Strangers in Their Own Land audiobook cover - Anger and Mourning on the American Right

Strangers in Their Own Land

Anger and Mourning on the American Right

Arlie Russell Hochschild

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Strangers in Their Own Land
The Great Paradox+
The Illusion of Big Oil+
Feeling Neglected by Government+
Cultural Disrespect & Defensiveness+
Environmental Devastation & Distraction+
The Power of Empathy+

Quiz — Test Your Understanding

Question 1 of 7
According to the text, what paradoxical political behavior is observed among many citizens of Louisiana, one of the poorest states in the US?
  • A. They consistently vote for increased federal aid to address their poverty and failing infrastructure.
  • B. They strongly support small-government policies and deregulation despite needing economic assistance.
  • C. They demand higher taxes on corporations to fund local education and healthcare initiatives.
  • D. They reject the oil industry entirely in favor of heavily subsidized green energy sectors.
Question 2 of 7
How does the billion-dollar oil industry actually impact the local residents of Louisiana, contrary to political rhetoric?
  • A. It provides the vast majority of local high school graduates with lucrative, long-term employment.
  • B. It significantly boosts the state's tax revenue, fully funding new infrastructure and public schools.
  • C. Most steady jobs go to out-of-state professionals or foreign workers, while locals suffer from pollution and lost tax revenue.
  • D. It forces the state government to heavily regulate environmental standards to protect the lucrative fishing waterways.
Question 3 of 7
What is the primary reason Tea Party supporters in Louisiana feel neglected by the federal government?
  • A. They believe they are the hardworking backbone of America but are bypassed for assistance while minorities receive preferential treatment.
  • B. They feel the government is not doing enough to protect their local environment from corporate pollution.
  • C. They believe the federal government is overly focused on foreign policy rather than domestic industrial growth.
  • D. They are angry that the government refuses to lower the national retirement age for blue-collar workers.
Question 4 of 7
Why do many Tea Party members in Louisiana feel condescended to by liberals and the rest of the nation?
  • A. Because liberals frequently criticize their reliance on federal welfare programs.
  • B. Because they feel judged for their traditional, Bible-based values and their strong connection to the church.
  • C. Because the national media ignores their historical contributions to the civil rights movement.
  • D. Because they are mocked for their desire to aggressively unionize blue-collar industries.
Question 5 of 7
According to the text, how does Fox News influence the political debate regarding environmental disasters in Louisiana?
  • A. It conducts in-depth investigations into oil company negligence to hold them accountable to the public.
  • B. It advocates for state-level environmental regulations to replace federal ones.
  • C. It distracts viewers with sensationalist stories and portrays the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) as an enemy.
  • D. It encourages citizens to sue oil companies for the destruction of their property and health.
Question 6 of 7
How does the historical social structure of the antebellum South help explain why impoverished white Louisianans favor big business over government aid today?
  • A. They believe big businesses will eventually overthrow the federal government and restore historical societal norms.
  • B. They associate government aid with the bottom of the social hierarchy and reject it to differentiate themselves from the poorest classes.
  • C. They view big business leaders as the modern equivalent of abolitionists who fought for equal economic rights.
  • D. They want to recreate the agrarian economy of the past by dismantling modern industrial corporations.
Question 7 of 7
What does sociologist Arlie Hochschild conclude is the best way forward to bridge the political divide in America?
  • A. Implementing stricter federal laws to prevent the spread of misinformation by partisan media outlets.
  • B. Educating conservative voters on the long-term economic benefits of progressive taxation.
  • C. Empathizing with those on the other end of the political spectrum by understanding their personal histories and beliefs.
  • D. Boycotting corporations that receive massive tax breaks at the expense of local communities.

Strangers in Their Own Land — Full Chapter Overview

Strangers in Their Own Land Summary & Overview

Strangers in Their Own Land (2016) discusses the issues that divide American politics, with specific focus on the Tea Party of Louisiana. In the course of explaining how Louisiana ended up where it is today, the author encourages readers to empathize with disparate political stances.

Who Should Listen to Strangers in Their Own Land?

  • People interested in American society
  • Students of politics and sociology
  • Anyone interested in today’s political climate

About the Author: Arlie Russell Hochschild

Arlie Russell Hochschild is professor emerita in Sociology at the University of Berkeley, California. In 2015, she won the American Sociological Association’s Lifetime Achievement Award. She is also the author of The Outsourced Self: Intimate Life in Market Times.

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