Dissertation
Dropouts, rubber-tire tramps, and brave migrants: contemporizing American transient culture, 1970s – present
University of Iowa
Doctor of Philosophy (PhD), University of Iowa
Spring 2026
DOI: 10.25820/etd.008458
Abstract
This dissertation explores contemporary American transient culture, tracing its origins in economic mobility and geographic movement from the historical practice of hobo rail-riding to the modern nomad lifestyle. It examines the economic and social inequalities, migratory patterns, and behaviors of the transient workforce over the past 50 years. This ethnographic study focuses on the intersections of mobility, migration, and American society, and the impact of economic and social inequality on race, gender, and citizenship. Specifically, the project highlights the lived experiences of individuals who embrace itinerant, mobile lifestyles inspired by the historical traditions of hoboing, including freight train riders, rubber-tire tramps, and vandwellers. It also draws connections between rail-riding culture and migration in Mexico, Central America, and Latin America.
The central premise of this research is that there is a growing number of Americans who are "dropping out" and becoming transient out of both economic and psychological necessity. Drop out culture is defined as a countercultural movement that encourages individuals to reject mainstream conformity, consumerism, and societal norms in favor of introspection and personal freedom. The findings of this research suggest that modern-day transients are connected to historical hoboes through the continuation of cultural traditions such as the creation of place-based communities and oral storytelling, as well as long-term economic drivers such as limited access to affordable housing and flexible employment. Additionally, this research indicates that some dropouts romanticize the railroad, seeing it as the "open road of freedom,” symbolizing escape, self-discovery, and progress.
This project sits at the intersection of various fields, including American studies, public history, labor studies, memory studies, digital humanities, and community engagement. It utilizes a mixed-methods approach, including qualitative analysis, archival research, ethnography, oral history, digital archiving, and community knowledge sharing. One of the key components of this project is Hobo Archive, a free, user friendly digital repository of cultural materials related to the historical hobo and contemporary transient culture, including artifacts, oral histories, photographs, tramp art, multimedia, creative and intellectual works, and other materials of cultural and historical significance. The archive aims to document the history and experiences of the United States transient community and explore the impact of media and technology on collective memories. It also demonstrates how historical hoboing traditions are being passed down from older to newer generations of transients, as seen in modern-day practices such as freight train riding, rubber-tire tramping, and vandwelling.
This work is significant for three reasons. First, the U.S. transient community is a fascinating and unique group that brings together individuals from diverse backgrounds and identities. They are deeply intertwined with others who share similar experiences of economic and social inequality. This community will continue to attract people from all walks of life in the years to come, as seeking connection, belonging, and a shared purpose is a longstanding American tradition. Second, this project sheds light on an often overlooked facet of the American underclass by making a concerted effort to capture the stories of transients in their authentic form. Lastly, while this dissertation is not comprehensive and does not represent all identities within the larger transient community, it highlights the dynamic, polycultural, multilingual, and increasingly borderless nature of this understudied subculture. Ultimately, the term “transient” should continue to be used to address marginalized populations, such as those experiencing economic powerlessness and displacement, and this project suggests that there is room for further interdisciplinary inquiry into how social mobility and economic inequality shapes American identity-making and society.
Details
- Title: Subtitle
- Dropouts, rubber-tire tramps, and brave migrants: contemporizing American transient culture, 1970s – present
- Creators
- Laura K. Carpenter
- Contributors
- Stephen Warren (Advisor)Jennifer Sterling (Committee Member)Eric Vázquez (Committee Member)Travis Vogan (Committee Member)Cheryl X. Dong (Committee Member)
- Resource Type
- Dissertation
- Degree Awarded
- Doctor of Philosophy (PhD), University of Iowa
- Degree in
- American Studies
- Date degree season
- Spring 2026
- DOI
- 10.25820/etd.008458
- Publisher
- University of Iowa
- Number of pages
- xiv, 217 pages
- Copyright
- Copyright 2026 Laura K. Carpenter
- Language
- English
- Date submitted
- 04/15/2026
- Description illustrations
- Illustrations, maps
- Description bibliographic
- Includes bibliographical references (pages 207-217).
- Public Abstract (ETD)
This dissertation focuses on the phenomenon of “drop out” culture in American society, which is defined as a rejection of late-stage capitalism and consumer culture. It examines the lives of contemporary Americans living mobile, transitory lifestyles, influenced by the historical traditions of hoboing. While hoboing has been seen as both a positive affirmation of working=class culture and a representation of the darker side of capitalism, in the past 50 years, a growing number of people have chosen to "drop out" of conventional society by leaving the workforce, disengaging from civic participation, and disconnecting from social life. This has led to the emergence of four contemporary transient identities: modern-day freight train riding, rubber-tire tramping, vandwelling, and migrant transiency. The purpose of this research is to demonstrate that this new mobile workforce is part of the American underclass, experiencing economic powerlessness and displacement due to the alienating effects of late capitalism. By highlighting the stories of these transient individuals, who are living countercultural lifestyles based on the cultural traditions of historical hoboing, this project aims to center their unique experiences in America's story and establish a vital link between their immediate experiences and the larger changes in the world.
- Academic Unit
- American Studies
- Record Identifier
- 9985177273902771
Metrics
1 Record Views