Transcending Potential Antecedent Leisure Constraints: The Case of Women Motorcycle Operators

Abstract

The purpose of this paper was threefold: 1) to describe past methodological approaches to the study of leisure constraints and evaluate the impact of these approaches on theoretical development, 2) to provide the results of a survey of individuals who have transcended potential antecedent leisure constraints in order to evaluate the applicability of the “enrichment hypothesis”, and 3) to discuss the implications of these findings for future research on leisure constraints. The “enrichment hypothesis” suggests that those making nontraditional leisure choices would need exposure to a special social environment that would provide an awareness of and support for such a choice. The findings from this survey of 453 women who are motorcycle operators, a statistically male-dominated and stereotypically masculine leisure activity, lend support to the “enrichment hypothesis”; most women had been passengers, knew someone close to them who was a motorcyclist, and were taught to ride by a family member, thus emphasizing the importance of significant others. The impact of these findings on the theoretical constructs associated with the literature on leisure constraints is also discussed.

KEYWORDS:

• Antecedent constraint
• gender
• leisure constraints
• motorcyclist
• women