ESCAPE TO THE Country?
JOANNA WHITEHEAD SPEAKS TO TWO WOMEN TO FIND OUT IF THE RURAL DREAM IS JUST THAT
With approximately 81% of UK residents living in an urban area, the fantasy of fleeing to the countryside may be a familiar one. The prospect of swapping the pollution, public transport and frosty attitudes of city folk for fresh air, community spirit and wholesome country walks can be appealing.
Since time immemorial, however, LGBT folks have flocked to cities seeking community and the freedom to be who they want to be, away from the judgements and gossip that are often assumed to characterise small towns and settlements. Concerns about “fitting in” in the countryside may be further amplified for those with multiple identities, for example BAME women. Is this portrayal accurate, however? We spoke with two women living the good life to find out more.
JULIA IS A QUEER WOMAN WHO LIVES IN SUFFOLK WITH HER WIFE
“Community is what I’m missing.”
“Until last year, my partner and I lived in a small flat in London, but began looking for a bigger property because we wanted to care for my father and for him to have his own space in our home. We were also looking at adoption.
We knew that culturally, we wanted our children and my father to be in London, but space and cost issues meant we had to move somewhere. That ended up being Suffolk.