Ouachita Stories

Jennifer Pittman, lecturer in English at Ouachita Baptist University, was recently published in The Social History of the American Family. Pittman’s article, “Southern Families,” provided insight into life in the south.

“Jennifer Pittman’s growing list of publications is a positive example for our English majors and it enhances the classroom experience of all of her students,” said Dr. Jeff Root, dean of Ouachita’s School of Humanities. “Her latest publication is further evidence that she is becoming a well-known literary voice in the area of Southern culture.”

The Social History of the American Family highlights the important role of families in many lives and how they have adapted to change throughout American history. In four volumes, it is evident that the idea of families shapes an individual from infancy through adulthood.

“I think this collection as a whole puts together the different definitions of family and, in a way, chronicles the transition across time, space and socio-economical context and lets us learn more about ourselves,” Pittman said.

Pittman’s article highlights these issues in the Southern context, also addressing how Southern families have played a role in popular culture, thus impacting the broader American public.

“I was contacted by the editor, whom I have written for in the past, about possible topics and the idea of Southern families stood out,” Pittman said. Her own experience of being raised in the South, paired with her doctoral research on “The Southern Good Ol’ Boy,” made her an ideal author on the subject.

Pittman joined the Ouachita humanities faculty in 2012 and teaches both core and upper level English courses and serves as director of the Speer Writing Center. She earned her Master of Arts degree from the University of Central Arkansas and her Bachelor of Arts degree from Hendrix College. She currently is completing her doctoral dissertation with the University of Southern Mississippi.

The Social History of the American Family is published by SAGE Publications, Inc. For more information, contact Jennifer Pittman at [email protected] or (870) 245-5553.

 

By Lauren Snow