The Appalachian Culture and Female Doctoral Students: A Study of the Perception of Influence of Appalachian Culture on Female Doctoral Students at Marshall University Graduate College

When the words Appalachia and Appalachian Culture are used, many images different images may run through the imagination of those in conversation. For those outside the geographical area, the stereotypical terms such as redneck or hillbilly may come to mind, or characteristics such as uneducated, toothless, or barefoot and pregnant. For those that live within this area, the first thoughts may be family, bond, or ties to the land. One element that is not disputed is the accepted fact that the Appalachian culture has strong ties over those who have lived there. Are the influences positive or negative? How do these influence specific groups of people? Specifically, has the Appalachian culture influenced females that have pursued furthering their education? The question this study attempts to examine is what types of influence has Appalachian culture had upon female doctoral students at Marshall University Graduate College? Although this study only scratched the surface of what could be known, this foundational study offers a unique perspective to this question