Global Feminism and Leisure

Feminism and leisure are global concepts. Every culture in every part of the world is dealing with these emerging concepts. The expansions of the meaning of these concepts and the implications they have to one another are worthy of exploration. The purpose of this conceptual paper is to describe the connections between global feminism and leisure. The concepts are defined, illustrated, and described by the parallels which exist between feminism and leisure. The goal of feminism is not only to change drastically women’s powerless status worldwide, but to redefine existing societal structures and modes of existence (Morgan, 1984). Bunch described the twin goals of feminism as the right of every woman to equity, dignity, and freedom of choice through the power to control her own life and body within and outside the home and the removal of all forms of inequality and oppression in society. Leisure is a multi-facted phenomenon. It may be defined qualitatively or quantitatively. However, most people would agree that the essence of leisure lies in a broader understanding of the attitudes and perceptions regarding leisure experiences. A number of barriers inhibit women from an adequate quality of life. These barriers continue to be perpetuated because women lack control over the economic and human resources necessary for maintaining greater contact. Such aspects as domestic work demands, illiteracy, motherhood, childcare, and personal violence all affect the freedom and leisure of women worldwide. The exploitation, invisibility, and subordination of women in such aspects of their lives as marriage, household work, and reproductive roles carry over into their leisure. Thus, the freedom of choice which is sought for women around the world through the feminist movement parallels the potential that women desire for leisure. Both leisure and feminism have common goals of freedom and integrity. The centrality of a woman’s right to choose, whether it is when to bear a child or what to do with one’s time, is inextricable.