Abstract

FRANCESCHI BARRAZA, Hannia  and  CHAVES ZUNIGA, María Fernanda. Youth, peasant identities and breaks with traditional rurality in three counties in the West, Costa Rica. InterSedes [online]. 2013, vol.14, n.28, pp.90-108. ISSN 2215-2458.

This is a presentation of the partial results of research into the occupations of young people in rural areas, in contrast to their life aspirations, in the present context of three western cantons in the Costa Rican Central Valley. One of the findings reflects a break with traditional occupations of previous generations, as some young people no longer engage in family farming, and work in rural industries and services or in nearby cities. Youth who remain in the field of agriculture combine farming with work in the service industry, agro-industrial employment, technical and secondary studies; by contrast, young women engage in domestic work alongside academic studies. These regional particularities, in an environment of trade liberalization and public policies that discourage domestic agriculture of basic crops, question rural identities and rurality in contemporary times.

Keywords : rural youth; rural identities; occupations; youthful aspirations; San Ramón; Zarcero; Naranjo; Costa Rica.

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