Pavón-Benítez et al.: Stereotypes of the Rural Social Scene

In Eliminating Stereotypes: Villages as Desirable Spaces for Partying among Spanish Youth, Laura Pavón-Benítez, Nuria Romo-Avilés (both Women and Gender Studies, University of Granada, Spain), José Manuel Álvarez-Montoya (Social Anthropology, Basic Psychology and Public Health, University of Pablo de Olavide Sevilla, Spain), and Penélope Sánchez-González (Social and Cultural Anthropology, University of Granada, Spain) explore the discourse and assumptions that young people have regarding sociocultural opportunities in rural Spanish villages. The article focuses on partying, described as a form of nighttime leisure that has normalized the public exhibition of alcohol consumption, especially as represented in the social media popular with young people.

According to the article, the division between rural and urban communities is actively expanding. Stereotypes regarding rural life contribute to this division by prompting the migration of younger people to urban communities. Social activities, specifically partying, are seen as critical to a young person’s identity and development. This study looks to understand the younger generation’s perception of leisure activities in villages (rural) compared to cities (urban) within Spain.

This study is based on two qualitative research efforts deployed throughout 2021. The first study style consisted of thirteen discussion groups. The second study consisted of thirty-eight interviews. Participants were between the ages of fifteen and twenty-four. Due to the pandemic, the study was conducted both online and in-person.

After analyzing the discussions and interviews, the authors confirmed that except for occasions in which rural areas hosted local festivals—often held during holidays and summer months—young people do not see villages as desirable places for engaging in social activities, specifically partying. Young people construct their perspectives of place through the dominant rural-urban representations, demonstrating the traditional stereotypes surrounding rural life.

The authors conclude by encouraging future studies examining stereotypes critical to youth identity that may lead to urban migration. By questioning and examining stereotypes regarding partying and other sociocultural opportunities attractive to the youth population, rural places can become destigmatized, helping rural revitalization efforts.