Women and Leisure: Premises and Performances Uncovered in an Integrative Review

Abstract

Research about women and leisure continues to expand as meanings are examined from different perspectives. The purpose of this paper is to extend three previous integrative reviews about research trends and outcomes regarding women's leisure. Research articles appearing from 2001–2005 in selected major research journals of English speaking countries were analyzed through an integrative review to ascertain patterns and themes. New as well as recurring patterns in the content of the research emerged. Results indicated five themes related to premises and performances of leisure that summarized the recent literature about women and leisure at the beginning of the new century: gender resistance and leisure choices, gendered leisure and critical theory, constraints in context, women's leisure and social factors, and active leisure.

KEYWORDS:

• Research methods
• gender
• resistance
• constraints
• physical activity