Devin Proctor, assistant professor of anthropology, spoke with CNN about the history of homesteading and how it has evolved, including how it has been "smuggled in with all the manner of other supposedly 'traditional' things" on TikTok.
Elon University Assistant Professor of Anthropology Devin Proctor was interviewed by CNN about the culture of homesteading and the online community that has grown around the practice.
Proctor is a cultural anthropologist who examines identity construction and virtual space. The article, published March 30, focuses on queer and transgender homesteaders and how they navigate social media. Proctor spoke with CNN about the history of homesteading and how it has evolved, including how it has been “smuggled in with all the manner of other supposedly ‘traditional’ things” on TikTok.
“Whether through algorithms, exposure or privileged access, (social media) filtered the content and what rose to the top were pretty, White, blonde women,” Proctor told CNN. “And a great many of the blonde White women in the online homesteading world happened to be Mormon, and thus skewed conservative.”