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Article: You don't have to be royal to reap the rewards of a gap year We have all seen the pictures of a fresh-faced Prince William in Chile, but have they; simply reinforced the notion that taking a gap year is the preserve of the privileged? Chris Brown investigates
- Article from:
- The Independent (London, England)
- Article date:
- January 25, 2001
- Author:
CopyrightCopyright 2001 The Independent - London. Provided by ProQuest LLC. (Hide copyright information)
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In a blaze of publicity, Prince William has become the most famous
teenager to take a gap year in Britain. His exploits in Chile at the
end of last year charmed the parents of Middle England. But while the
pictures may have had the royal image-makers drooling with delight,
they could serve to put off the most disadvantaged from taking the
chance to have fun and make a better life for themselves, say many
within the gap-year industry.
There is disquiet about the way that the media portrays the gap
year. Rather than promoting it as a chance to gain vital skills and
to improve opportunities, the media promotes the image that a gap
year is only for middle-class students who can exercise their ...