousands of subtle, Can influence the thousands of subtle, nonverbal signals we send each other nonverbal signals we send each other every day (micromessages).every day (micromessages).

- Micromessages are communicated by Micromessages are communicated by head nods, eye contact, head turns, head nods, eye contact, head turns, and gestures.and gestures.

Confirmation BiasConfirmation Bias

What biases exist regarding What biases exist regarding “good old boy” / “redneck” “good old boy” / “redneck” culture and healthy marriage? culture and healthy marriage?

How do these beliefs influence How do these beliefs influence the micromessages we may the micromessages we may unknowingly communicate?unknowingly communicate?

Recognizing BiasesRecognizing Biases

Stereotypes are also influenced by Stereotypes are also influenced by media:media:• ““You might be a redneck if…” (Jeff You might be a redneck if…” (Jeff

Foxworthy)Foxworthy)• TV shows: “My Name is Earl”TV shows: “My Name is Earl”

We are bombarded with We are bombarded with stereotypes that have become stereotypes that have become a part of popular culture.a part of popular culture.

BelievinBelievingg

IsIs

Seeing…Seeing…

Where the Heart Is

Social Class and CultureSocial Class and Culture

• Social class is often overlooked in Social class is often overlooked in terms of diversity.terms of diversity.

• ““Whiteness” in our society is associated Whiteness” in our society is associated with power, but the low income white with power, but the low income white population finds themselves as a population finds themselves as a societal anomaly, i.e., white without societal anomaly, i.e., white without power. power.

• A strong identity is formed to class, i.e., A strong identity is formed to class, i.e., the working man.the working man. (McCarter, 2006)(McCarter, 2006)

Differing Outlooks Differing Outlooks (Payne, 1996)(Payne, 1996)

Working Working ClassClass

Middle Middle classclass

Upper Upper classclass

MoneyMoney To be used, To be used, spentspent

To be To be managedmanaged

To be To be invested, invested, conservedconserved

FoodFood Quantity: Did Quantity: Did you have you have enough?enough?

Quality: Did Quality: Did you like it?you like it?

Presentation:Presentation:

Did it look Did it look nice?nice?

TimeTime Present: Present: Decisions based Decisions based on feelings or on feelings or survivalsurvival

Future Future Oriented: Oriented: Decisions Decisions made against made against future resultsfuture results

Focus on Focus on Past:Past:Decisions Decisions based on based on history and history and traditiontradition

LanguagLanguagee

Causal, about Causal, about survivalsurvival

Formal, about Formal, about negotiationnegotiation

Formal, Formal, about about networkingnetworking

Driving Driving ForceForce

Survival, Survival, relationships, relationships, entertainmententertainment

Work, Work, achievementachievement

Financial, Financial, political, political, social social connectionsconnections

Exploring the CultureExploring the Culture

Awareness of Awareness of cultural cultural elements is elements is key to key to understanding understanding “good old boy” “good old boy” or “redneck or “redneck culture.”culture.”

Good Old Boy CultureGood Old Boy Culture

SurvivalSurvival: Things in modern society : Things in modern society that must be done to get food and that must be done to get food and shelter.shelter.

RelationshipsRelationships: Ownership of : Ownership of people, “my old man, my old lady”, people, “my old man, my old lady”,

EntertainmentEntertainment: TV, country music, : TV, country music, bars, etc.bars, etc.

(McCarter, 2006)(McCarter, 2006)

Elements of CultureElements of Culture

Symbols = Symbols =

RepresentatioRepresentations of ideas so ns of ideas so their meanings their meanings can can

be sharedbe shared

ObjectsObjects CarsCars GunsGuns

GesturesGestures EntertainmentEntertainment ReligionReligion LanguageLanguage

Common Good Old Boy BeliefsCommon Good Old Boy Beliefs

Symbolic statements about realitySymbolic statements about reality A strong work ethic reflects the quality of A strong work ethic reflects the quality of

the person. There is pride in one’s the person. There is pride in one’s individual work.individual work.

Do things intuitively, live in here and Do things intuitively, live in here and now.now.

Education: Something done to get a job.Education: Something done to get a job. Traditional thoughts of religion and Traditional thoughts of religion and

family.family.

Working Class Ideas on Working Class Ideas on MarriageMarriage

Man is the head of the house and Man is the head of the house and provider; women take care of the provider; women take care of the children.children.

Male/Female gender stereotypes common.Male/Female gender stereotypes common. Divorce can be seen as a failure: may fight Divorce can be seen as a failure: may fight

often, but stay together.often, but stay together. Men can sometimes lead double life: life Men can sometimes lead double life: life

at home with family and life at bars when at home with family and life at bars when out with friends. out with friends.

Communication problems are expected. Communication problems are expected.

Jeff Foxworthy Totally Committed

Common Working Class Common Working Class ValuesValues

Protect and defend family.Protect and defend family. Stand up for yourself.Stand up for yourself. Status found within, not outside Status found within, not outside

social groups.social groups. Loyalty and honesty.Loyalty and honesty. Sense of Community found at local Sense of Community found at local

establishments (rather than at establishments (rather than at work).work).

Implications for Promoting Implications for Promoting Marriage Education in the Marriage Education in the

Working ClassWorking Class Implementation of marriage education could Implementation of marriage education could

be beneficial in fostering healthy be beneficial in fostering healthy communication between husband and wife.communication between husband and wife.

Men enjoy being providers economically. Help Men enjoy being providers economically. Help to make them to be providers emotionally as to make them to be providers emotionally as well.well.

Primary function of the home is comfort – In Primary function of the home is comfort – In relation to marriage, help demonstrate that a relation to marriage, help demonstrate that a comfortable home is one with a happy comfortable home is one with a happy marriage.marriage.

Implications for Marriage Implications for Marriage Education in the Working ClassEducation in the Working Class

Use examples that include symbols, Use examples that include symbols, icons and values familiar to working icons and values familiar to working class participants.class participants.

Include real-life examples and/or Include real-life examples and/or analogies to which class can easily analogies to which class can easily relate.relate.

Utilize humor popular with working class Utilize humor popular with working class audience. Humor lowers defenses and audience. Humor lowers defenses and opens us to new ideas and experiences.opens us to new ideas and experiences.

Using Popular CultureUsing Popular Culture

Set the moodSet the mood Before the class startsBefore the class starts During activitiesDuring activities

Using as a conversation starterUsing as a conversation starter Agreement with lyrics not necessaryAgreement with lyrics not necessary Have copies of the lyrics to go with songsHave copies of the lyrics to go with songs

Illustrate an important conceptIllustrate an important concept Touch head and heartTouch head and heart