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Peasant Vulnerability, Rural Masculinity and Physical Education in France, from the Early Twentieth Century to the Libération

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  10 March 2014

TONY FROISSART  and
THIERRY TERRET
TONY FROISSART
Affiliation:
CRIS, University Lyon, 27-29 Bd du 11/11/1918, 69622 Villeurbanne, Franceterret@univ-lyon1.fr
THIERRY TERRET
Affiliation:
CRIS, University Lyon, 27-29 Bd du 11/11/1918, 69622 Villeurbanne, Franceterret@univ-lyon1.fr
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Abstract

During the first third of the twentieth century in France, negative and stigmatising stereotypes of rurality, inherited mainly from the previous century, were used as arguments to justify recourse to pedagogical innovations in physical education and sport for people living in the countryside. The invention of rural vulnerability led particularly to the setting up of ‘agricultural athletics’ meetings, ‘rural athletic trail runs’ and ‘rural horse events’ by vocational organisations and associations of educators. These initiatives, carried out mainly by economic and political interests, concerned mostly men and thus contributed to defining weakened rural masculinity.

This analysis is based on evidence from articles in regional, national and specialist press, official texts and physical education manuals dealing with bodily training for country people.

Type
Research Article
Information
Rural History , Volume 25 , Issue 1 , April 2014 , pp. 61 - 77
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 2014 

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References

Notes

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