Is leisure studies “ethnocentric”? If so, does this matter?

Abstract

This paper distinguishes the study of leisure from leisure studies, then proceeds to show that since the 1960s leisure studies has become more uniformly Anglophone and, in this sense, mare ethnocentric. However, although certain “voices” have been lost and others have been silenced by historical events, Anglophone leisure studies has demonstrated an ability to listen to voices from, and to understand the distinctive properties of leisure in societies outside, the core “leisure studies” countries. The paper concludes by arguing that leisure studies now has a promising base from which to make progress in the international comparative study of leisure.

Keywords:

• Asia
• China
• comparative leisure research
• concepts of leisure
• Eastern Europe
• France
• history of leisure studies
• India
• Islam