Exercise in the time bind of work and family. Emotion management of personal leisure time among middle-aged Danish women

ABSTRACT

The aim of the present study was to illuminate how middle-aged women in Denmark manage, practically and emotionally, exercise in personal leisure time within the constraints of an ongoing time bind related to the societal obligations of work and family. The study was inspired by the micro sociological perspective of Arlie Hochschild, and findings are based on empirical material from focus groups of middle-aged Danish women who completed a three months research based exercise intervention (N = 51), and individual follow-up interviews (N = 21). We elucidate how the societal obligations of being successful at work, being a good mother, and being physically active creates a time bind in the everyday life of middle-aged women. Instead of having more leisure time, middle-aged women experience continuous time demands of work flexibility and performance, as well as new time demanding care duties linked to their children, parents, or grandchildren. We conclude that the personal leisure time of Danish women, exemplified by participation in an exercise intervention, is highly constrained by the time bind of market culture. Furthermore, prioritisation of personal leisure time involves considerable emotion management as a consequence of being unable to fulfil the societal obligations of their usual roles.

KEYWORDS:

• Time pressure
• emotion management
• exercise
• work-life
• women
• middle-aged

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by Ministry of Culture Denmarkand UCPH Excellence Program for Interdisciplinary Research (2016).

Notes on contributors

Maria Hybholt

Maria Hybholt is Assistant Professor at the Department of Nutrition, Exercise and Sports, University of Copenhagen. She has a Master’s degree (cand.scient.) in Humanities and Social Sport Sciences as well as a PhD degree from the Department of Nutrition, Exercise and Sports from the University of Copenhagen. Her research involves time pressure, health promotion and bodily aspects in the everyday life in regard to physical activity.

Laila Susanne Ottesen

Laila Susanne Ottesen is Associate Professor and Head of Sport, Individual and Society at the Department of Nutrition, Exercise and Sports, University of Copenhagen. She holds a Master’s degree (mag.art) in European Ethnology and a PhD degree in sport and everyday life from the Department of Humanity – both from the University of Copenhagen. She is a researcher in the voluntary sports sector and focuses on implementation and development of health promotion and prevention programmes in relation to sport and physical activity.

Lone Friis Thing

Lone Friis Thing is Professor and Head of Department of Sport and Social Sciences, Norwegian School of Sport Sciences. She holds Master’s degrees (cand.scient) in the areas Humanities and Social Sport Sciences and Biology, as well as a PhD degree from the Department of Sociology – all from the University of Copenhagen. She is a researcher in health promotion and prevention in relation to sport and physical activity.