The Contribution of Feminism to an Understanding of Leisure Constraints

Abstract

The purpose of this paper is to provide a feminist analysis of the literature concerning leisure constraints. The assumptions of the paper are that a “leisure gap” exists in many women's lives and that by applying feminist perspectives, constraints to women's leisure, as well as constraints to leisure in general, can be better understood. Feminist frameworks which focus on redefining the value of women's lives and making women more visible in society are used to analyze the literature on constraints as it has implications for women's lives. The primary purpose of this paper is to describe how feminism can function as a critique, a corrective mechanism, and a means for transforming our understanding of research on constraints, and specifically, constraints on women's leisure. The paper is addressed to leisure researchers who want to understand how feminism can contribute to a more inclusive understanding of constraints, as well as to feminist researchers who may want to explore how leisure constraints relate to the contexts of women's lives.