The Playful Self

Why women need play in their lives

All work and no play makes Jack a dull boy - but what about Jill? While women slowly achieve equal rights in the working world, women’s play continues to be seen as frivolous, self-indulgent and non-essential. With the triple load of paid employment, child-care and housework, women are increasingly losing touch with their playful selves and paying a heavy price as a result.

Offering a radical new perspective on contemporary feminism and the causes of sexual inequality, Rebecca Abrams argues in The Playful Self that play constitutes a crucial and consistently overlooked aspect of women’s lives, and that like the right to work, the right to play is not something we can afford to ignore.

“Play adorns life, amplifies it, and is to that extent a necessity both for the individual and for society.”

JOHAN HUIZINGA, Homo Ludens