Abstract
Using the work of Freysinger (1995), Deci and Ryan (1985, 2000), and Stebbins (2007) as sensitizing concepts, we use analytic inductive methods to analyze interview data from twenty-six women who had experience as private pilots. Emergent from our data were themes showing that differences in motivations to learn to pilot were correlated with differing social benefits derived from flying. Moreover, our respondents discussed several personal and social benefits beyond durable serious leisure benefits. This exploratory study provides insight into women’s significant investment of time, money, and effort in a male-dominated leisure activity and suggests that women’s motivations for entering into serious leisure may differ from those of men and that when they do, the social benefits they derive vary as well. It suggests the need to revise motivation theories in light of the contextual and fluid nature of factors that prompt people to engage in leisure activities.
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