Women, leisure and the family in contemporary society (1996)

The purpose of this book is to highlight new trends in research on women’s leisure. Comparisons are drawn between countries at different stages of socio-economic development. These demonstrate fascinating similarities but also many differences. In a situation where women’s leisure is still constrained by traditional ideologies and gender relations, there is some evidence that leisure can have liberating effects. In some cases, through their personal leisure, women have an opportunity to find empowerment and autonomy. Leisure can thus act as an agent of positive social change. The book has been developed from a multinational study involving fifteen diverse countries and set up within the framework of the Research Commission of the World Leisure and Recreation Association. A wide range of socio-cultural experiences are reported in chapters on Australia, Canada, Colombia, France, Greece, Hong Kong, India, Israel, Italy, Japan, Malaysia, Morocco, Spain, USA and UK. Containing many original insights, the book is aimed at advanced students and research workers in leisure studies, women’s studies, sociology and related disciplines.