The Sociology of Gender and Leisure in Britain—Past Progress and Future Prospects

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Abstract
The paper reviews gender and leisure in the UK over the past decade and also explores possible future directions. Initial work on gender and leisure added women into the existing studies of male leisure but also pointed out how women's experience of leisure differed. This work led rethinking the concept of leisure and the relationship between employment, unpaid work and leisure and saw important methodological developments in qualitative research. There has also been an attempt to analyse the structured nature of male/female relationships (and power within those relationships), whilst still emphasising agency and meaning. The significance of studying gender issues in relation to male leisure has also begun to emerge. Much less explored have been issues of sexuality, physicality, race and ethnicity, the state and the interrelation of production and consumption. The paper concludes by suggesting fresh research topics.