HISTORICAL ATTITUDES TOWARD THE INCREASE OF FREE TIME IN THE TWENTIETH CENTURY: TIME FOR WORK, FOR LEISURE, OR AS UNEMPLOYMENT

Publisher Website
Google Scholar
Abstract
The research for this monograph deals with the political and economic events surrounding and the attitudes expressed toward the time that was being freed from work during the first four decades of this century. Like all historical research, it is limited to the study of the written record of the past contained in books, periodicals, newspapers, and manuscript archives. Reasons for the rapid, unprecedented increase in free time during this period are explored. It is suggested that attitudes toward this new social force, free time, took at least three different, sequential forms. It was thought to be practical and utilitarian at first, to provide leisure during the 1920's, and then redefined as unemployment during the Depression. The ideas about leisure are also seen to change over the time period. The conclusion is reached that the historical example of leisure and free time's centrally important role in economic, political, and social events of the past may guide and inform the modern recreation profession.

This publication has 0 references indexed in Scilit: