Without Work, There Can Be No Leisure - Literature review Example

Running Head: “WITHOUT WORK, THERE CAN BE NO LEISURE” “Without Work, There Can Be No Leisure”. Discuss this statement [Writer’s name] [Institution’s name] “Without Work, There Can Be No Leisure”. Discuss this statement Introduction Leisure represents fiery “letting off steam” as well as unnecessary effort to substitute for the lack of talent experienced at work (Wilensky, 1960); a non-obligatory action (Harrington & Dawson, 1995) as well as preferring to satisfying one’s personal needs in place of monetary rewards in return of duties fulfilled (Kabanoff, 1980). Even though the deficiency of research on the interrelationships among leisure activities as well as inter-role conflict is obvious, similarly significant is the process regarding the study of leisure. For example, Goff, Fick & Oppliger (1997) came to the conclusion that obligation in serious leisure was completely associated to leisure-family conflict. Although countless studies did not narrate the effects of leisure guarantee to inter-role sincerely, to a great extent research associated leisure to harmful effect in family (Orthner & Mancini, 1990 and Fick & Goff, 1996). For instance, intense involvement in leisure could possibly restrict the time which may be given to the work sphere, therefore can the outcome may result in more severe inter-role conflict. Work may be defined in 6 important concepts work centrality, economic orientation relationships and intrinsic orientation. Work thus may be defined as an activity by which one gains economic stability and at times even a source of self actualization. Discussion The notion of leisure in present times is quite hard to understand, but it must be pointed out that it was never easy even before. The conduct of people when they are not busy working has always received extremely less attention when it comes to research. Currently the topic has become under consideration for research. A detailed paradigms, models and researches have been developed regarding work as well as nonwork behavior, as well as the result of changing behavior patterns associated to psychological and physical health, change, and the accomplishment reaching the level of self-actualization. The economic and cultural growth of prehistorical societies was improved by slave labor, by military control, and management of wealth of one group by another (Kando & Summers 1971). This production and monetary assets gave prosperity and time for leisure activities for a fairly small subdivision of the people. In Western society, and mostly Australia, has developed for the first time on such a nationwide scale, a wonderful industrial economy and a universal standard of source of revenue heretofore unachievable. These developments have made more free time accessible for a lot of people. Technology has taken away a lot of individual’s of creative identity and turned their effort into routine activities that show the way to monotony and little or no special expression; the fast moving pace of city life has resulted in an disturbing raise in number of mental illness, and a lot of people in no way seem (Orthner & Mancini 1990). To be mentally satisfied. Life in the home has altered, and there is immense stress on the educational institutions, the cathedral, as well as other community group to presume greater tasks more then previously in order to fulfill the needs of every age group. Many cities no longer have open land and natural scenery in which people can enjoy their free time. To comprehend the contemporary notion of leisure in this confusing social and industrial system, an individual has to think about the historical development of the values of leisure, and definitely the whole way of life of individuals from earliest times, as well as work (Kirkcaldy etal 1997). It is obviously apparent that free time behavior has had a major effect on the prosperity and failure of different societies. Whereas a few give extremely less importance to this influence, while many consider it as something important when compared to the effect of activities directly associated to a job or duty or "persistent" functions. One has simply to study the way of life of the earlier Egyptian societies, the facts of interest in non-work inventiveness of the Aztec and numerous other civilizations to understand the importance of leisure in the way of life of every society (Robert 2004). The information regarding leisure in the earlier Greek and Roman societies is more accurate. It may also be noted that the Aristotelian notion of leisure as a "form or state of mind," or "state of being" liberated from the obligation of labor, is what the notion of leisure is based on in the present day. The Aristotelian notion of leisure does not eliminate labor; however it does eliminate the deficiency of the responsibility or the inevitability to carry out labor as the most important provision of life. The improvement of the way of life western society was a direct result that developed due to the Judaic-Christian values and the industrialization of the western world. The higher Class of Europe and early United States consisted of individuals who were capable to generate wealth and power which allowed them to achieve that status of being where labor in their lives was not an essential responsibility inorder to feed themselves and their families (Kirkcaldy etal 1997). these individuals had time and assets for education and awareness regarding social roles, play and growth of a range of cultural recreation related creativeness along with personality development, they even took part in community services in a comparatively care free manner. In the America different notion of leisure were prevailing in the years prior to the Civil War. In northern parts of America and especially New England, the professed Puritan work principle which started to grow in the industrialized cities and in regions where strong religious and cultural society and economic rivalry is what play, leisure and relaxation patterns of individuals depended on (Peter 1995). In the South, the leisure class of Europe persisted in a predominantly agricultural society supported by slave labor. The western frontier areas represented a severe work-ethic philosophy as a result of religious and cultural taboos against play and leisure pursuits and the difficult struggle against the harsh physical environmental conditions that left precious few hours and limited resources for pleasurable activities (Thomas 1964). The quick growth of the industrial revolution after the Civil War changed the notion of leisure. Soon it was evident that the adverse social circumstances due to the issue of increased immigration, crowded and insufficient lodging in urban regions, child labor, lengthy working hours along with the intensity of the viable economic system should was yet to be improved. Workers only