Discrimination against people from rural areas

Discrimination against people from rural areas, also called rural discrimination, represents a confrontation between rural and urban populations, manifesting in various dimensions of daily life, including social, cultural, labor, and economic aspects. These circumstances arise within a framework of behaviors characterized by contempt, stigmatization, rejection, mockery and ridicule, among other adverse and negative attitudes directed toward individuals who were either born or raised in a rural setting, such as a farm or a small village. These discriminatory behaviors can appear against an individual or a group of individuals just because of their origin, as well as because of their manners, habits, traditions or idiosyncrasies that reveal a difference with urban people or an urban group, can be classified as a type of cultural shock.[1]

## Rural people in an urban environment

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As part of rural-to-urban migration, inhabitants of rural origin face challenging and disadvantageous conditions when arriving in a large urban agglomeration. The knowledge they have about agriculture or livestock farming becomes obsolete in these spaces of large cities, where the labor field is largely destined for services.[2]

Discrimination based on whether individuals are perceived as coming from urban or rural areas can vary significantly depending on the context. For example, in a metropolitan area with a population of 10 million, a city with 1 million residents may be viewed as a "town," with all the negative connotations that this would bring from the perspective of the discriminator. Similarly, in a city of 1 million inhabitants, a city with a population of 300,000 may be regarded as lesser in status, and this pattern continues across different population sizes. Given this heterogeneity, researchers generally use case study methodology to conduct analyses on this topic.[3] Additionally, perceptions of rural dwellers —both positive and negative— vary significantly across different countries. This encompasses a range of perspectives, from negative stereotypes to idealized representations of rural life and communities.[4]

The term "urban narcissism" or also called "geographic narcissism" refers to the tendency of individuals residing in large cities to perceive themselves as more advanced, sophisticated, or superior compared to those from smaller towns or rural areas, solely based on their urban background.[5]

## Intersectionality

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Rural discrimination doesn’t affect everyone in the countryside the same way. Intersectionality helps to understand how people in rural areas can face multiple, overlapping forms of exclusion based on more than just where they live. There are various factors that directly influence discrimination, such as social class, ethnic group, gender, sexual orientation, and other situations, such as age and disabilities.[6]

## See also

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* Rural diversity
* Rural women
* Rural LGBTQ people

## References

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1. ^ Malatzky, Christina A. R.; Couch, Danielle L. (June 2023). "The Power in Rural Place Stigma". Journal of Bioethical Inquiry. 20 (2): 237–248\. doi:10.1007/s11673-023-10260-9. ISSN 1872-4353. PMC 10352411. PMID 37160522.
2. ^ Ananian, Sévane; Dellaferrera, Giulia (2024). Employment and wage disparities between rural and urban areas. Geneva, Switzerland: International Labour Organization. ISBN 9789220404430.
3. ^ Abel, Katie; Wiese, Lisa Ann Kirk; Park, JuYoung; Williams, Ishan C. (9 December 2022). "Perceptions About Discrimination in a Rural, Older, Racially and Ethnically Diverse Cohort". Online Journal of Rural Nursing and Health Care. 22 (2): 3–28\. doi:10.14574/ojrnhc.v22i2.712. ISSN 1539-3399. PMC 10506408. PMID 37724121.
4. ^ Fickman, Laure (13 March 2023). "City or Country Living? Research Reveals Psychological Differences". www.uh.edu. University of Houston. Retrieved 8 June 2025.
5. ^ Hess, Kristy; Baker, Timothy (25 November 2019). "Geographical narcissism: when city folk just assume they're better". The Conversation. Retrieved 8 June 2025.
6. ^ Lyons, Amanda (1 July 2022). "Rurality as an Intersecting Axis of Inequality in the Work of the U.N. Treaty Bodies". Washington and Lee Law Review. 79 (3): 1125. ISSN 0043-0463. Retrieved 8 June 2025.