Leisure Patterns

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www.curriculum-press.co.uk Number 44

SociologyFactsheet

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What is Leisure?

Activity :

What is leisure?

Using different sources, find two different definitions of leisure.

The sociology of Leisure is a comparatively new area of sociology.

It was only in the 1970s that it started to be studied as a distinctive

topic.

Early research into leisure looked at the relationship between leisure

and other areas of social life.

Differences in the leisure patterns of different social groups

LeisureStanley Parker defines leisure as a residual category of time: it is

time left over after other obligations have been attended to. He

distinguishes five aspects of peoples lives.

Work time spent in paid employment

Work obligations time taken up as a consequence of

employment e.g. travel to and from work

Non-work obligations activities including childcare and

housework

Physiological needs time spent engaged in eating, sleeping,washing etc

Leisure the time left over

This Factsheet looks at the participation of different groups in leisure

activities

gender,

social class,

age

ethnic groups.

GenderSheila Scraton stated that until the 1980s women were largely absent

from analyses of leisure activities.

Since the start of the 1980s feminist sociologists have begun to

examine womens leisure in its own right and have devoted increasing

attention to the question of the relationship between leisure patterns

and gender.

There are important differences between men and womens leisure.

Not only do men and women tend to take part in different types of

leisure, but women also have less access to leisure opportunities

than men.

ActivityUsing the graph, identify two differences in the leisure activitiesof men and women.

MenWomen

watching TV and

video

sociable leisure

other leisure

reading

0 50 100 150 200minutes per day

Your answers could include the following:

Men in Great Britain were more likely than women to watch TV

or listen to the radio and take part in other leisure activities

including sport, entertainment, hobbies and using the computer

(224 minutes per day compared with 180 minutes per day for

women in 2005). Women were more likely than men to spend time reading or

socialising with other people (113 minutes per day compared

with 100 minutes per day).

Men were more likely to engage in other leisure activities than

women

Other factors to consider:

Computers are increasingly used at home for a range of activities,

such as contact with friends, helping the children with homework

and listening to music. On average, men spent 28 minutes per

day using a computer and women 13 minutes.

In 2006, 65 per cent of men and 55 per cent of women had

accessed the Internet, whether at home or elsewhere, in the

three months before interview. Of these, men used the Internet

more regularly with nearly two thirds (64 per cent) using it every

day or almost every day, compared with 54 per cent of women.

Internet shopping is becoming increasingly popular. A slightly

higher proportion of men than women used the Internet to

purchase goods or services associated with leisure, such as

travel, accommodation or holidays (53 per cent of men compared

with 48 per cent of women) and videos or DVDs (45 per cent

compared with 39 per cent). Conversely a higher proportion of

women than men used the Internet to purchase clothing or sports

goods (42 per cent of women and 34 per cent of men), and food

and groceries (25 per cent of women and 16 per cent of men).


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Sociology Factsheet44. Differences in the leisure patterns of different social groupswww.curriculum-press.co.uk

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The amount of leisure time men and women have depends on many

other factors including the amount of time spent on housework and

childcare (Table 1)

Table 1. Time Use Survey

Time spent on main activities: by sex, 2005, GB

Source: 2000 and 2005 Time Use Survey, Office for National Statistics

Activity

Using Table 1 identify some differences in the time men and

women spend on different activities

Your answers could include: Women spend longer on personal care than men

Women spend on average 3 hours a day on housework in

comparison to men who spend on average 1 hour and 41 minutes.

Women spend longer than men on childcare activities (32

minutes compared to 15 minutes)

The three main activities carried out by people in Great Britain in

2005 were sleeping, working, and watching TV and videos/DVDs

or listening to music.

These activities take up more than half the day (13 hours and 38

minutes out of the 24 hours available). About a third of the day

was spent sleeping.

Men were more likely to watch TV or listen to the radio and to

take part in other activities (sport, entertainment, hobbies andusing the computer).

Women are more likely than men to spend time reading or spend

time with other people.

The distribution of activities varied during the week. At the

weekend, both men and women spent more time sleeping and

participating in leisure activities and men spent more time on

domestic work (161 minutes compared with 116 minutes on

weekdays). The difference was due to more time being spent on

repairs and gardening and shopping and appointments at the

weekend.

