Work, Family and Leisure

 Jennifer Burton

Geog. 101

3/30/2021

Response paper #7

Work, Family and Leisure

In the article "Work and Leisure in Everyday Life” by Henri Lefebvre, Lefebvre talks about the global structure of every day family life, work, and leisure. In the middle ages, people lived where they worked. There was no differentiation between work life and family life; they were the same. They did not have leisure time or time to find their individuality.  In the age of industrialization with capitalism, people no longer lived and worked at home. The separation between work and home became something that was very important for psychological health.  Working in the factories, or working for someone else, indirectly or directly, was not something that was often enjoyed; it was something that had to be done so that families could have their needs met. Lefebvre compares this to people becoming alienated from life or disconnected with life. 

People were in need of a way to step away from the alienation of work. People needed something that helped them feel relaxed, calm, and able to express themselves.  Leisure gives people an opportunity to feel they have freedom, they can express themselves in their own way with out feeling the anxiety or frustration that often comes from going to work. Many people used their leisure time to distract themselves from their hardships and to replace life with a happier illusion. According to Lefebvre, the people that use illusions as a way to get away from life often fall right back into dissatisfaction with life. The people that learn a new skill or get out in nature tend to feel more satisfied with life. They are able to stay present, feel their senses, and learn about themselves.

Everyday life is filled with work, family and leisure. All are very important part of everyday life. Work is important for survival, family is important for support, and leisure is important for people learning about themselves so that they can be more present for work and family.