Leisure has become the primary focus of self-identity debate

Jack WashburnBrooke Lindsey

EJ WardKai Parker

Self-IdentityAwareness of and identification with oneself as a separate individual.

-Expressing who you are through appearance, music you listen to, leisure activities, etc.

-what you associate yourself with

Why leisure is the primary source of self-identity

• Everybody has their own style. The purpose of style is to distinguish ourselves from others and separate ourselves from the norm. Appearance can say a lot about somebody without words.

• Dressing a certain way can directly associate you with a certain social group. Leisure activities like listing to music, skiing/snowboarding, or playing soccer all contribute to how we dress, act, and look. Even though this person isn’t

skiing or snowboarding his interests show through clothing

Leisure as status

• Leisure is also used as a way to show social and economical status. Although this may not always be intentional, we tend to use leisure to show who we are as individuals.

• Tourism and travel can be used as an example. Driving to visit relatives at the end of the summer may be an affordable leisure for one family. While another family spends two weeks in Italy.

• Destinations, mode of travel, and the activities themselves all symbolize the trip level.

Music tastes?

Hobbies?

How does he spend his leisure time?

What social group?

• Music tastes?

• Hobbies

• How does he spend his free time?

• What social group?

Leisure not as self-identity:

Status• Associate with what we enjoy doing rather

than what we can afford or are able to do• Gathering of people or friends with common

interests rather than social status• Need to look past stereotypes sometimes- not

visible from appearance

Personal Leisure

• Others don’t identify with private leisure• Some identify themselves with work, the jobs

they enjoy, others wouldn’t describe as leisure• Do not want to impress or please other people• Based on being satisfied with own choices• Leisure and ‘identity’ can change when

resources aren’t available seasonal

Summary- Yes

• Many people will dress in a way or listen to certain music that will associate them with a specific social group

• People also use leisure o display their economic status, whether intentional or unintentional– People with more money will go golfing at club

houses or vacation in exotic places

Summary- No

• Our leisure choices are personal and reflect things that we have done in the past and enjoy doing

• People don’t necessarily want to impress others, they just want to be satisfied with the leisure choices they make