Dissertation: Wanting to Be Here – Everyday Life and Belonging in Rural Sweden

Thesis defence

Date: Friday 10 October 2025

Time: 13.00 – 16.00

Location: Room BUV110, Svante Arrhenius väg 21 A, Stockholm University

What does everyday life look like for families with children living in sparsely populated rural areas in north Sweden? This doctoral thesis by Linda Fridén Syrjäpalo, sheds light on how parents and children shape belonging, identity, and futures in sparsely populated rural areas.

Photo: Sören Andersson, Stockholm University.

How do families with children in sparsely populated areas navigate their everyday lives?

In her doctoral thesis Wanting to Be Here. Everyday Life and Belonging Among Families in Sparsely Populated Rural Areas, Linda Fridén Syrjäpalo examines the social and geographical conditions, as well as perceptions of rural life, that shape the narratives and daily practices of family members. Special attention is given to how time and space are utilized as resources, strategic tools, or even forms
of resistance in the everyday lives of families. Furthermore, the study investigates the role of intergenerational exchanges in shaping a sense of place, belonging, and the perception of future opportunities, highlighting how such interactions contribute to the sustainability and identity of rural communities.

Principal supervisor: Danielle Ekman Ladru

Assistant supervisor: Tanja Joelsson

External reviewer: Susanne Stenbacka, Professor at Department of Human Geography, Uppsala University.

Theme

Last updated: September 23, 2025

Source: Department of Child and Youth Studies

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