Experiences and meanings of leisure for members of the Turkish and Chinese communities in Vienna, Austria

Abstract

While ideas about leisure may vary across society and cultures, leisure research itself has been predominantly Western centric. This paper considers leisure within two ethnic communities (Turkish and Chinese) in Vienna, Austria, and examines how the experiences and meanings of leisure are elaborated in these cultural groups. Data from qualitative interviews (n = 80) show that leisure varies strongly between generations; specifically, people who migrate for labour purposes tend to elevate work over leisure. Experiences and meanings of leisure among younger generations are associated more with personal choice and with recovery from work. Results also suggest that immigration processes produce constraints that cause inequalities in access to leisure. Further, cultural background influences leisure attitudes, but does not constitute a barrier to leisure participation.