worked for minimal wages and had to find ways in which they could fulfill their total life-style needs from such minimal wage, including a lot of their leisure, social and cultural needs (Peter 1995). It may also be noted that break from work quickly got the label of re-creation time, however break for physical rest to invigorate oneself so one may be able to re join work with a fresh mind an individual’s dull and long hours of industrial work, which became the dominant and essential value inorder to gain a stable socio-economic status. In the modern notion of leisure, the work-leisure paradigm is no longer followed. Leisure is no longer associated with quality time , but a condition which may be availed only if one has the has the resources, the chance and the ability to do those activities which may lead to self-actualization and to the realization of an individual’s duties and relationships with others around him/her (Robert 2004). A lot of people consider leisure to be an expression in work or in practical implication l, goal-directed activities which was usually considered in early history as work, whereas others nowadays work at what was in reality play. First man made great efforts for the advancement of technology, but in the present time man tries his level best to save him self from it. Thus an a person who is playing tennis may not necessarily be involved in a leisure activity ; one may be considered to be involved in a leisure activity whilst participating in a motivating and revitalizing challenge given to him/her by the place he/she works in (Marfany & Peter 1997). Similarly it may be considered that the person is in a laborious state of work at the same time as being in a state of leisure. The work-leisure paradigm has changed the true meaning of both work and leisure in present times. It may be said that it has degraded the value of work, it has considered it to be an activity which one ahs to fulfill even by force yet making seem as something which has to be tolerated, curtailing its dignity as well as its prospective value and role it has in achieving a state self-actualization and contentment. Similarly, individuals came to believe that they had to participate in various special activities such as sport, music, theater, art, or various similar prearranged behavior so that they can experience leisure (Matuska, 2009). A lot of individuals substitute activities have been created (such as countless badly designed playgrounds) to gather group into rather bizarre and often unwanted circumstances. It may be noted however that leisure help in improving personal expression and the achievement of self-actualization in separate. In fact, satisfaction gained from leisure is personal and intrinsic, in nature; one should identify which leisure related situations may help him become self actualized. And society has a duty to give a sufficient plan of leisure education and extensive range of opportunities for one to attain the before mentioned expressive conditions. Providing valuable leisure chances for the lot of people is a task quite distinctive in history. Nowadays and in the upcoming days, one may confront difficult conditions than in past; although at the same time one have more resources like communication systems, laptop, and technology which may help in tackling the socio-economic variables that form the utilization leisure (Matuska, 2009). The understanding of this behaviour as well as the prediction which may be given for the future are important to the judgment which will be made regarding the amount, kind, place and nature of leisure selection and opportunities. Conclusion It may be concluded that without work, there can be no leisure”, even though it is the opposite of idleness as it is the foundation of which good work starts and further develops . It could be said that leisure is a result of intrinsic worth; in short that it is an internal attitude of candidness and trust. Its qualities include “resting” rather than working over time of “permitting things to take place,” not controlling circumstances. Leisure is no longer associated with quality time , but a condition which may be availed only if one has the has the resources, the chance and the ability to do those activities which may lead to self-actualization and to the realization of an individual’s duties and relationships with others around him/her The dichotomy between work and leisure is a result of industrial capitalism. In the present industrialized society, particular regions as well as time period in which one fulfills his responsibility towards work and other spaces areas and times period for leisure. As per the above discussion related with elements such as liberty, letting loose, entertainment and choice; work may be related to elements like obligation, schedule and restriction. The prior years had a different notion and concept of the work - leisure dichotomy, minimal wages and had to find ways in which they could fulfill their total life-style needs from such minimal wage, including a lot of their leisure, social and cultural needs. However in the present era it is associated with quality time. To conclude it may be said that over years work has become a necessity for leisure both in the finical sense as well as a status symbol. References Goff S. J.; Fick, D. S. & Oppliger, R. A. (1997). The moderating effect of spouse support on the relations between serious leisure and spouses‟ perceived leisure-family conflict. Journal of Leisure Research, 29 (1), 47-60 Harrington, M. & Dawson, D. (1995). Who has it best? Women‟s labor force participation, perception of leisure and constraints to enjoyment of leisure. Journal of Leisure Research, 27 (1), 4-24. Kabanoff, B (1980). Work and nonwork: A review of models, methods and findings. Psychological Bulletin, 88, 60-77. Kando, T. M. & Summers, W. C. (1971). The impact of work on leisure: Toward a paradigm and research strategy. Pacific Sociological Review, 14, 310-327. Kirkcaldy, B. D.; Trimpop, R. M.; Fischer, C. & Furnham, A. (1997). Leisure and work beliefs of British senior managers. Journal of Management Development, 16(6), 392-404. Orthner, D. K.; & Mancini, J. A. (1990). Leisure impacts on family interaction and cohesion. Journal of Leisure Research, 22(2), 125-137. Thomas Keith (1964) WORK AND LEISURE IN PRE-INDUSTRIAL SOCIETY in Past & Present 1964 29(1):50-62; doi:10.1093/past/29.1.50 Joan-Lluis Marfany, Peter Burke (1997) The invention of leisure in early modern Europe in Past & Present, August, 1997 Peter Burke (1995) The Invention of Leisure in Early Modern Europe, in Past and Present, no. 146 (Feb. 1995). Robert A. Stebbins (2004) Between work and leisure: The common ground of two separate worlds. New Brunswick, NJ: Transation Matuska, Kathleen & Christiansen, Charles et al. (2009). Life Balance: Multidisciplinary Theories and Research. Bethesda, MD: AOTA Press/Slack Publishers. Read More