an Investigation into the Lived Experiences of Peace Corps Volunteers

191 Pages·2016·0.63 MB·English

University of Colorado, Boulder
CU Scholar
Sociology Graduate Teses & Dissertations Sociology
Spring 1-1-2011
Individualism in Action: an Investigation into the
Lived Experiences of Peace Corps Volunteers
Leith Lombas
University of Colorado at Boulder,
INDIVIDUALISM IN ACTION: AN INVESTIGATION INTO THE LIVED
EXPERIENCES OF PEACE CORPS VOLUNTEERS

by

LEITH L. LOMBAS

M.A., University of Central Florida, 2004
B.A., University of Louisiana-Lafayette, 1998

A thesis submitted to the
Faculty of the Graduate School of the
University of Colorado in partial fulfillment
of the requirement for the degree of
Doctor of Philosophy
Department of Sociology
2011
This thesis entitled:

INDIVIDUALISM IN ACTION: AN INVESTIGATION INTO THE LIVED
EXPERIENCES OF PEACE CORPS VOLUNTEERS

Written by Leith L. Lombas

has been approved for the Department of Sociology

________________________________
Janet Jacobs, Ph.D. Chair, Dissertation Committee

_________________________________
Leslie Irvine, Ph.D. Member, Dissertation Committee

_________________________________
Sara Steen, Ph.D. Member, Dissertation Committee

________________________________
Joyce Nielsen, Ph.D. Member, Dissertation Committee

_______________________________
Kira Hall, Ph.D. Member, Dissertation Committee

Date:________________

The final copy of this thesis has been examined by the signatories, and we find that both
the content and the form meet acceptable presentation standards of scholarly work in the
above mentioned discipline.

IRB protocol #: 0808.14
Leith Lombas, Ph.D. Sociology

INDIVIDUALISM IN ACTION: AN INVESTIGATION INTO THE LIVED
EXPERIENCES OF PEACE CORPS VOLUNTEERS

Thesis directed by Professor Janet Jacobs

Over the last 50 years, the United States Peace Corps has remained a symbol of
the democratic ideals and humanitarianism core to U.S. citizen’s collective identity.
Peace Corps volunteers offer the people of the United States and the larger world a vision
of hope and justice. In this dissertation, I unpack these nationalistic and benevolent
discourses through exploring returned volunteers’ reflections on their service with the
Peace Corps. I problematize the notion that altruism is central to their commitment to
living and working among the poorest of the poor around the world. I call for an
understanding of how Peace Corps volunteers’ success in managing the cross-cultural
experience and working to improve life in their respective communities necessitates an
individualistic approach to their mission. I posit that this allows volunteers to have the
requisite emotional distance from the organization to critically consider their unique
position in the field of international development. Further, I describe what volunteers
thought about the Peace Corps and its effectiveness as a means of addressing world
poverty. Lastly, I contextualize volunteer insights about the Peace Corps with respect to
the current global political climate.

iii
For my families
Acknowledgments

This project would not have been completed, much less started (and continually
restarted), without the support of numerous people. I first want to thank my committee
members. Their shared dedication to this project made it possible. I want to thank Janet
Jacobs, my dissertation chair, for her unwavering intellectual and emotional guidance
throughout this experience. Leslie Irvine’s enthusiasm, support, and insights renewed my
dedication during times when it waned. Sara Steen has been an anchor for my entire
graduate school experience and this project. Joyce Nielsen provided a unique perspective
to the work; her queries and humor reminded me that this project would eventually end
and I could get on with my life. Kira Hall was very generous with her contributions to
this project.
I also want to thank my friends. DeAnn, Sarah, and Wilmer introduced me to the
discipline of sociology. In some sense, they were the first people to ever speak to me. I
am glad that they continue to keep me in their lives. I thank Laura for so many things.
We almost never talked about the dissertation; this has been a true gift. I am grateful for
Courtney, Kat, and Matt for, well, so many things. Their intellect, courage, and
community have profoundly impacted me. They have taught me that desirably scandalous
thinking is necessary to make the world a better place. Colter, Kris, and Lovegrove have
been great friends, fellow sports junkies, and intellectual companions. I want to thank
Emmanuel for our amazing talks, and for our bike rides. I also want to thank Anjie for

