Chapter 12 Diversity and its impact on RST Is Leisure Fair Do people have equal access and opportunities to leisure services NO Is it a right or a privilege o Age gender race SES Discrimination o Unfair or prejudicial treatment o Exists in all areas including RST Constraints o Any factor which precludes or limits an individual s frequency intensity duration or quality of participation in recreation activities o Structural Constraint Factors that intervene between preferences and participation Common examples include lack of money time or opportunity o Intrapersonal Constraint Psychological states that constrain leisure involvement affects preference I m not social outgoing enough to do that Common examples include perception of abilities personality needs religious beliefs and prior socialization o Interpersonal Constraints Results of social interactions with family friends and others This type of constraint may affect both preferences and participation Common example includes lack of support for activity Demographic Variations o Few constraints are experiences equally by everyone o No group is free from constraint o But some are more constrained than others Contact Theory ignorance o The distance between the lives of people who are different creates misconceptions and o Information gained through direct and long term contact is more accurate and favorable o It should Take place in a cooperative context not put against each other Be sustained rather than episodic Allow for fairly equal status RST setting are ideal for this type of contact But RST spaces and activities are also where people segregate o Racial and ethnic differences Research has demonstrated that racial and ethnic groups participate in activities o 78 of people projected to be added to the US by 2025 will be from racial and ethnic Ethnicity Race and Leisure minority populations Models of Integration o Anglo Conformity minorities give up their unique cultural characteristics and adopt o Cultural Pluralism accommodate differences within a single sociopolitical system those of the dominant group celebrate differences o Selective Acculturation adopt certain traits for economic reasons language but maintain other cultural values leisure activities food o Ethnic Boundary Maintenance promotes solidarity within own group find ways to emphasize cultural differences between group and mainstream society Ex festivals Renaissance Festival Celebrating uniqueness Social Class Inclusion o Leisure can help lead to equity o Valuing all people regardless of their differences o Leisure can be a means by which people who are different are included with mainstream society o Continuum of inclusion physical functional and social People with Disabilities o 7 10 of the world population o Original Separate but equal segregated programs o Now integration enables persons with disabilities to become full participants o ADA 1990 Wide ranging civil rights law that prohibits under certain circumstances discrimination based on disability Disability is defined by the ADA as a physical or mental impairment that substantially limits a major life activity Programs facilities that serve the public must be accessible to people with disabilities Lack of acceptance by staff is the 1 constraint to attending recreation programs Interpersonal Constraint people s attitudes lack of support o Normalization The cornerstone of recreation services for persons with disabilities Provision of typical experiences so persons with disabilities can maintain or develop behaviors that are as normal to their peers as possible Defying Stereotypes Leisure and sport settings offer a unique opportunity to challenge stereotypes and empower people Iclicker Feminism and leisure are linked because both are based on o Qualities of choice and freedom Females and Leisure o Feminism belief that woman should have economic political and social equality with men o Includes empowerment and social change o Feminism and leisure are both based on the qualities of choice and freedom o Gender and Leisure Behavior Similarities but also many differences Children 1927 present Male versus female play patterns Girls more sedentary and fine motor activities Study of cooperative cross sex play behavior when boys and girls play together their play behavior becomes more similar 3 8 yrs If they play separately their play tends to be quite different Metheny Studies Recent research 1960s identified gender stereotypes that influence social acceptability of various sports Identified which types of sports are acceptable for boys and which are acceptable for girls Still the trend Parents overwhelming encourage children to adhere to sex appropriate sports Study found high school students attributed greater social status to females in sex appropriate sports Study of college students o Acceptable women s sports Emphasize aesthetics Pleasing to watch Accuracy not strength No bodily contact aggression or face to face competition o Several years later college students still perceived women s sport in tradition and stereotypical ways Sexual Minorities o Those who do not identify themselves as heterosexual o 3 10 of the population o In the past categorized as a mental illness So we have come a long way o Major Issue gay marriage o Homophobia LGBT not a uniform group yet share one common thread negative effects of homophobia Irrational dislike for those who are sexually attracted to people of their own sex Teasing and bullying typically happen in leisure settings Changing due to high profile sports figures coming out o Leisure part of the problem and part of the solution Some leisure service organizations have explicitly refused participation to gay and lesbian individuals Examples social clubs sponsored by religious denominations fraternities sororities school extracurricular activities However to cope with experiences of discrimination people create private safe leisure spaces for themselves and similar others safe havens o Travel and LGBT Increasingly targeted by tourism business DINKs Dual Income No Kids Looking for gay friendly or gay tolerant destinations Seek locations where they feel comfortable and welcome Summary o There is not equity in leisure Different groups experience varying amounts of constraints o Second leisure has the potential to provide equality of opportunity o Accomplished through principles of inclusion and appreciating diversity