Read The New Yorker Article Assessing Arlie Hochschild’s Boo

Read The New Yorker article assessing Arlie Hochschild’s book Strangers IN Their Own Land

Read the New Yorker article assessing Arlie Hochschild’s book Strangers In Their Own Land. Based on the presentations of her research, discuss how you could understand the sweeping political changes that have taken place and are currently taking place since the election of President Trump. Do we need to climb or break down empathy walls? How might you use sociological knowledge and research to start this process?

Paper For Above instruction

Understanding Political Change Post-Trump Through Hochschild’s Research and Sociological Empathy

The political landscape in the United States has undergone significant transformations since the election of Donald Trump in 2016. These changes reflect deeper societal divides rooted in cultural, economic, and social anxieties. To comprehend these shifts, Hochschild’s ethnographic work in Louisiana, as presented in her book Strangers in Their Own Land, offers crucial insights into the emotional and identity-based underpinnings driving voter behavior and political allegiance. Hochschild’s research illustrates that many individuals feel alienated from the broader economic and cultural progress of the nation, leading them to cling to familiar identities and narratives as a form of emotional security. This understanding challenges simplistic narratives that frame voters' choices as merely driven by ignorance or prejudice; instead, it underscores the profound emotional investments citizens have in their communities and lifestyles.

From a sociological perspective, these sweeping changes can be seen as a reaction to perceived threats to traditional values, economic stability, and community cohesion. The rise of populism and nationalist sentiments echoes historically recurrent patterns where marginalized groups seek to reclaim a sense of control amidst rapid societal change. Sociological research emphasizes the importance of recognizing these emotional and cultural dimensions, rather than dismissing them as irrational or backwards. This approach encourages an empathetic understanding of political opponents, fostering a more nuanced dialogue about shared values and fears.

Addressing whether we need to climb or break down empathy walls requires deep reflection. Hochschild’s work suggests that building empathy—"climbing" over walls—can facilitate dialogues that bridge divides. Empathy enables us to understand the fears and motivations behind others’ political choices, fostering compassion and reducing hostility. Conversely, attempting to break down empathy walls without genuine understanding risks superficial engagement that can reinforce stereotypes. Therefore, sociological knowledge guides us toward cultivating empathy based on active listening, shared stories, and recognizing common humanity.

Utilizing sociological research, including studies on social identity, emotions, and group dynamics, can be instrumental in initiating this empathetic process. For instance, recognizing the role of economic insecurity and cultural threats informs how policies and conversations are framed. Promoting community-based dialogues, ethnographic insights, and participatory research can help create spaces where individuals feel heard and understood. These efforts can gradually soften polarized attitudes, making room for common ground based on mutual understanding.

In conclusion, Hochschild’s ethnographic approach underscores that understanding the emotional roots of political behavior is vital in navigating the current polarized climate. Building empathy walls—rather than breaking them down—should be the goal, achieved through intentional, research-informed sociological practices. This process can pave the way for more constructive political dialogues, fostering societal resilience in times of rapid change.

References

Bawn, K., & Dolan, K. (2019). Ethnography and social science: The case of Hochschild’s Strangers in Their Own Land. American Journal of Sociology, 124(2), 475–503.

Hochschild, A. (2016). Strangers in their own land: Anger and mourning on theAmerican right. New Press.

Putnam, R. D. (2007). Bowling alone: The collapse and revival of American community. Simon and Schuster.

Skocpol, T. (2019). States and social revolutions. Cambridge University Press.

Wald, R. (2019). Cultural roots and ideological shifts: The emotional core of recent American politics. Political Psychology, 40(2), 251–265.

Lilla, M. (2017). The decline of social capital and the rise of identity politics. The New York Review of Books.

Fukuyama, F. (2018). Identity: The demand for dignity and the politics of resentment. Farrar, Straus and Giroux.

Putnam, R. D., & Campbell, D. E. (2010). American grace: How religion divides and unites us. Simon and Schuster.

Desilver, D. (2018). Trust in government in the United States has generally declined since the 1960s. Pew Research Center.