Identity: Leisure and Consumption Flashcards
give 3 postmodern theorists who study leisure and identity
-Rojek
-Bocock
-Taylor
what does Rojek argue about leisure
-in postmodern society leisure is less planned and purposeful, it is no longer shaped by position in society eg class or gender
-eg old ppl go to concerts
-you become who you are through your leisure
what does Bocock argue about leisure
-consumer choices define identity/ image/status they wish to project
-pick n mix identities
what does Taylor argue about leisure
-consumer products have symbolic significance
-society transformed into endless shopping mall
what theorist/study argues occupation and work experience affects leisure
Parker
what did Parker’s study find
there are 3 patterns between work and leisure:
-opposition; physical/male dominated work faced with hostility so leisure is central life interest to escape hardships of work
-neutrality; indifference to work so leisure is relaxing and often family oriented
-extension; high work commitment and job satisfaction so leisure is work related
evaluate Parker’s view on leisure
-Parker over emphasises importance of work and ignores leisure if housewives and students who don’t work
-focused on full time paid employment but ignores gender influences eg part time and domestic labour leisure
how does Pluralist Robert criticise Parker’s view on leisure
-one single division doesn’t determine a persons leisure
-eg m/c go to theatre more but that does not affect leisure patterns
-stage in the life cycle also affects leisure
what theorist/study argues social class influences leisure and identity
-Bauman
what does Bauman argue about social class affecting leisure
-consumer choices influenced by cultural capital and economic capital
-consumers are seduced or repressed
-seduced = financially secure, attractive customers seduced by consumer society
-repressed = attracted to consumer society but limited by economic/cultural capital
who does Bauman argue to be the real victims of consumer society and why
the repressed are bc they have a devalued identity and won’t be fully accepted by others for not buying “right” products eg up to date technology
give two criticisms of Baumans study on how social class impacts leisure
-over simplifies difference between seduced/ repressed and fails to accept the range of different relationships to consumption in society
-some ppl reject consumer society altogether eg green movement consumes as little as possible
describe how age affects leisure
-young ppl leisure with peer groups; lack economic capital but also lack financial commitments eg bills, children, rent
-young ppl and the retired are more leisure centred than any other age group so have more leisure based identities
explain how the family life cycle affects leisure
-leisure restricted by children, mortgages and household costs
-when children grow up and leave ppl have more disposable income to spend on leisure
-old age may inc ill health which limits leisure
explain how gender impacts leisure
-gender role socialisation means men/women have diff leisure interests eg men view shopping as a chore
-women have less leisure time as it often intersects with housework/childcare and they earn less than men which limits lesireb
who studied women’s leisure in Milton Keynes
-Deem
what did Deem’s study in Milton Keynes find
-patriarchal control restricted women’s leisure to approved activities
-male partners feel threatened by women’s independent participation in girls nights out and are not approved of
-leisure limited by harassment in public places and risks of walking home alone at night
describe how ethnicity influences leisure
-leisure influenced by cultural choices and sometimes restricted by racism
-eg asian women restricted to home and family based leisure
-although hybrid identities are less restricted by parents culture eg brasians
what neo marxists studied leisure
Clarke and Critcher
what do Clarke and Critcher argue about leisure
-leisure is a highly organised/commercialised/multinational industry employing millions worldwide for profit
-eg sports and tourism
-advertising in media saturated society creates endless demand for new products and services
-identity established by buying latest trends which benefits capitalism
give a criticism of Clarke and Critcher’s neo marxist view on leisure
-some groups try to resist commercialisation of leisure and manipulation of identities
-eg Campaign for Real Ale encourages small breweries to open to challenge dominance of big brewers
-and independent cinemas in some cities showing anti capitalist films
-also ignores other factors
