LGBTQ+ Labour Geographies in Antarctica: A Research Agenda

Tourism in Antarctica is experiencing significant growth, with a record-breaking 105,331 visitors during the 2022-23 season. Workers on cruise and expedition ships serving these tourists often live on board for several months, creating challenges for LGBTQ+ staff who must decide whether to disclose their sexual and/or gender identities. This working paper proposes a research agenda aimed at exploring how LGBTQ+ workers navigate their identities using concepts of organisational socialisation and sensemaking. The overall project seeks to shed light on labour geographies in remote environments, particularly the experiences of LGBTQ+ tourism workers. The study will employ qualitative methods and snowball sampling to recruit participants and address a significant gap in understanding LGBTQ+ experiences in remote tourism settings. Ultimately, the research aims to contribute to inclusivity and diversity in such contexts. Preliminary data is expected to be available by CAUTHE 2024.