Men have on average 30 minutes more free time than women

although this is to some extent compensated for by the extra 20

minutes women spend sleeping on average. Less free time is enjoyed by men and women when there are

children in the household.

Sleep

Resting

Personal care

Eating and drinking

Leisure

Watching TV/DVD and listen to radio/music

Social life and entertainment/cuture

Hobbies and games

Sport

Reading

All leisure

Employment and study

Housework

Childcare

Voluntary work and meetings

Travel

Other

Males0.04

0.43

0.40

1.25

2.50

1.22

0.37

0.13

0.23

5.25

3.45

1.41

0.15

0.15

1.32

0.13

Females8.18

0.48

0.48

1.19

2.25

1.32

0.23

0.07

0.28

4.53

2.26

3.00

0.32

0.20

1.22

0.15

Hours & Min /day

Exam Hint:- You may be asked in the exam to identify and

explain reasons why womens leisure patterns tend to differ

from those of men.

Answers could include: women have more domestic

responsibilities and that this restricts the type or amount of leisure

they have, womens lower earning power restricting the kinds ofleisure they can afford, differences in gender socialisation

affecting leisure preferences, or being excluded from certain

leisure spaces (e.g. pubs) or activities by men.

Activity

Conduct a survey in your class/school to investigate whether

there is a difference in the participation of different types of

sport between males and females. Compare your results with

the findings below.

Participation in the most popular sports, games and physical

activities: by gender and age, 1996-97

Men are also more likely than women to take part in sports, games

and physical activities. In 1996-97, 71 per cent of men and 57 per

cent of women in the United Kingdom participated in at least one

sporting activity in the four weeks before interview in the General

Household Survey. While walking was the most common physical

activity for both men and women, the second most popular activity

for men was snooker, pool or billiards, while for women it was keep-

fit or yoga and swimming. (Table 2)

Aged16 and over

Males:Walking 49

Males:Snooker/pool/billiards 19Males:Cycling 15

Males:Swimming 13

Males:Soccer 10

Females:Walking 41

Females:Keep fit/yoga 17

Females:Swimming 16

Females:Cycling 8

Females:Snooker/pool/billiards 4

Green et al does not believe that gender is the only influence on

leisure, nor do they think that all women are in the same position.

Their study in Sheffield found that class and income level, age,ethnic group all had an effect.

Women from higher classes and higher income levels tend to have

more opportunity to engage in expensive leisure pursuits. Higher

class women participate more in sport, yoga, keep fit than women of

lower social classes.

Single, young employed women have

most freedom. Although their

employment limits the time they have for

leisure, they have more financial

independence than married women and

usually less responsibility for housework

and childcare.

Table 2. Participation rates (%)


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Non manual Manual

% %

Pub (drink) 61.2 55.2

Any sport (b) 53.2 40.7

DIY 44.4 35.7

Gardening 45.6 37.6

Country / Seaside Trip 43.2 30.6

2/3 day break 23.0 13.8

Cinema 19.9 12.3

Spectator Outdoor amateur sport 12.9 8.5

Tourist / Historical site visit 21.4 10.7Church (c) 21.9 15.0

Other activity (not listed) 8.9 14.6

Spectator outdoor professional sport 5.7 3.5

Bingo 5.9 11.4

Spectator Indoor amateur sport 4.5 3.5

Theatre/ Opera / Ballet 7.5 3.1

Pop concert 3.6 1.8

Spectator indoor professional sport 1.8 1.5

ActivityUsing Table 3 identify the differences in the leisure activities of

different social classes.

Although some activities such as holidays abroad and the

ownership of CD players have become available to large numbers,

there are still clear class divisions in many activities e.g. a villa in

Tuscany and a week in Benidorm, a trip to the opera or a visit to the

local pub.

AgeAge also seems to influence the participation in leisure activities.

Generally participation in sport decreases with age but older people

are more likely to participate in certain activities such as bowls than

younger people (Table 4).

