The formation of a sense of belonging: An analysis of young people's lives in Australian and Italian rural communities

Abstract

This chapter draws on insights from a longitudinal, mixed-methods study in Australia to interpret quantitative data on the formation of belonging among students in Italy. It presents a relational, rather than spatial, analysis of how young people construct belonging in rural places. It shows that belonging is not merely defined by place but by affective, cultural and relational practices. These are sedimented over time through daily rituals and every day practices that operate as social mechanisms and structure social relations. They shape the quality of young people’s relationships and give meaning, value, identity and a sense of belonging to young people, even though they live in rural pla..