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1980s. At an earlier time, the French Revolution
abolished the week and made every tenth day a
holiday, while Stalin attempted a cycle of four days
work and one day holiday. In Western consumer
societies today, flexible working arrangements,
agreed or imposed, are perhaps beginning to blur
the distinctive character of the traditional weekend
as it has evolved in the last hundred years.
See also: paid vacation
Further reading
Bailey, P. �1978) Leisure and Class in Victorian England,
London: Methuen. �Discussing the weekend
through a general study of Victorian leisure.)
Cunningham, H. �1990) `Leisure and culture', in
F.M.L. Thompson �ed.), The Cambridge Social
History of Britain 1750±1950, vol. 2, Cambridge:
Cambridge University Press, 279±339. �Traces
the weekend through an analysis of the working
week.)
Rybczynski, W. �1991) Waiting for the Weekend, New
York: Viking. �Presents a wide-ranging study of
the subject.)
wilderness
JOHN TOWNER, UK
According to the United States Wilderness Act of
1964, wilderness is an area where the earth and its
community of life are untrammelled by human
beings, where humans are temporary visitors who
do not remain. Such areas are to be forever free of
`permanent improvements' such as roads and built
structures. True wilderness areas must be large in
size, have low intensities of use and be free of the
trappings of civilisation.
Wilderness may be sought by some tourists,
particularly ecotourists, for the solitude, the
opportunity to commune with nature, and the
high-quality hiking experiences which can be
obtained there but, paradoxically, tourism is also a
threat to wilderness as such areas have low
carrying capacities and developments encroach
onto hitherto pristine areas. Many motorised
recreational activities, such as snowmobiling and
power boating, may be banned from wilderness
areas, so that they are towards the end of the
recreation opportunity spectrum providing
low-intensity use in relatively natural settings with
minimal signs of management. The value ascribed
to wilderness has increased over time as its supply
has been reduced and more people have come to
live in cities.
See also: parks
Further reading
Huth, H. �1957) Nature and the American:Three
Centuries of Changing Attitudes, Berkeley, CA:
University of California Press. �Chronicles the
growth of the conservation movement and the
protection of wild lands.)
Lime, D.R. �ed.) �1990) Managing America's Enduring
Wilderness Resource, St Paul, MN: Minnesota
Extension Service, University of Minnesota.
�Addresses many aspects of wilderness preservation,
use and management.)
Nash, R. �1967) Wilderness and the American Mind,
New Haven, CN: Yale University Press. �Examines
changing attitudes of Americans towards
wilderness.)
wildland recreation
GEOFFREY WALL, CANADA
This encompasses any recreational activity in
keeping with the principles of wilderness in
which humans are to be unobtrusive visitors who
draw little attention to their presence, and leave
little or no trace of their passing. These activities
may include primitive camping, hiking and
climbing, but would not involve any motorised
vehicles, permanent structures or alteration of the
landscape.
winery see vineyard
wildland recreation 627
TOM BROXON, USA