Beach, Please - Exploring Black Women’s Lived Outdoor Recreation Experiences

Oct 28, 2026

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Minimal leisure research often excludes Black women, and even fewer studies focus on outdoor recreation among active participants. This study examines Black women’s lived outdoor recreation experiences in their own words, using convenience sampling of women employed at a U.S. Southeast university who frequent Florida Panhandle beach areas. Findings address motivations, barriers, stereotypes, and how leisure connects to health, well-being, and pleasure intertwined with work.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryResearch & Report

FormatPDF

Pages18

Reading Time45 min

AccessFree to download

Introduction

History of Beachin’ in Florida

International Journal of the Sociology of Leisure (2023) 6:349–366 [https://doi.org/10.1007/s41978-023-00145-x](https://doi.org/10.1007/s41978-023-00145-x) ORIGINAL PAPER Beach, Please: Exploring Black Women’s Lived Outdoor Recreation Experiences Kristine M. Fleming1 · Milanika S. Turner2 Received: 30 January 2023 / Accepted: 9 October 2023 / Published online: 2 November 2023 © The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Nature Switzerland AG 2023 Abstract Minimal leisure research focuses exclusively on Black women, with even fewer studies examining outdoor recreation experiences among active participants. The purpose of this study was to explore the outdoor recreation experiences of Black women in their own words. Convenience sampling was used to recruit Black women employed at a university located in the U.S. Southeast who have frequented beach areas along the Florida Panhandle. Questions asked related to recreation experiences, including the motivation and barriers to visiting beach areas, participation in leisure activities, and history of their first beach visit. Motivation for visiting beaches included social or solo traditions, informal self-care retreats to disengage and reflect through writing and meditation, and access to local amenities. Barriers to visiting coastal beaches ranged from work and personal life commitments, lack of discretionary funds, and safety concerns from the fear of being a Black woman traveling alone or through segregated areas. In addition, this study addressed stereotypes of leisure experiences among Black women that included hair care and recreating in spaces typically occupied by non-Black beachgoers. The importance of Black women’s leisure surfaced as a theme as respondents connected beach recreation to overall health, well-being, and the idea of pleasure being intertwined with work rather than being separate or in conflict with their leisure time. Using a Black feminist standpoint, the stories Black women tell about themselves in leisure are a rich resource to provide insight into this topic. Keywords Intersectionality · Ethnicity · Outdoor Recreation · Beaches · Leisure * Kristine M. Fleming [kristine.fleming@famu.edu](kristine.fleming@famu.edu) 1 Department of Health, Physical Education and Recreation, Florida A&M University, Tallahassee, FL, USA 2 Department of Sociology & Criminal Justice, Clark Atlanta University, Atlanta, GA, USA 1 Introduction Leisure is an essential aspect of life that can have numerous benefits for physical and mental health, social connection, personal growth, and community building; however, leisure is also shaped by social and cultural factors that may impact the experiences of different groups. Previous research has shed light on the perceptions of outdoor recreation among Blacks (Dorwart et al., 2019 ; Erickson et al., 2009 ; Lee & Scott, 2016 ; Lee et al., 2022), but is limited in sharing the experiences of people who frequent outdoor recreation areas (Davis, 2019) . This study aimed to explore the leisure experiences of Black women, a group that has been underrepresented and overlooked in research on leisure. By examining Black women’s leisure behaviors, motivations, and barriers, this study sheds light on how race, gender, and other identities intersect to shape leisure experiences and contribute to the broader field of leisure sociology. 1.1 History of Beachin’ in Florida Throughout the United States, a number of historically segregated areas were established to allow African Americans a separate opportunity for leisure and recreation experiences. Extreme efforts, such as intimidation and violence, were used along with formal policies and practices by White Americans to segregate African Americans from shared leisure experiences until the middle of the 20th Century. African American beaches, fish camps, and resorts were established for leisure and recreation (Jackson, 2020) . Several parks along the coastal shores

FAQs

What was the purpose of the study?

To explore the outdoor recreation experiences of Black women in their own words, including motivations, barriers, leisure participation, and the history of their first beach visit.

How were participants recruited?

Convenience sampling recruited Black women employed at a university in the U.S. Southeast who had frequented beach areas along the Florida Panhandle.

What barriers did participants describe for visiting coastal beaches?

Barriers included work and personal life commitments, lack of discretionary funds, and safety concerns related to fear of traveling alone or through segregated areas as a Black woman.

How did the study interpret the role of leisure and well-being?

It connected Black women’s leisure to overall health and well-being, emphasizing that pleasure is intertwined with work rather than separate or in conflict with leisure time.

Oct 28, 2026

Upload by Sarah