Emancipation and demoralization: contrasting approaches in the sociology of leisure

Abstract

This paper reviews two contrasting approaches underlying leisure studies, namely emancipation and demoralization. Emancipation implies that leisure will enable people to become free; demoralization implies that leisure creates and satisfies false needs in a demoralized society. Each approach is found wanting. A third approach is identified which studies leisure in its own right and not as a dependent subset of other areas, such as work. The emphasis is on examining the emotional content of leisure pursuits and delineating the social context in which power exchanges take place. The conclusion is drawn that before an adequate theory of leisure can develop, the history of leisure will have to be reinterpreted through more historical research.