v
being so generous to me during the short time she was at CU. I appreciate the support of
other friends who have inspired and encouraged me: Nick, Dawn, Johnny, Carrie, Scott,
Adam, Ali, Garrett, Adam, Nathan, Nnenia, Eric, Stef, Tamara, Zach, Mary, Bryce, Bill,
Jackie, Kim, Will, Casey, Isaac, Katie, Glendi, David, and Jae. I want to thank my bus
crush and the guy who always says to “travel light” as he leaves the bus.
I am deeply grateful for my parents and siblings. I want to thank my Dad for
teaching me the importance of standing up for what you feel is right. I thank my Mom
for showing me so much support, patience, and kindness. Both regularly reminded me
that I could do whatever I wanted in life, and I knew they meant it. I am grateful for my
siblings, Lynne and Lane, for making me laugh and continuing our friendships into
adulthood despite the distance.
Lastly, I want to thank my participants. Not only did they offer a most precious
gift, their time, they made me feel as though this project was important. All were
thoughtful and open. Each shared moving stories about their work with the Peace Corps.
I am indebted to them for their candor and engagement during our conversations.

vi
TABLE OF CONTENTS
I. INTRODUCTION

A. The emergence of the Peace Corps .....................................................................1
1. The Cold War .........................................................................................1
2. Decolonization.........................................................................................2
3. The discovery of world poverty................................................................4
4. The United States’ call to liberate the poor ..............................................5
5. President Kennedy ..................................................................................7
6. Dissent ....................................................................................................9

B. Research on Peace Corps volunteers ................................................................ 11

C. Theoretical frameworks ................................................................................... 12
1. Critical development studies ................................................................. 12
2. Post-development studies and the U.S. Peace Corps .............................. 14

II. FEMINIST METHODOLOGY, METHODS, AND THE STUDY POPULATION

A. Feminist methodology and critical development studies ................................... 17

B. Project development, qualitative research methods, and the
Recruitment of participants .............................................................................. 21

C. Data collection and “managing” the research process ....................................... 26
III. “LIFE IS CALLING, HOW FAR ARE YOU WILLING TO GO?”: THE
SOCIAL CONTEXT AND MOTIVATIONS FOR JOINING THE PEACE
CORPS

A. Introduction ..................................................................................................... 29

B. Who are Peace Corps volunteers? .................................................................... 32

C. The Peace Corps as an escape from middle-class ennui .................................... 35
1. Altruism................................................................................................. 35
2. Restlessness signified by traditional middle-class jobs ........................... 39
3. Moratorium period ................................................................................. 44
4. Travel .................................................................................................... 49
5. Personal growth ..................................................................................... 52

D. Discussion of findings ..................................................................................... 56

vii
IV. “NOW THAT YOU HAVE A DEGREE, GET AN EDUCATION”: LIVING IN
THE GLOBAL SOUTH

A. Introduction ..................................................................................................... 64

B. Becoming a Peace Corps volunteer: training .................................................... 66

C. Life in the local community ............................................................................. 70
1. Asceticism ............................................................................................. 70
2. Immersion ............................................................................................. 75
a. Beginning the acculturation process............................................ 76
b. Alienation................................................................................... 78
c. Community acceptance and rejecting
the Peace Corps bureaucracy ...................................................... 80
3. The call to act and the super volunteer .................................................. 85

D. Discussion of findings ..................................................................................... 91

V. “THE TOUGHEST JOB YOU’LL EVER LOVE”: THE LIVED
EXPERIENCES OF PEACE CORPS WORKERS

A. Introduction ................................................................................................... 103

B. Living the Peace Corps dream......................................................................... 104

C. Disenchantment with development efforts....................................................... 110

D. Disappointments, difficulties, and tragedies of
living in-country............................................................................................. 115

E. Discussion of findings..................................................................................... 125

VI. “YOU’LL COME BACK WITH MORE THAN YOUR LUGGAGE”:
VOLUNTEERS’ REFLECTIONS AFTER RETURNING TO THE UNITED
STATES

A. Introduction .................................................................................................... 133

B. Re-entering the United States and culture shock.............................................. 134

C. Cultivating new ways of understanding of the world ....................................... 138

D. The debate about Peace Corps’ role in world betterment ................................. 146

viii
E. Discussion of findings..................................................................................... 153

VII. CONCLUSIONS: THE PEACE CORPS AND PERSONHOOD

A. Introduction .................................................................................................... 161

B. The Peace Corps journey ................................................................................ 161

C. Peace Corps volunteers and the global South .................................................. 165

D. The Peace Corps, the United States, and the
larger social world .......................................................................................... 169

BIBLIOGRAPHY ............................................................................................. 174

ix