Percentages 16-19 20-24 25-34 35-44 45-54 55-64 65 and over All aged 16 and over

Males:Walking 57 57 50 53 51 50 37 49

Males:Snooker/pool/billiards 54 45 29 19 13 9 5 19

Males:Cycling 36 24 19 18 12 8 5 15

Males:Swimming 18 17 17 20 10 7 5 13

Males:Soccer 47 28 17 10 2 1 - 10

Females:Walking 45 43 44 45 49 43 25 41

Females:Keep fit/yoga 29 28 24 20 14 12 6 17

Females:Swimming 23 21 26 22 14 12 5 16

Females:Cycling 14 11 10 12 7 4 2 8

Females:Snooker/pool/billiards 24 17 6 3 1 - - 4

Table 3. Participation rates (%)

Table 4

Activity

Using Table 4. identify the differences in the leisure activities

of different age groups.

As people age and their working lives end, they may have more

free time available to spend on leisure activities. However, avariety of barriers to more active leisure pursuits may exist. These

include health and mobility problems, poor transport and lack

of finance.

Car usage declines with age and varies by sex. Fewer older

women than men have access to a car: 77 per cent of men and 64

per cent of women aged 65-74 in 2001 in Great Britain. Among

those aged 75 and over these proportions were far lower at 57

per cent and 34 per cent respectively.

People over 60 are more likely than those in their 50s to use

public transport. In 2002, 23 per cent of women and 11 per cent

of men aged 70-74 in England said they use public transport a

lot, compared with 14 and 10 per cent of those aged 50-54.

Involvement in organisations for people aged 50 and over: by sex,

2002, England

Social clubs

Political party, trade

unions or env. groups

Sports clubs

Tenents groups/

Neighbourhood watch

Church or religious

organisations

Charitable associations

Education, art or music

Other

0 5 1 0 1 5 2 0 2 5 3 0percentage

MalesFemales

Source: English Longitudinal Study of Ageing 2002, University

College London

Social ClassSocial Class is an influencing factor when

considering the participation in leisure activities.

Access to leisure activities is dependent on income.

For the unemployed and those in low paid work there may be little

opportunity to experience certain leisure activities (Table 3).


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EthnicityThere is a complex relationship between ethnicity and leisure. In entertainment and sport there are many Asian and black stars, which

might suggest that there is greater opportunity in these fields than in conventional employment. In 1996, many football clubs took up

the campaign Kick Racism out of sport

The experience of discrimination and all forms of racism often lead Asian and black groups to separate activities from white groups.

Gilroy 1987 sees popular culture, music and entertainment as cultural features of ethnic identity.

A survey carried out by the Office for National Statistics (ONS) on behalf of Sport England, provides for the first time national

statistics on the levels of participation in sport, previous sporting experiences and sporting aspirations of people from ethnic minority

communities in England.

The likelihood of being a member of an organisation such as neighbourhood groups falls with age. In 2002, around two thirds of

men and women aged 50-54 in England were a member of an organisation, compared with around half of people over 80.

Participation in volunteering, cultural and sporting activities also change as people get older. People aged 65-74 have the highest

levels of volunteering of all older people. Those in higher age groups are more likely to have health problems or reduced mobility

which could prevent them from volunteering.

Older people are also choosing to participate in education and learn new skills including the use of computers and Internet. In 2002,

51 per cent of those aged 60 to 69 in England and Wales engaged in some form of learning as opposed to 47 per cent in 1997.

Older peoples lifestyles can be affected by fear of crime. Although people aged 60 and over worry less about crime than those aged

16-59, the older people felt more afraid of walking alone after dark. Women aged 60 and over were more likely than men of the same

age to feel unsafe: one in three women compared with one in ten men in England and Wales.

The findings from this survey showed ethnic minority groups

overall participation rate in sport is 40% compared with a

national average of 46%.

On average Black Caribbean (39%), Indian (39%) and in

particular Pakistani (31%) and Bangladeshi (30%) populations

have rates of participation in sport below those of the national

average (46%). Only the Black Other group (60%) has

participation rates higher than found in the population as a

whole.

Black African men (60%) and Black Other men (80%) have

higher participation rates than the national average for all men

(54%) while Indian (47%), Black Caribbean (45%), Bangladeshi

(46%) and Pakistani (42%) men are less likely to participate in

sport than men generally.

National participation rates for women (39%) were matched or

exceeded by women from Black Other (45%), Other (41%)

and Chinese (39%) ethnic groups while women who classified

themselves as Black Caribbean (34%), Black African (34%),Indian (31%), and Bangladeshi (19%) had participation rates

below the national average for all women.

