‘It Doesn’t Matter What I Do; I Will Still Be Judged’: The Construction of ‘Established’ and ‘Outsider’ in Idyllic Rural Sweden

The overarching question in this chapter is how the construction of outsiders and established, in a local context, can be understood and what consequences this construction can have on children’s everyday lives. The chapter is based on experiences from fieldwork in the local School-age educare centre, located in a Swedish rural society. Empirical data material was produced in forms of interviews, observations, walk and talks with both children and the school staff. This study had 21 individuals participating, 10 staff members and 11 children. Thematic analysis (Braun & Clarke, 2006, 2019) have been used together with theoretical concepts on the established and the outsiders (Elias & Scotson, 1994), respectability (Skeggs, 2000), and violence (Galtung, 1990). Analysing the data with a focus on children’s life in this rural society reveals thoughts and reflections on possibilities, and limitations, surrounding children’s lives in this context. This analysis is a way of trying to understand what it can mean to children and young people to live in a rural society and what kinds of limitations and possibilities this can bring. In the text, questions about how children are expected to adjust to societal norms and expectations are being raised.