When leisure turns to fear: fear, mobility, and ethno-sectarianism in Belfast
Authors: Bairner A.1; Shirlow P.2
Source: Leisure Studies, Volume 22, Number 3, July 2003 , pp. 203-221(19)
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Abstract:
There has been a considerable amount of academic discussion of the type of constraints that influence the non-use of leisure facilities. These analyses have taken into consideration such factors as gender, social class, age and mobility. At least some of these include the fear of entering certain spaces as an additional constraint. This paper reveals that in Belfast, fear, which may be based either on personal experience or on imaginary scenarios that result from rumour and innuendo, is a major factor that deters people from using accessible leisure facilities. The paper contains extensive qualitative material that underlines this point. The authors argue that, despite an ongoing peace process, the sectarianization of place has a massive impact on the use of leisure facilities and recommend that fear should be more often taken into account when constraints on leisure participation are discussed.Document Type: Research article
DOI: 10.1080/026143603200075470
Affiliations: 1: University of Ulster at Jordanstown, Newtownabbey, Co Antrim BT37 OB, UK 2: University of Ulster at Coleraine, Coleraine, Co. Londonderry BT52 1SA, UK
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