Levels of participation in walking amongst ethnic minorities

are significantly below those for the population as a whole. At

the lowest end, only 19% of the Bangladeshi population takes

long walks regularly compared with 44% of the population as

a whole.

For all groups, apart from the Bangladeshi population, keep

fit/aerobics/yoga features as the second most popular activity

and this is boosted in particular by its popularity amongst

women. Keep fit is by far the most popular activity after walking

for women from all ethnic groups (keep fit ranks as the thirdmost popular sport amongst the population as a whole and

tied second amongst all women).

Swimming has a lower ranking in participation amongst most

ethnic minority groups (from as low as seventh in the case of

the Black Caribbean population and sixth in the case of Black

Africans and Black Others) than it does amongst the

population as a whole where it ranks second in popularity

behind walking.

Overall ethnic minorities are less likely to take part in swimming

than the population as a whole. Black Caribbean, Black African

and Black Other men have particularly low levels of

participation, reaching as low as 2% for Black Other men

which is 11% less than for men in the population as a whole.

Women from Pakistani, Black Caribbean and Bangladeshi ethnic

groups have particularly low levels of participation in

swimming, as low as 5% for Pakistani women compared with a

national average of 17% for all women.

Participation in football amongst males from ethnic minority

groups is relatively high. This is particularly the case amongst

Black males with participation rates as high as 31% amongstthe Black Other ethnic group, which is three times the national

average (10%). Given the publicity about the lack of

representation of Asian footballers at the highest levels it is

interesting to see that participation amongst these groups is

around the national average and exceeds it in the case of

Pakistani men (16%).


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There are a number of instances where sports have relatively high levels of participation amongst certain ethnic minority groups. These

include:

Men Weight training amongst Black males with participation rates

of 23% for the Black Other group, and 12% for both Black

Caribbeans and Black Africans which compares with 9% forthe population as a whole.

Running/joggingamongst Black Other (18%), and Black African

men (15%), which is higher than for males generally (7%).

Self-defence/martial arts by Black Other males (11%) and Black

Caribbeans (6%) which compares with an average for all men of

1%.

Badminton by Chinese men (17%), which compares with an

average of 3% for all men.

Cricket by Pakistani (10%), Black Other (8%), and Indian(6%) men, which compares with the average for all men of 2%.

Basketball amongst Black Caribbean (4%) and Black African

(4%) males which compares with a population average for men

of 1%;

Women Running/jogging amongst Black African (11%), Black

Caribbean

(4%) and Other (4%) ethnic group women, which compareswith the average for all women of 2%.

Weight training by Black Caribbean women (7%) which

compares with a national average of 3%

Self-defence/martial arts by Chinese women (3%), which

compares with a national average of less than one percent for

women generally.

Basketball amongst Black Caribbean women (3%), which

compares with an average participation rate of less than one

percent for all women.

Gymnastics amongst Black African women (3%), which

compares

with a national average of less than 1%.

Track and field athletics by Black African women (2%)

compared

with a participation rate for women nationally of less than 1%.

Cricket by Bangladeshi (2%) and Pakistani (2%) women, which

compares with an average for women generally of less than

1%.

Activity

Using the information above, identify some of the differences in the leisure activities of different ethnic groups.

Exam Hint: You may be asked in the exam to identify factors that shape individuals leisure and identity You could include gender,

age, ethnicity, and social class and explain how these affect patterns of leisure.

Test Yourself1. Identify two differences in the leisure activities of males and females

2. Give one reason why these differences may exist

3. Identify two differences in the leisure activities of different social classes

4. Give one reason why these differences may exist5. Identify two differences in the leisure activities of different age groups


7. Identify two differences in the leisure activities of different ethnic groups


Acknowledgements: This Sociology Factsheet was researched and written by Rosie Owens.

Curriculum Press. Bank House, 105 King Street, Wellington, TF1 1NU. Sociology Factsheets may be copied free of charge by teaching staff or students, provided

that their school is a registered subscriber. No part of these Factsheets may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted, in any other form or by

any other means, without the prior permission of the publisher. ISSN 1351-5136

Leisure Patterns

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