Introduction
The leisure habits between the middle-class residents in Muncie, Indiana, as described in “Middletown” by Robert and Helen Lynd, and those of the working-class women in New York, as shown in “Cheap Amusements” by Kathy Peiss, have their similarities and differences. New York, a city represented as a highly active urban landscape, presents working-class women with a great variety of opportunities that can be used for socializing and leisure activities. Muncie, Indiana, on the other hand, bears the landscape of a rural setting, which in many ways inhibits the residents’ opportunities to participate in leisure activities. Regardless of the difference in landscape setting for the two areas, gender dynamics play a significant role in shaping their leisure activities. Different gender customs contribute to choosing what leisure habits to partake in for both New York and Muncie, describing particular scopes of engagement for both women and men. As the city of New York’s urban setting provides working-class women with a variety of leisure activities that are favorable to both genders, the rural setting of Muncie greatly emphasizes the traditional gender customs, which regulate the kind of leisure activities that an individual could access, considering their gender.
Some of the leisure activities that were commonly available in New York due to its lively setting included visiting the amusement parks, going for picnics, going to theatres for some movie time, going out dancing in the various dancing halls, and participating in other activities that involved being outdoors. All these leisure activities depended on the social circles that the working-class women in New York were involved with, among other similar interests. Despite the active city life that New York offered the working-class women, they could explore different forms of leisure activities from various entities that provided entertainment and companionship in the energetic social scene. On the contrary, the rural setting of Muncie, Indiana, puts a lot of limitations on its residents in terms of getting entertainment and engaging in different leisure activities. In Muncie, Indiana, some of the most practiced forms of leisure include attending church services, community events, and other domestic activities (Robert Staughton Lynd and Lynd 1929). The social makeup of this area clearly shows that life there was much slower than in New York.
In addition to this, the different landscapes of the two areas, which consist of the tranquil environment in Muncie and the active vibrancy of New York, play different roles in shaping the options of the leisure activities that are available to the people and also guiding the people on how they should choose their leisure habits depending on their preferences. In New York, the urban scene nurtured a rich and wide variety of leisure activities in which working-class women could participate. These activities varied from visiting the amusement parks to attending dance sessions in different dance halls. On the other hand, residents of Muncie, Indiana, mainly partake in leisure habits that promote togetherness in the area, family ties between the residents as well as promoting traditions and customs. Generally, this proves that the lives of those living in urban areas and those in rural areas are greatly influenced by the environment that one is in, which leads to the adaptation of the leisure habits that are commonly practiced in the respective regions.
The working-class women in New York, the environment that the city had established, gave women a platform to experiment with different leisure habits that they would be interested in as it promoted the culture of originality with their interests and preferences in mind. In Muncie, Indiana, a traditional approach to leisure is embraced due to the rural setting of the area as it strengthens the family ties of the residents, promotes unity among the people, and upholds the traditions and customs of Muncie. Contrary to these, there were particular factors that could collide, thus beating the socioeconomic limitations. It was possible for the middle-class residents of Muncie and the working-class women of New York to have the same interests in terms of leisure activities, such as finding time to get entertained and socialize with family and friends despite their differences. There were also various leisure activities that were shared by different people from different locations, which may include participating in outdoor activities like picnics, attending events like birthdays, and organizing social gatherings, which eventually helped to minimize the gap between social lifestyles.
Another similarity is that in both localities, work and family relations were a major influence on the leisure activities of Muncie’s residents and the working-class women in New York. The residents of Muncie, Indiana, upheld community values, traditions, and family ties, and due to this, the leisure activities that they participated in were between family and loved ones. Also, the working-class women in New York were able to have a work life and create time for their leisure activities (Kathy Lee Peiss 2008). It is essential to note that working-class women had to manage their time well so as not to affect their work life while participating in leisure activities. For this to work without any hindrances, the working women must have had a comprehensive strategy on how to go about their schedules without affecting their work responsibilities and their time to relax and refresh. The kind of leisure habits that one took on were significantly influenced by the work that one did as well as one’s family. The working-class women in New York engaged their friends as they participated in their leisure activities which shows that heterosocial interactions and relationships contribute to the leisure activities that the working-class women were interested in. The effect that heterosocial interactions have on people’s choices in their leisure activities both in Muncie and New York is within what society expects of people.
Moreover, public places contribute heavily to the leisure activities of people from different areas. When public places are appropriately utilized, they mirror the unique properties of the regions in which they are situated. The availability of public parks, boulevards, and squares in New York gave working-class women some space to have some time on their own due to their availability. These public spaces helped the working-class women in New York talk about matters they could not discuss while at work. Equally, Muncie, being a less vibrant location than New York, had public spaces that allowed the residents to come together, socialize, and strengthen family ties. Both areas had public spaces that helped both the working-class women and the residents of Muncie grow together as different communities, which enhanced community participation and engagement.
The leisure habits of the working-class women in New York were also influenced by the class of each individual woman, an effect of their socioeconomic status. New York, being a vibrant city, had and still has many activities and businesses going on. Job opportunities helped working-class women understand their anatomy and participate in leisure activities despite the socioeconomic differences between them. When one has financial constraints, it is impossible for one to enjoy all the things that other people are having. Many young women considered earning as an essential aspect of transitioning from school to marriage. Job opportunities were different for the young women as a class, and social status was a key element when seeking suitable employment. Since the residents of Muncie had less than the working-class women, the class issue would have been disregarded as they all sought to strengthen their family bonds. The working-class women in New York diversified their employment paths depending on their socioeconomic status. Thus, it contributed greatly to these women’s leisure habits along the way.
Conclusion
The leisure habits of the working-class women in New York and the residents of Muncie were both similar and different. The rural setting of Muncie, Indiana, contributed a lot to the choices that the residents would partake in. On the other hand, the working-class women had the opportunity to choose from the vast selection they had. New York, being a vibrant city, helped the women expand on their employment life, giving them the opportunity to engage with people from different socioeconomic statuses. Women in New York began working at an early age, while the residents of Muncie prioritized family unity and community cohesion. Gender norms and work and family relations were also key factors that influenced leisure activities in New York and Muncie. The working women had to manage their time well and plan strategically to incorporate their leisure activities. Women could sit down in a coffee shop for hours as they discussed matters that could not be said back at their workstations.
Works Cited
Kathy Lee Peiss. 2008. Cheap Amusements: Working Women and Leisure in Turn-of-The-Century New York. Philadelphia: Temple Univ. Press, [Ca.
Robert Staughton Lynd, and Helen Lynd. 1929. Middletown: A Study in Modern American Culture. (New York: Harcourt, Brace Jovanovich, 1929).
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