Youth movements, citizenship and the English countryside, 1930-1960
This thesis explores the significance and meaning of the countryside within mid-twentieth century youth movements. Whilst modern youth movements have been the subject of considerable historical research, there has been little attention to the rural context within which so many of them operated. Moreover, few historians have explored youth movements into the post-Second World War period. This thesis therefore makes an original contribution both in terms of its periodisation and focus. It draws on a rich seam of archival and printed sources focusing in particular upon the Boy Scout and Girl Guide movements, the Woodcraft Folk and the Young Farmer's Club movement. The thesis examines the ways in which the countryside was employed as a space within which âgood citizenship' could be developed. Mid-century youth movements identified the âproblem' of modern youth as a predominantly urban and working class issue. They held that the countryside offered an effective antidote to these problems: being a âgood citizen' within this context necessitated a respectful and mutually beneficial relationship with the rural sphere. Avenues to good citizenship could be found through an enthusiasm for outdoor recreation, the
Edwards, Sian
DA566 20th century ; GV0191.2 Outdoor life. Outdoor recreation ; HQ0793 Youth. Adolescents. Teenagers
Youth movements, citizenship and the English countryside, 1930-1960. This thesis explores the significance and meaning of the countryside within mid-twentieth century youth movements. Whilst modern youth movements have been the subject of considerable historical research, there has been little attention to the rural context within which so many of them operated. Moreover, few historians have explored youth movements into the post-Second World War period. This thesis therefore makes an original contribution both in terms of its periodisation and focus. It draws on a rich seam of archival and printed sources focusing in particular upon the Boy Scout and Girl Guide movements, the Woodcraft Folk and the Young Farmer's Club movement. The thesis examines the ways in which the countryside was employed as a space within which âgood citizenship' could be developed. Mid-century youth movements identified the âproblem' of modern youth as a predominantly urban and working class issue. They held that the countryside offered an effective antidote to these problems: being a âgood citizen' within this context necessitated a respectful and mutually beneficial relationship with the rural sphere. Avenues to good citizenship could be found through an enthusiasm for outdoor recreation, the
youth movement citizenship english countryside explores significance meaning countryside within youth movement whilst modern youth movement subject_considerable historical little_attention rural_context within many operate moreover historian explore youth movement post second_world_war period therefore make_original term periodisation focus draw rich archival print_source focus_particular upon boy girl guide movement folk young farmer club movement examines_way countryside employed space within good citizenship could_develop mid_century youth movement identify problem modern youth predominantly urban work_class issue hold countryside offer effective problem good citizen within_context necessitate mutually beneficial relationship rural sphere avenues good citizenship could find enthusiasm outdoor recreation