Women and leisure in Manchester, 1920-c.1960
The focus of this thesis is the complex relationship between women and the category 'leisure', a relationship which is only infrequently addressed within the historiography of leisure and only partially understood within the existing frameworks of that field. The research draws upon feminist scholarship to establish a fluid theoretical structure within which the leisure experiences of women may be better conceptualised, and re-thinks the methodologies necessary to access those experiences within a defined historical period: that of 1920-1960. Throughout, 'leisure' is approached less as self-defined, discrete activity, and more as a mutable category, open to changing meanings and inseparable from its contextual and historical background. To this end, the nature of 'leisure' is itself problematised: the study challenges definitions of the concept as directly oppositional to work/workplace and explores the problems inherent in the notion that leisure constitutes a reward for paid labour. Indeed, the sources suggest that 'leisure' and 'work' often interacted within women's lives and that notions of leisure as something 'earned' had a fundamental impact upon women's experiences over the life cycle. The thesis is
Langhamer, Claire Louise
Women's studies ; History by period ; British history
Women and leisure in Manchester, 1920-c.1960. The focus of this thesis is the complex relationship between women and the category 'leisure', a relationship which is only infrequently addressed within the historiography of leisure and only partially understood within the existing frameworks of that field. The research draws upon feminist scholarship to establish a fluid theoretical structure within which the leisure experiences of women may be better conceptualised, and re-thinks the methodologies necessary to access those experiences within a defined historical period: that of 1920-1960. Throughout, 'leisure' is approached less as self-defined, discrete activity, and more as a mutable category, open to changing meanings and inseparable from its contextual and historical background. To this end, the nature of 'leisure' is itself problematised: the study challenges definitions of the concept as directly oppositional to work/workplace and explores the problems inherent in the notion that leisure constitutes a reward for paid labour. Indeed, the sources suggest that 'leisure' and 'work' often interacted within women's lives and that notions of leisure as something 'earned' had a fundamental impact upon women's experiences over the life cycle. The thesis is
women leisure manchester focus complex_relationship woman category leisure relationship address within historiography leisure partially understand within exist frameworks field draw_upon feminist scholarship establish fluid theoretical structure within leisure experience woman may better conceptualise methodology necessary access experience within defined historical_period throughout leisure approach less self defined discrete activity category open change meaning inseparable contextual historical_background end nature leisure study challenge definition concept directly oppositional work workplace explore problem_inherent notion leisure constitute reward pay labour indeed source suggest leisure work often interact within woman life notion leisure something fundamental impact_upon woman_experience life_cycle