Women's leisure in England 1920–60 (Studies in Popular Culture) - Softcover

Langhamer, Claire

Softcover

ISBN 10: 071905737X ISBN 13: 9780719057373

Publisher: Manchester University Press, 2000

Synopsis

This insightful book offers a timely assessment of the complex relationship between women and leisure in England, drawing upon recent feminist theory. Departing from approaches which focus on particular activities or institutions, it places everyday experiences at its centre, presenting a wide-ranging and lively account of changing perceptions, representations and experiences of leisure across the period 1920–60.

It addresses the nature of leisure within women’s lives, examining shifting understandings of the concept and identifying areas of definitional ambiguity such as the ‘family’ holiday, shopping and handicrafts. Focusing upon experiences of leisure across the life cycle, it provides a detailed assessment of the particular forms of leisure enjoyed by women at distinct stages of their lives, including cinema-going, dancing, socialising and home-based pursuits.

The book demonstrates that experiences and perceptions of leisure were fundamentally structured along life cycle lines: leisure in youth was often characterised by freedom and independence whilst leisure in adulthood became a vehicle for service and duty to others.

About this title

About the Author:

Claire Langhamer is Lecturer in History at the University of Sussex

Review:

This is a well-written, interesting and authoritative book, which should be of interest both to students and to academic readers. Dr Langhamer has used a very wide and impressive range of sources, newspapers, mass observation, oral testimony and many secondary sources. A valuable work.' -- Dr Elizabeth Roberts, Lancaster University

About this edition

• Publisher: Manchester University Press
• Publication date: 2000
• ISBN 10: 071905737X
• ISBN 13: 9780719057373
• Binding: Paperback
• Edition number: 1
• Number of pages: 232