6 Chapter 6 Sociocultural Factors Affecting Leisure

Objectives Examine the influence of the following on leisure: –Age, gender, sexual orientation, racial and ethnic identity, and socioeconomic status Differentiate the issues facing each age group. Explain gender differences in leisure.

Objectives (cont’d) Identify how agencies can better serve LGBT people. Explain race and ethnicity factors influencing leisure. Describe differences in leisure participation among social classes.

Introduction Sociocultural factors –Age –Gender –Sexual orientation –Racial and ethnic identity –Socioeconomic status

Influence of Age Changes across life span— physical, cognitive, and social Changing life experiences Shifts in family relationships Impacted by societal trends

Influence of Age—Children Children: infancy to preteen years Stages of children’s play –Solitary play –Parallel play –Associative play –Cooperative play

Influence of Age—Children (cont’d) Issues facing children –Change of the family structure –Overscheduling –Overparenting –Influence of commercial media –Lack of outdoor play

Influence of Age—Adolescents Adolescents: 10–19 years Mature faster, technologically savvy, and know what they want from their leisure

Influence of Age—Adolescents (cont’d) Issues facing adolescents –Teen employment –Negative adolescent leisure pursuits –Technology –Boredom and the need for excitement –Changing teen experiences

Influence of Age—Adults Late teens and older –Young adults: late teens to late 30s –Middle adults: 40s to 60s –Older adults: 60+ Subdivide by age, lifestyle, or generations

Influence of Age— Young Adults “Me generation” –Emphasis on narcissistic pleasure and self-fulfillment –Marrying later or not at all Singles-only institutions and leisure opportunities

Influence of Age— Young Adults (cont’d) Young adults attending college –Students living on campus have more free time and fewer responsibilities –Opportunity for hedonistic behaviors Beginning a family –Leisure structured around the family unit Most leisure-deprived group

Influence of Age— Middle Adults Gen X and Baby Boomers –Largest section of the population –Immense diversity in their leisure choices –Desire to stay active and have money to spend Effect of family changes –Leisure changes as children become independent –Increased free time promotes leisure and recreation

Influence of Age—Older Adults Several stages of older adulthood More active, vigorous, economically secure, healthier and happier than in the past Experience longer periods of retirement Seeing changes in family structure

Influence of Age—Older Adults (cont’d) Leisure as a positive influence –Physically active adults –Social role –Retirement communities with recreation components

Influence of Gender Sex –Biological construction –Male vs. female Gender –Social construction –Masculine vs. feminine

Influence of Gender—Women Historical perceptions about women as the weaker sex –Victorian prudery –Misconceptions about inferior skills –Deemed to lack drive and ability to compete

Influence of Gender—Women (cont’d) Feminist Movement –To obtain equality with men in political, economical, and social aspects –Gave women freedom in choice of leisure activities and participation Image courtesy of the author.

Influence of Gender—Women (cont’d) Implications for women –Women experience inequity in leisure when compared with men. –Combining role obligations with leisure is a common focus for many women. –Women’s leisure is more likely to occur in the home, and to be unstructured and fragmented. –Many women do not feel entitled to leisure.

Influence of Gender—Men Shifting masculine identities Changing role of the father Constraints to leisure –Interpersonal, intrapersonal, structural –Lack of companions with whom to participate –Impacted by gendered activities

Influence of Gender—Men (cont’d) Implications for leisure –Less societal pressure to participate in sport –More interest in hobbies, creative arts, and other activities previously seen as less masculine –Less likely to have social companions to participate with

Influence of Sexual Orientation Sexual orientation –Heterosexual, homosexual, bisexual, transgendered LGBT –Lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgendered

Influence of Sexual Orientation (cont’d) Growing acceptance –LGBT gains national visibility  Rise in high school gay/straight alliances  Gay and lesbian community centers  Gay and lesbian issues integrated into popular culture  Legalization of marriage  Dedicated media to LGBT issues and entertainment

Influence of Sexual Orientation (cont’d) Implications for leisure –Recreation goldmine: highly educated, above-average income levels, and buying power –LGBT teens have a high suicide rate and few opportunities for socialization –Increasingly becoming parents

Influence of Racial and Ethnic Identity Meaning of race and ethnicity –Definition of race  People who share genetically transmitted physical traits –Definition of ethnicity  Unique social and cultural heritage

Influence of Racial and Ethnic Identity (cont’d) About race and ethnicity –Rapid growth of non-European population. –Hispanics are the dominant minority in the United States. –Increasing numbers of Muslims and Buddhists. –Some communities have no majority population.

Influence of Racial and Ethnic Identity (cont’d) Implications for leisure –Hypotheses to explain underparticipation  Marginality hypothesis: historical discrimination and marginalization  Ethnicity hypothesis: leisure choices are influenced by norms, values, and socialization  Acculturation: diverse groups hold on to their own cultural norms while also adapting somewhat to the dominant culture

Influence of Racial and Ethnic Identity (cont’d) Increasing participation in recreation programs –Invite –Include –Involve

Influence of Socioeconomic Status Socioeconomic status (SES) or social class Means of classifying people based on their income, education, occupation, and wealth Five common classes: poor, working class, middle class, upper middle class, and upper class

Influence of Socioeconomic Status (cont’d) Implications for leisure –Education and amount of money dictates amount of free time and discretionary income available for leisure. –Lower classes are underrepresented in recreation activity participation. –Poor, working class, and middle class have been the dominant users of public and nonprofit services. –Upper class will use commercial services almost exclusively. –Activities that transcend all classes are still experienced differently.

Progress in the New Millennium Women and LGBT people have achieved impressive levels of public support and access to a wide range of recreational opportunities. Women and men alike have been more accepted in activities that are stereotypical for the opposite sex.

Progress in the New Millennium (cont’d) Racial and ethnic minority groups are gaining political and economic power. Programs for low income people are increasingly offered by public and nonprofit agencies.