Class consciousness and the limits of leisure: a critical commentary on/from the United States

Evidence of differences in social class abound in society, and social class as a key demographic variable has been examined in the field of leisure studies sporadically for decades. However, little attention has been given to the role of class consciousness in leisure, and the concept certainly has not been explored in depth, nor has it been clearly connected to illustrative examples of the prevailing disparities and divides in society. Additionally, even with the establishment of descriptive examples of class distinctions and/or separation in society, there is further need for analytical development of how people might come to recognize these class differences, as evidenced through leisure, in a manner that may contribute to improving their overall quality of life and potential for class consciousness. The focus of this conceptual think-piece, then, was to consider the concept and application of class consciousness within the leisure literature and through the illustration of fictionalized vignettes.