Between illicit economies and having a dream

Exploring rural youth aspirations and life-courses in a rural municipality in Colombia

Bibliographic Data

ID6438472
AuthorsMargarita Fontecha (0009-0004-7156-4337, University of Guelph, corresponding author), Silvia Sarapura Escobar, Silvia Sarapura-Escobar (University of Guelph), Ryan Gibson (0000-0002-8690-0071, University of Guelph)
Year2025
Volume122
Pages103944-103944
Publication date2025-12-02
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenueJournal of Rural Studies (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 0743-0167 • E-ISSN: 1873-1392
PublisherElsevier BV (PUBLISHER)
DOI10.1016/j.jrurstud.2025.103944
OpenAlexW7108227475
LanguageEN
References cited71

Rural youth's aspirations and life-courses are shaped by complex interplays of external (social, economic, historical) and internal (agency-driven) factors. In rural Colombia, characterized by illicit economic pressures and a legacy of armed conflict, structural realities may constrain youth's ability to achieve transformative life trajectories. This study investigates how these influence youths' life-course decision making-in a remote village. The Possible Selves and intersectionality theories guided the study by addressing overlapping social identities and power structures that shape youth's lived experiences. Employing a participatory photovoice initiative, participants led data interpretation and thematic analysis; five themes emerged: youth, ecosystem, entrepreneurism, agriculture and livestock production, and effort and joy. Findings illustrate a tension between youth aspirations—characterized by hopes for stability, education, and community engagement—and the structural constraints imposed by marginalizing economic systems and a history of internal conflict. Neoliberal and illicit economic frameworks, coupled with conflict legacies, undermine rural youth agency and curtail opportunities for meaningful participation. Under these conditions, aspirations tend toward survival oriented -goals rather than transformative social change, perpetuating cycles of poverty and exclusion. To foster rural youth's aspirations, interventions must strengthen agency through improved access to quality education and inclusive participation in decision-making- processes. • Rural youth navigate aspirations amid conflict and dual licit/illicit economies. • Photovoice reveals agency and constraints shaping youth life-courses in rural Colombia. • Highlights how structural factors limit rural youth participation and opportunities.

Agency (philosophy) · Citizen journalism · Participatory action research · Photovoice · Poverty · Psychological intervention · Rural area · Rural economics · Rural economy · Rural population · Rural poverty · Rural settlement · Structure and agency · Transformative learning · Agriculture, Land Use, Rural Development · Feminism, Gender, and Social Issues · Participatory Visual Research Methods · Rural development and sustainability · Youth Culture and Social Dynamics

Tools

Open DOIOpen Access