256.3
Leisure and Gender Dynamics: A Sociological Appraisal
Binoyjyoti Das
Doctoral candidate
C.S.S.S/ J.N.U
Leisure is a commonsensical term that refers to in everyday parlance, the time left over after work and non-work obligations- often called as free time and the way people spend that time. The universe of leisure encompasses activities such as sports, tourism, watching movies, playing games, internet browsing and other entertainment activities. The present study was triggered by a conversation of a group of working youth the researcher overheard in the city of Guwahati, in which majority of them preferred “sleeping” as their first preference in the weekend for their non-work obligation i.e. their leisure time activity. This incident inspired to take up a sociological study on leisure preferences of male and female in Guwhati city. According to the census of India 2011, population wise Guwahati’s rank is 48 among the cities of India with a 91.47% of literacy rate and a per capita income of $4000. The objective of the study is to explore the presence of different leisure activities available in the city and attitude of male and female towards those. It also tries to explore the meaning of leisure a viewed by both the gender and their preferences. A structured questionnaire prepared to explore such objectives of the study and administered on as many as 200 people between the age group of 25 to 55. After data analysis we can say that inherent inequality of the gender in our social system got reflected in choices of their leisure pursuits. Women’s leisure has been constraints due to their social obligation, time and male power to central over her activities. No independence travelling, quality time with family. While male youth has choices in leisure time.
Key words - Leisure, stereotype image, social obligation