Playing with motherhood: The politics of leisure and the transition to motherhood in Montreal and Toronto

Authors

  • Stephanie Paterson Concordia University Department of Political Science Faculty of Arts and Science Hall Building H-1225-45 1455 de Maisonneuve Blvd. West Montreal, QC, H3G 1M8
  • Dawn Trussell Brock University
  • Shannon Hebblethwaite Concordia University
  • Meredith Evans Concordia University
  • Trisha Xing Brock University

Keywords:

motherhood, feminist policy studies, social policy, leisure policy

Abstract

The paper applies feminist policy analysis to investigate the ways in which leisure is represented in the policy frameworks facing new mothers in Toronto and Montreal. We argue that despite considerable policy gains, the role of leisure as a mechanism of wellbeing has been neglected in social policy discussions. In particular, we demonstrate that leisure is represented in ways that discursively align with broader political goals, thus muting its potential to transform social relations.

  

Jouer avec la maternité: Les enjeux politiques du loisir et la transition à la maternité à Montréal et à Toronto.

 Résumé

Cet article utilise une analyse féministe de politique sociale pour explorer les différentes façons par lesquelles le loisir est représenté dans les structures des politiques auxquelles les nouvelles mères font face à Toronto et à Montréal. Nous proposons que malgré des gains majeurs en politiques, le rôle du loisir en tant que mécanisme de bien-être demeure négligé dans les discussions de politiques sociales.  En particulier, nous démontrons que le loisir est représenté de façon à s’aligner discursivement avec des buts politiques plus larges, ce qui a pour résultat de mettre en sourdine son potentiel pour transformer les relations sociales.

 Mots Clefs: maternité; analyse féministe de politique sociale; politique sociale; politiques du loisir

Author Biographies

Dawn Trussell, Brock University

Assistant Professor, Department of Recreation and Leisure Studies

Shannon Hebblethwaite, Concordia University

Associate Professor, Department of Applied Human Sciences

Meredith Evans, Concordia University

MA, Public Policy and Public Administration

Trisha Xing, Brock University

PhD Candidate, Department of Recreation and Leisure Studies

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Published

2016-04-24

How to Cite

Paterson, S., Trussell, D., Hebblethwaite, S., Evans, M., & Xing, T. (2016). Playing with motherhood: The politics of leisure and the transition to motherhood in Montreal and Toronto. Canadian Review of Social Policy Revue Canadienne De Politique Sociale, (74). Retrieved from https://crsp.journals.yorku.ca/index.php/crsp/article/view/40239

Issue

No. 74 (2016)

Section

Articles

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