Dissertation Research: Women, Deindustrialization and Job Loss in a Southern Town: A Historical Ethnography

本论文是由南卫理公会大学文化人类学专业的一名学生完成的研究项目，研究南方一个城镇的去工业化和失业的结果。以阿拉巴马州门罗维尔为例，学生将研究最近一家服装制造厂的关闭对白人和非洲裔美国人的生活和工作产生的不同影响。利用参与观察、半结构化和正式访谈以及档案研究等民族志方法，学生将检验由于家庭网络的规模和性质的差异，失业对女性（比男性）和白人女性（比黑人女性）的负面影响更大的假设。这个案例研究将推进理论，解释妇女在社会地位的变化，由于增加或减少工资劳动的收入。这种比较将帮助我们理解去工业化和失业过程的复杂性，这种理解对规划者和社会服务提供者应该是有价值的。此外，这项研究将有助于培养年轻的科学家。

This dissertation research project by a cultural anthropology student at Southern Methodist University studies the results of deindustrialization and job loss in a Southern town. Taking the case of Monroeville, Alabama, the student will examine the differential impact of the recent close of an apparel manufacturing plant on Caucasian and African American men and women's lives and work. Using ethnographic methods of participant observation, semi-structured and formal interviews and archival research, the student will test hypotheses about the more negative impact of job loss on women (than men) and on White women (than Black women), due to differences in the size and nature of family networks. This case study will advance theory explaining changes in women's position in society due to the addition or loss of income from wage labor. The comparison will help us understand the complexities of the process of deindustrialization and job loss, and this understanding should be valuable to planners and social service providers. In addition the research will help train a young scientist.