Abstract: Abstract In this paper, the notion of serious leisure is critically explored in relation to women's climbing careers and identities. It draws upon findings from an in‐depth qualitative study of 19 women climbers and explores the concept of serious leisure from a gender perspective, arguing that in order to develop a more sophisticated understanding of serious leisure, it is important to situate participation in the social, cultural and political contexts that frame experience. Drawing on the theoretical work of Aitchison, Shaw and Wearing, we use a feminist theoretical approach that recognises both collective experiences of gender, focusing on inequality, as well as a post‐structuralist engagement with difference and identities. The data identified the central significance of physicality, social relationships and motherhood in the experiences of, and motivations for, the women's participation in climbing as a form of serious leisure. It is argued that understanding the relationship between climbing and the women's wider lives, specifically their work, attitudes to childbearing, sexual relationships, gender identities and motherhood is central to understanding their commitment to climbing. Keywords: genderleisuresportlifestyle Notes 1. Traditional (trad) climbing refers to rock routes that are climbed from the bottom to the top. The first (lead) climber places temporary protection on the way. The second removes the protection, usually/mostly leaving the rock untarnished. 2. In sport climbing, the protection is permanently fixed into the rock, often in the form of metal rawlplugs glued into the rock. These are called ‘bolts’. This style of climbing allows the climber to focus on the technicality of the climb without having to place temporary protection. 3. Bouldering is a variation of climbing which involves climbing boulders or short rock faces without a rope. In the event of a fall, the climber will usually be able to jump to the floor without a risk of injury. 4. Ice climbing is, as the name suggests, climbing on ice. This is done with the use of ice axes and crampons. Winter climbing is on snow and ice and is the term most commonly associated with climbing in the Scottish winter season, which can last from late November to late April. Mixed climbing is ice climbing which also involves sections of rock climbing. 5. Alpine climbing and mountaineering often have different sections of climbing on rock, walking, scrambling and ice climbing. They usually involve prolonged stays in the mountain environment. High‐altitude mountaineering takes place above 5000 metres. Alpine climbing is a style or method of climbing, originally developed by Alpine guides but now used more extensively. It refers to light‐weight expeditions where the minimal amount of equipment is taken in order to allow the climbers to move quickly. 6. Twelve completed this exercise. Some drew intricate and complex diagrams, whilst others wrote lists of 10 or so words, which they associated with climbing. A verbal version of this exercise was conducted with those who had not prepared a spider diagram. 7. Being light in climbing is about climbing performance. Climbers with good power‐to‐weight ratios are strong and light, and this is regarded as the optimal climbing body. 8. Indoor climbing walls artificially replicate (some) aspects of climbing outdoors through the use of plastic holds. 9. The term ‘Greater Ranges’ refers to the world's highest mountain ranges, including the Himalayas, the Karakoram and the Andes.
Publication Year: 2010
Publication Date: 2010-04-01
Language: en
Type: article
Indexed In: ['crossref']
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Cited By Count: 148
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