Military mothering, responsibility, and children’s outdoor risky play: “I do not want my children to be afraid to try things”
Research Report:
Research SummaryAPA Citation:
Bauer, M. E. E., Giles, A. R., & Brussoni, M. (2023). Military mothering, responsibility, and children’s outdoor risky play: “I do not want my children to be afraid to try things.” Journal of Leisure Research, 54(3), 337-353. https://doi.org/10.1080/00222216.2022.2119115
Abstract Created by REACH:
Outdoor play offers children the opportunity to take healthy risks. In this study, outdoor risky play was defined as engaging in play on or around challenging structures, at high speeds or heights, or around dangerous elements (e.g., roadways). 16 Canadian military mothers with children aged 4–12 participated in semistructured interviews about outdoor risky play and how their military affiliation influenced their perceptions. Overall, military mothers felt responsible for their children’s safety during outdoor risky play but felt supported within the military community in resisting the societal pressure to restrict this type of play.
Focus:
Parents
Children
Branch of Service:
International Military
Multiple branches
Military Affiliation:
Active Duty
Subject Affiliation:
Spouse of service member or veteran
Population:
Childhood (birth - 12 yrs)
Preschool age (2 -5 yrs)
School age (6 - 12 yrs)
Adulthood (18 yrs & older)
Thirties (30 - 39 yrs)
Middle age (40 - 64 yrs)
Methodology:
Qualitative Study
Cross sectional study
Authors:
Bauer, Michelle Emma Eileen, Giles, Audrey R., Brussoni, Mariana
Abstract:
Mothers more than fathers are discursively produced as responsible for children’s safety. Wives of members in combat arms occupations in the military may have feelings of responsibility for their children’s safety that are shaped through their involvement in military culture. In this research, we examined the feelings of responsibility mothers partnered with members in combat arms occupations have for their children’s safety during outdoor risky play. We conducted semi-structured interviews with 16 mothers and used poststructural feminist theory and feminist methodologies. Our findings indicate military mothers feel responsible for their children’s safety during outdoor risky play, but they resist societal pressures to restrict it. Some of the mothers believed there is an increased pressure on women more than men to provide care for their children, and some expressed that being part of a military culture shaped their feelings of responsibility.
Publisher/Sponsoring Organization:
Taylor & Francis
Publication Type:
Article
REACH Publication
Author Affiliation:
Department of Pediatrics, Faculty of Medicine, University of British Columbia, MEEB
School of Human Kinetics, University of Ottawa, ARG
Department of Pediatrics, School of Population and Public Health, British Columbia Children’s Hospital Research Institute, University of British Columbia, MB
Keywords:
risky play, mothers, outdoor play
REACH Publication Type:
Research Summary
Sponsors:
This research was supported through the Department of National Defense’s Military Family Services. This work was further supported through the first author’s receipt of a doctoral award by the Social Science and Humanities Research Council of Canada under award [#752-2020-2576]; and by the first author’s receipt of an Ontario Graduate Scholarship under award [#010-027-650]. The third author is supported by a salary award from the British Columbia Children’s Hospital Research Institute.
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