Original scientific paper
Village – Free Choice or Destiny for the Rural Youth (a study on the rural community of Vođinci)
Đurđica Žutinić
orcid.org/0009-0003-1127-9465
; Faculty of Agriculture, University of Zagreb, Department of Agricultural Economics and Rural Sociology, Croatia
Nataša Bokan
orcid.org/0000-0002-0094-025X
; Faculty of Agriculture, University of Zagreb, Department of Agricultural Economics and Rural Sociology, Croatia
Abstract
The paper presents the results of a survey carried out in the Slavonian village of Vođinci in 2006. The survey focused on the young people’s opinion about the quality of life and disadvantages of living in a rural area, and on their intention to stay in or leave the village. The results indicate that the main drawbacks for the
young living in the village are poor working conditions (including unemployment and lack of prospect in agriculture), unavailability of social and cultural amenities, and neglected public areas. The young prefer living in the village and working in a city. They feel socially excluded and remain passive in taking initiative and creating their own future in the village they live in. Women, the young under 20–24 years of age, those from workers’ and farming and large families, those who prefer the city to live and work in, those who believe unemployment is the major problem facing rural communities, and finally those who are not satisfied with their life in the country are the least spatially stable members of the community.
Keywords
Rural society; rural youth; migratibility; social inclusion
Hrčak ID:
27354
URI
Publication date:
9.10.2008.
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