SSSP 2024 Annual Meeting

Date: Sunday, August 11

Time: 2:30 PM - 4:10 PM

Session 107: CRITICAL DIALOGUE: Critical Race and Rural Studies
Room: Salon 5

Sponsors: Community, Research, and Practice
Social Problems Theory

Organizer &

Presider/Discussant: Nathaniel Dumas, Xoogler Founders-Researchers Hub

Description: 

Critical Rural Theory transformed sociologies of rurality by encouraging the study of rurality through conceptual lenses of structure, space, and culture. While they note similarities between spatial and racial identities, these scholars have yet to explore how political economies of race create competing experiences of rurality. Similarly, Critical Race Theorists pushed disciplines to problematize and move beyond simplistic comparisons and demographic understandings of race. While some of their work decenters “place-centricism,” these scholars have yet to make use of transformative conversations happening within Critical Rural Theory.

Through dialogue, we aim for Critical Rural Theorists to cultivate complex perspectives of how race complicates rurality and for Critical Race Theorists to incorporate complex rethinkings of rurality that further problematize studying racial articulations.

Papers:

“Intersections of Race and Rurality: Settlement Space as Medium of Oppression,” Alexander R. Thomas and Gregory M. Fulkerson, SUNY Oneonta and Polly J. Smith, Utica University

“The Very Very Far North: Considering Canada’s Northern Tier through the Lenses of Critical Rural Theory and Critical Race Theory,” Aimee Vieira, CanNor

“Rural Land Tenure and the Racial Wealth Gap,” Natasha Moodie and Keith Wiley, Housing Assistance Council

“Indigenous Identity and Struggles for State Recognition in Ecuador,” Caroline Martinez, University of California, Irvine