Rural Women’s Experience of Leisure in a Gendered World: A South Asian Perspective

Abstract

Purpose of the Study: The main objective of this paper was to synthesize and analysing the existing knowledge to evaluate the effect of public space on women’s leisure. Another major objective was to check the role of gender in determining leisure activities and opportunities for rural women. The current study focuses on South Asian rural women concerning Pakistani society.
 Methodology: For the present study, the researchers analysed and reviewed articles from different databases like Google Scholar, Taylor, and Francis, Springer, and Sage publication journals from 2000 to 2020.
 Principal Findings: After reviewing the various studies conducted in the 21st century, the results showed that most rural women are not allowed to do leisure in public space, and they have few opportunities to do it inside the boundary of the household. The public space is used predominantly by males for their leisure. Family pressure and patriarchal social norms also hampered women’s desire to claim public space for leisure activities.
 Application of the Study: This study concluded that the leisure opportunities for rural women are less as compared to their counterparts. Public space is vital and plays a pivotal role in shaping and determining leisure activities for both genders. This study also raised certain questions which are thought-provoking and can be crucial for future investigation.
 Novelty/Originality: this study is a unique effort to discuss rural women’s leisure from a South Asian Perspective. It also gives insight with the support of most recent data regarding rural women’s leisure and its relationship with the social structure of society.