What's the Mom Equivalent of Golf?
Why is it so easy for dads to block off hours for golf while moms struggle to claim leisure time? We explore the parenting “leisure gap,” mom guilt, friendship, hobbies, and how mothers can reclaim meaningful time for themselves.
Why does it seem so much easier for men to claim large blocks of leisure time for themselves than it is for women? This week, based on a listener question, we are asking: What is the mom equivalent of golf?
We unpack the “leisure time gender gap,” why women’s downtime is often treated as optional, and how motherhood changes the way we think about rest, hobbies, and friendship.
We discuss:
- Why golf has become a uniquely protected, and male-coded, form of leisure
- How parenting young children turns leisure into a zero-sum game
- Practical ideas from listeners for creating more intentional leisure time which includes connection with friends
Here are links to some of the resources mentioned in the episode:
- Katie Garrity for Scary Mommy: Is There A Women's Hobby Equivalent To Men's Golfing Habits?
- Bruce Drake for Pew Research Center: Another Gender Gap: Men Spend More Time in Leisure Activities
- Carolina Aragão for Pew Research Center: Working husbands in U.S. have more leisure time than working wives do, especially among those with children
- Check out the whole thread of excellent ideas in our Facebook group!
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