Mid-Term Research Questions

Mid-Term Research Questions

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Mid-Term Research Questions

African-American Woman, 40 Years, Lesbian, Buddhist

1.         What are your views in relation to women and leisure? Particularly, women and recreation? Women and play?

            Overall, leisure represents a form of social interaction for us as women.

2.         What do you do for leisure?

            Normally, for leisure, I tend to engage in unstructured activities that mostly involve recreation and play. One activity that tends to common whenever I get the time to relax is watching soap operas. I am an avid fan of such television programs. Usually, I never get the chance or the opportunity to watch soap operas because of my husband’s insistence on sports and news-related media. As such, I can only watch my soap operas uninterrupted when he is not in the house. Furthermore, soap operas allow me to unravel based on the drama they exhibit as well as the love, passion, and romance that is usually evident among the fervent characters.

3.         Do you do these things because it is what you were taught? Or because you are a woman?

            Not necessarily. I normally watch soap operas because I find them to be soothing. As I said, whenever my husband is around, it is usually hard for me to watch such programs. Part of the reason is mostly attributed to his emphasis on sports and news. Furthermore, he usually says that soap operas are too feminine and therefore unappealing to him. Based on his answer, I am significantly convinced that the participation in watching soap operas is mostly due to the reality that I am a woman. We tend to crave love and romance and soap operas embody this and more.

4.         Please give details on how societal views have changed for women overtime?

            Presently, women are much more capable of voicing their concerns in comparison to the olden days.

5.         What would you do different/the same?

            Differently, I would encourage both men and women, especially those within the same families to take part in similar leisure activities. As an alternative to relaxation, activities such as play and recreation can allow families to bond together and therefore develop particularly string relationships among members.

Woman, Over 65 Years

1.         What are your views in relation to women and leisure? Particularly, women and recreation? Women and play?

            Personally, I think that leisure especially for women my age is reasonably the only activity that we can allow. At this age, it is difficult to engage in activities that strain us. As such, most of the activities that are done have a limit to them. Nevertheless, recreation and play are good for women in general. However, such activities should not be overwhelming especially for women within my age group.

2.         What do you do for leisure?

            Normally, I read novels or play cards with a few of my friends.

3.         Do you do these things because it is what you were taught? Or because you are a woman?

            To be frank, I was never taught on playing cards. On the other hand, reading novels was a habit that my late father cultivated in me. At the time, most of the literature was based on the divisiveness of the American society due to racism. Furthermore, the said activities that I learnt were not based on my gender as a woman.

4.         Please give details on how societal views have changed for women overtime?

            Overtime, societal views have changed drastically. Unlike my days, women can actually form groups and enjoy their leisure activities together without the interference of their male spouses. Additionally, nurturing and taking care of children has become an important aspect of being a father despite conventional societal perspectives placing such roles squarely on the shoulders of the mother.

5.         What would you do different/the same?

            Honestly, there are things I would do the same such as participating in leisure activities without any cause for alarm. In the end, it would be wonderful to participate in play and recreation with other like-minded and aged women such as me.

Girl, 8 Years

1.         What are your views in relation to women and leisure? Particularly, women and recreation? Women and play?

            Honestly, I think that leisure is particularly forbidden among women. For example, I normally see my mother taking care of the family even when father is sitting on the couch watching television or playing polka with his mates. Recreation and play are hard for women to engage in which further reveals the reason for my mother’s fatigue

2.         What do you do for leisure?

I normally play with my friends from school. However, our parents normally supervise or watch over us whenever we are in public parks.

3.         Do you do these things because it is what you were taught? Or because you are a woman?

            I think so. The activities that I do are copied from what other girls my age do. So, it is possibly because I am female or a woman as you say. As such, I can only engage in activities that separate me from boys.

4.         Please give details on how societal views have changed for women overtime?

            Social views have allowed women to communicate better with other women. This is because of smartphones and sites such as Facebook or Twitter. Hence, with such programs, women have become capable of talking to each other without any restrictions.

5.         What would you do different/the same?

            If I were given the chance to change the situation, I would only make it better for all the women as well as the people by removing the constraints that limit both men and women from playing together.

Iranian-Muslim Woman, Married, 35 Years

1.         What are your views in relation to women and leisure? Particularly, women and recreation? Women and play?

            Leisure is restricted for women. The laws established by our husbands and other men forbid us from engaging in activities that are directed to personal happiness since it is selfish. As such, the activities that we do are inclined to following the faith such as taking part in Muslim ceremonies, which are normally carried out by the women on sacred days.

2.         What do you do for leisure?

            For leisure, I normally follow the guidelines stipulated by my husband. For instance, I attend classes based on religious notions. In addition to this, I also attend the mosque regularly as part of my recreational activity especially if I am free.

3.         Do you do these things because it is what you were taught? Or because you are a woman?

            Yes, I engage in these activities because I was taught so by my father who also insisted such practices on my mother. However, my brothers never took part in such events and normally, did what they wanted.

4.         Please give details on how societal views have changed for women overtime?

            Societal views have indeed changed for most women. However, a lot needs to be done in order to ensure that women gain the utmost respect that men wanted

5.         What would you do different/the same?

            I would look for freedom on my part in order to engage in play and recreational activities.

Man, Single, 28 Years

1.         What is your understanding of women and leisure? Particularly, women and recreation? Women and play?

            I think leisure is constructed differently among women.

2.         What do you do for leisure?

            I normally engage in rugby and other activities, especially soccer

3.         Do you do these things because it is what you were taught? Or because you are a man?

            Part of the reason why I play soccer and rugby is because I was taught by my father.

4.         Please give details on how societal views have changed for women overtime?

            For women, societal views have changed by becoming more accommodative of them and the things they want to pursue even if they challenge the patriarchal order.

5.         What would you do different/the same?

            I would not do anything differently.

Discussion

Women try to involve themselves in activities that allow them to engage in communication with each other. Unlike men, we are not bound by competition. Furthermore, if we involve ourselves in leisure activities such as recreation or play, we solely do so as a way of understanding one another and creating a strong relationship. Furthermore, unstructured activities that involve play and recreation take place primarily within a domestic setting (Jackson, 2011). However, I feel as if we are exclusively allowed to partake in leisure based on our roles as mothers and caretakers of our own families. Nowadays, it is much easier to be opinionated as a woman regardless of the grip of the enduring patriarchal order on societal roles and perceptions (Henderson & Hickerson, 2007). Despite this, societal views have changed drastically over time. For instance, women are now capable of assuming workplace obligations and simultaneously engage in motherhood. Stereotypes that demeaned women consistently such as those based on assigning women to “kitchen duties” have been expelled considerably due to the involvement of countless women as well as their role as leaders in the corporate world.

References

Henderson, K. A., & Hickerson, B. (2007). Women and leisure: Premises and performances uncovered in an integrative review. Journal of Leisure Research, 39(4), 591-610.

Jackson, E. L. (2011). Constraints to leisure. State College, PA: Venture Publishing