'A one way ticket to the city, please!' on young women leaving the Swedish peripheral region Västernorrland. (February 2016)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Rauhut, Daniel; Littke, Helene
• Is Part Of: Journal of rural studies. Volume 43(2016)
• Page Start: 301
• Page End: 310
• Publication Date: 2016-02
• Subjects: Gender biased migration -- Regional migration -- Social networks -- Lifestyles -- And regional labour markets; R23 -- J61 -- Z13; Sociology, Rural -- Periodicals; Country life -- Periodicals; Rural development -- Periodicals; Land use, Rural -- Planning -- Periodicals; Rural conditions -- Periodicals; Sociologie rurale -- Périodiques; Vie rurale -- Périodiques; Développement rural -- Périodiques; Sol, Utilisation agricole du -- Planification -- Périodiques; Conditions rurales -- Périodiques; Country life; Land use, Rural -- Planning; Rural conditions; Rural development; Sociology, Rural; Periodicals; 307.72
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jrurstud.2015.05.003
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0743-0167

Abstract

Abstract: Most rural and peripheral regions in Sweden suffer from an outmigration of young adults and particularly young women are over-represented in this outmigration. The outmigration of young adults in general and young women in particular is headed for the major towns in southern Sweden and the capital city Stockholm. This sex-biased out-migration has been on-going for more than 40 years for some rural regions in Sweden. This paper aims at explaining the outmigration and return migration of women 18–34 to and from the peripheral region Västernorrland in Northern Sweden. A qualitative method will be used in the analysis in this study. The empirical material consists of expert interviews and interviews with young women leaving Västernorrland, returning to Västernorrland or moving in without any prior connection to the region. The conventional driving forces for out-migration of young women are connected to studies and moving to more female-friendly labour markets. The findings in this study suggest that bad infrastructure and general service are factors causing out-migration and repel women to return. Furthermore, young women with weak social networks in the region appear more willing to leave and the 'macho culture' in the region appears a push-factor. Highlights: The migration process for young women to/from Västernorrland, Sweden, is explained. Traditional labour market aspects impact the migration decision, but so do lifestyle aspects. Those respondents who left the region had no or few social networks there. Womenwith ambitions beyond being a mother, wife and just having a job leave.