The Power of the Appalachian Trail: Reimagining the Nature
THE POWER OF THE APPALACHIAN TRAIL: REIMAGINING THE NATURE NARRATIVE THROUGH AUTOHISTORIA-TEORÍA A DISSERTATION SUBMITTED IN PARTIAL FULFILLMENT OF THE REQUIREMENTS FOR THE DEGREE OF DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY IN THE GRADUATE SCHOOL OF THE TEXAS WOMAN’S UNIVERSITY DEPARTMENT OF MULTICULTURAL WOMEN’S AND GENDER STUDIES COLLEGE OF ARTS AND SCIENCES BY PAMELA WHITE WOLSEY, B.A., M.A. DENTON, TEXAS MAY 2020 Copyright © 2020 by Pamela White Wolsey DEDICATION For Earle ii ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS To Mom, Dad, Tina, Maxine, and Reba, your unconditional love and continued support does not go unnoticed, and I am so fortunate to have each of you in my life. To Medeski, Edie, and VL, as well as the rhodies, mountain chickens, and wood thrush, thank you for sharing your spirit and teaching me the joys of interspecies relationships. I cannot express enough gratitude to my committee and committee chair, AnaLouise Keating, for her guidance and inspiration. You made a profound impact on my personal and professional growth. My heartfelt appreciation is for my husband and hiking companion, Josh. Thank you for the tears, beers, and encouragement both on and off the trail. The AT and the dissertation were both incredible journeys, and I look forward to our next adventure together. iii ABSTRACT PAMELA WHITE WOLSEY THE POWER OF THE APPALACHIAN TRAIL: REIMAGINING THE NATURE NARRATIVE THROUGH AUTOHISTORIA-TEORÍA MAY 2020 This study situates the Appalachian Trail (AT) as a powerful place connecting multiple communities with varying identities, abilities, and personalities, a place where we can consider our radical interconnectedness in a way that moves beyond wilderness ideology and settler colonialism through the construction of an inclusive narrative about experiences in nature.
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