Shouldn't Leisure Scholars Know Better? How the Work/Leisure Dichotomy Affects Policy and Culture for Academic Mothers

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Bibliographic Details
Title: Shouldn't Leisure Scholars Know Better? How the Work/Leisure Dichotomy Affects Policy and Culture for Academic Mothers
Language: English
Authors: Oakleaf, Linda, Burk, Brooke N., Mausolf, Anna Pechenik
Source: Schole: A Journal of Leisure Studies and Recreation Education. 2019 34(2):96-108.
Availability: Routledge. Available from: Taylor & Francis, Ltd. 530 Walnut Street Suite 850, Philadelphia, PA 19106. Tel: 800-354-1420; Tel: 215-625-8900; Fax: 215-207-0050; Web site: http://www.tandf.co.uk/journals
Peer Reviewed: Y
Page Count: 13
Publication Date: 2019
Document Type: Journal Articles
Reports - Research
Education Level: Higher Education
Postsecondary Education
Descriptors: Leisure Education, Women Faculty, Mothers, Family Work Relationship, School Policy, School Culture, Departments, Teacher Attitudes, Child Rearing, Teaching Conditions, Expectation, Commercialization, Working Hours, Faculty Workload, Time Management, Leaves of Absence, Tenure, Universities
DOI: 10.1080/1937156X.2019.1622947
ISSN: 1937-156X
Abstract: This study was designed to understand the impact of university policy and departmental culture on academic mothers' employment, family, and leisure experiences. Telephone interviews were conducted with 17 mothers employed as academics in the field of leisure and closely aligned disciplines to provide insight into the effects of parenting within academia, current corporate university culture, and work-life balance. Qualitative analysis, guided by post-structural feminist theory, revealed three major themes in the findings, which together suggest flawed administrative applications of the work/leisure dichotomy are negatively impacting mothers in academia. Rather than prolific researchers and proponents of leisure serving as exemplars to the academic community of success in employment, family, and leisure, this study's findings suggest otherwise. As participants shared their struggles with unrealistic expectations, unsupportive colleagues, and conflicting workplace policies, this research instead supports a particularly critical review of leisure scholars and the employment policies of their academic departments.
Abstractor: As Provided
Entry Date: 2019
Accession Number: EJ1224102
Database: ERIC
Description
Abstract:This study was designed to understand the impact of university policy and departmental culture on academic mothers' employment, family, and leisure experiences. Telephone interviews were conducted with 17 mothers employed as academics in the field of leisure and closely aligned disciplines to provide insight into the effects of parenting within academia, current corporate university culture, and work-life balance. Qualitative analysis, guided by post-structural feminist theory, revealed three major themes in the findings, which together suggest flawed administrative applications of the work/leisure dichotomy are negatively impacting mothers in academia. Rather than prolific researchers and proponents of leisure serving as exemplars to the academic community of success in employment, family, and leisure, this study's findings suggest otherwise. As participants shared their struggles with unrealistic expectations, unsupportive colleagues, and conflicting workplace policies, this research instead supports a particularly critical review of leisure scholars and the employment policies of their academic departments.
ISSN:1937-156X
DOI:10.1080/1937156X.2019.1622947