The Gendered Nature of Serious Birdwatching

Abstract

This article provides insight into how gender is related to indicators of recreation specialization and serious leisure among birdwatchers. Males were more likely than females to take birdwatching trips, report that they could identify more birds by sight and sound, and said that they possessed more birding-related equipment. Males and females, however, did not differ in their level of commitment and indicators used for measuring serious leisure. Both men and women were equally likely to report that birdwatching provided them durable benefits over time. Males were more likely to report that birdwatching allowed them to display their skills, whereas females ascribed greater importance to birdwatching as a form of personal enrichment, enjoyment, satisfaction, and recreation. Results led to the conclusion that male and female birdwatchers are equally serious about birdwatching, but display different styles of birdwatching. These different styles of involvement suggest that participation in birdwatching is gendered.

Keywords:

• birdwatching
• recreation specialization
• serious leisure
• gender

Notes

1. Birds are the most commonly reported wildlife observed in the 2001 National Survey of Fishing, Hunting and Wildlife-Associated Recreation.

2. Males were significantly more likely to maintain lists of North American birds, state birds, county birds, and birds seen/heard annually. Males and females did not differ significantly in terms of world listing and yard listing.