Research that nuances the picture of young people in rural areas and EPA culture
How are young people's lives, knowledge, and dreams for the future shaped by the place they grow up? Research in child and youth studies at Stockholm University shows that the image of rural youth, especially those interested in EPA tractors, is much more complex than what is often presented in public debate.
Challenging the Image of the Countryside
In December 2025, the anthology "Knowing, Being, Living: Knowledge and Everyday Life Among Young People in Rural Areas" was published. The book features contributions from researchers Susanna Areschoug and Linda Fridén Syrjäpalo, each writing a chapter, with Susanna also serving as one of the editors.
The anthology gathers research on how young people's knowledge and everyday lives are shaped in different rural settings. A key aim is to challenge the often negative view of the countryside as resource-poor.
More about the anthology: ”Veta, vara, leva: kunskaper och vardagsliv hos unga i landsbygder”:
Veta, vara, leva - Nordic Academic Press
Read more about the researchers and their research:
Susanna Areschoug, postdoc, university lecturer, Department of Child and Youth Studies
Linda Fridén Syrjäpalo, postdoc, university lecturer, Department of Child and Youth Studies
Last updated: 2026-10-16
Source: Department of Child and Youth Studies