The Nature of Leisure Revisited

Abstract

Information and communication technologies have made it possible to engage in leisure and paid-work activities outside their usual context, thereby challenging the construction of their meanings. We explored 30 individuals' narratives in an endeavour to identify the properties of digital leisure and paid-work activities performed in and out of their usual contexts. Our interpretation suggests that the nature of leisure activities is only associated with the freedom of individuals to choose which activity to do and how to do it. The patterns of interpenetration, integration, and segmentation of spaces varied according to informants occupations, but were also moderated by marital status and gender. We conclude with a discussion of how these findings challenge the traditional divisions between work and leisure.