This study focuses on the conditions and processes that strengthen social distinctions and symbolic boundaries in society. In order to fully grasp the conditions of these processes, it is not sufficient to simply study them as they are carried out on a daily basis. Therefore in this study firstly a general overview of the matter evaluated in the context of globalization. Although a variety of means are at work in constructing social distinctions and symbolic boundaries, in this study three of them have been taken up: leisure, consumption and space. In order to reveal the relationship between them and social distinctions, it examines two different leisure spaces: Laila and Kaktus.

[pt] No Brasil, 9,7 milhões de indivíduos são pessoas com deficiência auditiva em algum grau (IBGE, 2010). O ser surdo é uma característica que compõe a identidade da pessoa surda, sendo pela perspectiva cultural uma comunidade que tem uma única língua, códigos culturais diferentes dos da comunidade não surda, seus próprios eventos e conferências, e estruturas culturais e de lazer (LAMBEZ; NAGAR; SHOSHANI; NAKASH, 2020). A surdez não apresenta uma característica visual ou comportamental que a torne facilmente identificável, dependendo da comunicação direta para ser percebida. Na prática, o mercado acaba ignorando as necessidades específicas desse público, o que limita suas práticas de consumo. Além disso, escassos são os estudos que tenham como foco o consumo de surdos. Este trabalho teve por objetivo descrever as barreiras e limitações encontradas por duas famílias do Rio de Janeiro chefiadas por casais surdos em suas práticas de consumo de lazer, buscando identificar as escolhas de lazer realizadas, analisar essas práticas de consumo a partir de suas experiências e categorizá-las. Foram realizadas entrevistas em profundidade semiestruturadas com o suporte de um tradutor-intérprete de língua de sinais de LIBRAS-Português. A análise dos dados resultou na classificação dos interesses de lazer em categorias, como: intelectuais, físicos, turísticos e sociais. Observou-se a comunicação como componente da identidade surda relevante nas práticas e experiências de consumo e a necessidade de que políticas de acessibilidade sejam pensadas por indivíduos de cada tipo de deficiência para serem efetivas. Este trabalho contribui para a discussão de uma metodologia de estudos com pessoas surdas em Administração, bem como destaca a necessidade de estudos com surdos enquanto consumidores. / [en] In Brazil 9.7 million people have hearing impairment to some degree (IBGE, 2010). The deaf being is a characteristic that makes up the identity of a deaf person. From the cultural perspective, it s a community that has a unique language, different cultural codes from the hearing community, its own events and conferences, and cultural and leisure frameworks (LAMBEZ; NAGAR; SHOSHANI; NAKASH, 2020). Deafness does not have a visual or behavioral characteristic that makes it easily identifiable, as it depends on direct communication to be perceived. In practice, the market ignores the specific needs of this public which limits its consumption practices. In addition, there are few studies that focus on the consumption of deaf people. This work aimed to identify barriers and limitations faced by two families in Rio de Janeiro headed by deaf couples in their leisure practices, in order to identify how they make their leisure choices, to analyze these consumption practices from their experiences and to categorize them. Semi-structured in-depth interviews were conducted with the support of an interpreter of LIBRAS sign language to Portuguese. The analysis of the data resulted in the classification of leisure interests in categories, such as: intellectual, physical, tourist and social. Communication was observed as a relevant component of deaf identity in consumption practices and experiences and accessibility policies must be designed by disabled people of each sort of disability to become effective. This work contributes to the discussion of a methodology of studies with deaf people in Administration, as well as highlights the need for studies with deaf people as consumers.

This comparative study assessed the usefulness of the convergence thesis as a tool for understanding developments in leisure, recreation and sport in New Zealand and Malaysia. The study examined the interrelationship between 'global' and 'local' or 'contingent' factors and their impact upon leisure behaviour, leisure policy and leisure structures. 'Local' factors included institutional arrangements (notably political ones) and national cultural practices. A social history of New Zealand and Malaysia with particular reference to leisure, sport and recreation and national cultural practices was provided as a context for discussion of these issues. The study utilised a mixture of archival and library research and semi-structured interview, and was guided by an explicit comparative framework, concentrating on the development of leisure, sport and recreation in the two countries between 1970 and 2002. Interviews with 'key players' in both countries captured valuable data in the form of 'insiders' views' on leisure behaviour, policy and structure. These data were analysed with the relevance of the convergence thesis in mind. This study shows that contemporary leisure behaviour in New Zealand and Malaysia is shaped by the media and is highly commercialised, placing a high value on entertainment, and involves increasingly passive forms of participation. Informal sport and individualised recreational activities are replacing organised team-based sports in popularity. Leisure behaviour trends have led governments in both countries to encourage greater participation in sport and physical activity and to encourage private sector ventures into leisure-related products, services and infra-structures in the form of private-public partnerships. In terms of leisure policy, developments in leisure, recreation and, noticeably, sport, in Malaysia and New Zealand have been shaped by the wider agendas of the governing political parties. This is particularly noticeable at central government level. Individual political leaders in both countries have been influential in setting leisure-related policy. They had the vision to see that sport in particular might serve wider, national interests and that investments in sport could help raise the profiles of their countries in international markets and among trading organisations and the regulatory bodies that oversee trading practices. Malaysian and New Zealand governments seek to make leisure, sport and recreation policy supportive of other priorities. In Malaysia, the government legitimises its control over the policies which affect people's lives by appeals to Islamic principles and the need to put collective needs of nation building ahead of individual concerns for freedom. In terms of institutional, political, arrangements, this impacts at both central and local government levels in Malaysia. New Zealand, following a pluralist, Westminster, tradition of political representation, experiences regular changes in political management at central government level and a system of local government whereby local autonomy is jealously protected. Malaysia has resisted 'the global', by virtue of the nation-building policies of the Barisan Nasional, which has been in power since 1957. New Zealand's 'resistance' stems in part at least from the autonomy which local government enjoys. These experiences demonstrate that resistance to 'global' change can take varied forms at the 'local', contingent, level (Thorns, 1992). Differences in leisure structures reflect, once again, different agendas stemming from different political arrangements. The Malaysian government's approach is multi-Ministry, and micro-managed. In New Zealand, a 'hands off' approach via a quasi-autonomous non-government organisation (‘Quango'), became the favoured means of structuring central government leisure provision in the 1980s and 1990s. This was with a view to encouraging stability and consistency in leisure policy and provision in a pluralistic political system. Overall, and 'cautiously', this study provided support for the convergence thesis as a way to explain development in leisure, recreation and sport in New Zealand and Malaysia over the past 32 years. Although institutional arrangements and national cultural practices have provided some resistance to convergence processes, changing consumer sentiments may weaken such resistance in future.