Abstract
This chapter explores the metamorphosis of outdoorswomen’s identity when becoming mothers. Using a feminist lens, informal interviews, and anecdotal circles, the chapter focuses on women who have been in the outdoor industry and their transition within or out of jobs and lifestyles that include adventure, risk, and time in remote settings. Primary and secondary sources inform the research. Whilst the author’s positionality fits squarely in heteronormative paradigms, this chapter may appeal to single and married women, both lesbian and straight. Using the voices of the mothers themselves, three aspects of identity are explored: physical fitness, independence, and adventure. This chapter celebrates the positive learnings that emanate from sometimes challenging transitions.
Access this chapter
Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout
Purchases are for personal use only
Similar content being viewed by others
Notes
- 1.
Participant quotations are italicized.
- 2.
Participant quotations are italicized.
References
Audet, L., Miller, J. C., & Appelbaum, S. (2003). Gender and leadership? Leadership and gender? A journey through the landscape of theories. Leadership & Organization Development Journal, 43–51. https://doi.org/10.1108/01437730310457320
Bialeschki, M. D., & Michener, S. (1994). Re-entering leisure: Transition within the role of motherhood. Journal of Leisure Research, 26(1), 57–74.
Bureau of Labor Statistics. (2008). Married parents use of time survey. Retrieved from http://www.bls.gov/news.release/atus2.nr0.htm
Eagly, A. H., & Carli, L. L. (2007). Women and the labyrinth of leadership. Harvard Business Review, 85(9), 62.
Gilchrist, P. (2007). “Motherhood, ambition and risk”: Mediating the sporting hero/ine in conservative Britain. Media, Culture & Society, 29(3), 395–414. https://doi.org/10.1177/0163443707076182
Gilligan, C. (1982). In a different voice (2nd ed.). Cambridge, MA: Harvard University Press.
Little, D. E. (2002). Women and adventure recreation: Reconstructing leisure constraints and adventure experiences to negotiate continuing participation. Journal of Leisure Research, 34(2), 157. Retrieved from http://search.proquest.com/openview/93835d13ae68985f5800ec263a8d1b96/1?pq-origsite=gscholar
Loder, V. (2014). Why American mothers have less leisure time and find ourselves overwhelmed and exhausted. Retrieved from http://www.huffingtonpost.com/vanessa-loder/why-american-mothers-have_b_5630825.html
Lofquist, D. (2011). Same-sex couple households. Washington, DC: U.S. Dept. of Commerce, Economics and Statistics Administration, U.S. Census Bureau. Retrieved from http://purl.fdlp.gov/GPO/gpo18497
Maushart, S. (1997). The mask of motherhood: How mothering changes everything and why we pretend it doesn’t. Milsons Point, NSW, Australia: Random House.
Mitten, D., Warren, K., Lotz, E., & d’Amore, C. (2012). The hidden curriculum in adventure education: A Delphi study. In Proceedings of the 2012 symposium on experiential education research (pp. 37–40). Madison, WI: AEE.
Noddings, N. (2009). Caring (2nd ed.). Berkeley, CA: University of California Press.
Taylor, S. E. (2006). Tend and befriend: Biobehavioral bases of affiliation under stress. Current Directions in Psychological Science, 15(6), 273–277. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1467-8721.2006.00451.x
Wade, N. (2005, August 2). Your body is younger than you think. New York Times. Retrieved from http://www.nytimes.com/2005/08/02/science/your-body-is-younger-than-you-think.html?_r=0
Wittmer, C. R. (2001). Leadership and gender-role congruency: A guide for wilderness practitioners. Journal of Experiential Education, 24(3), 173–178. https://doi.org/10.1177/105382590102400308
Wolf, N. (2003). Misconceptions: Truth, lies, and the unexpected on the journey to motherhood (15th ed.). USA: Anchor. Retrieved from http://catalog.hathitrust.org/Record/004202846
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Editor information
Editors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
Copyright information
© 2018 The Author(s)
About this chapter
Cite this chapter
Lotz, E. (2018). The Rebuilding of an Outdoor Identity. In: Gray, T., Mitten, D. (eds) The Palgrave International Handbook of Women and Outdoor Learning. Palgrave Studies in Gender and Education. Palgrave Macmillan, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-53550-0_25
Download citation
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-53550-0_25
Published:
Publisher Name: Palgrave Macmillan, Cham
Print ISBN: 978-3-319-53549-4
Online ISBN: 978-3-319-53550-0
eBook Packages: EducationEducation (R0)