Family members' experiences of saturation, bonding, and leisure: a feminist perspective

Abstract

Theoretical tensions between theories of saturation, bonding and leisure were explored from feminist perspectives. Saturation defined by Gergen as a state of relational overload, may cause I of connection between family members. Leisure scholars suggets that bonding occurs during leisure, and a feminist perspective emphasizes that leisure includes conflict and inequality families. Participants were primarily White, and all were upper-middle class married couples with children aged 6 to 12. Individual and family interviews were held with parents and children. Data was analyzed qualitatively according to Strauss and Corbin's (1990) grounded theory procedures.

Saturation, as a metaphor, does not capture the dynamic nature of how people grappled with time use. Being saturated reflects being filled up, but the experience described by participants may be closer to feeling drained, and more useful may be a concept that attends to both. Parents demonstrated four kinds of orientations to saturation: resistant, reformed, absorbent, and saturated. The persons who defined their experience as saturated were two men, both breadwinners with homemaker wives. Women took time-stress for granted, and were the main organizers and monitors of family leisure. Technology did not seem to add to time-stress, but TV in most households was restricted to weekends.

Parents did not clearly associate bonding with leisure time. Bonding was defined as building connections and trust, showing warmth and caring, and being involved in each other lives. While bonding required attentiveness, leisure was an event where parents were free of responsibility for others.

Parents discussed ideal vs. actual employment arrangements. Female homemakers were interested not in leisure, but in finding part-time work. Male breadwinners were wedded to their provider roles. Many adults would make changes in their employment situations, but felt stymied by gendered workplace culture.

Children could describe times they felt time pressured, but mostly were content, and asked for parents not to rush them from one activity to the next. Children's leisure preferences were free time and family time, as opposed to organized activities, chores, and TV.