Beyond marginalisation: cultivating care by leaning into the voices of young advocates

ABSTRACT

The aim of our analysis is to give voice to young change agents in tourism host communities. Drawing on a braided narrative analysis, we present the narratives of three young people engaged in advocacy work in three different countries. Our analysis is emergent from research with rather than on young people across three countries on three different continents (Canada, Australia, and Scotland). Our analysis explores the nexus between two foundational theories we use as a lens for understanding the narratives shared by our informants, including a feminist ethic of care and ‘childist’ ontological understanding of children as moral agents capable of ethical decision-making and drivers of change. Our braided narrative analysis unearths themes in relation to the work of our informants based on the past, present, and future, including recognising problems in the system; leading and activating change; and young people demonstrating courage, calling for inclusion, and confronting barriers. We conclude with a discussion on the practical implications of our work to intentionally include, make space for, normalise, and compensate the work of young people.

KEYWORDS:

• Young people
• feminist ethic of care
• childism
• sustainable development goals
• tourism
• social change

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Karla A. Boluk

Karla A. Boluk, Ph.D., is an Associate Professor in the Department of Recreation and Leisure Studies at the University of Waterloo. Guided by a social justice paradigm the broad goals of her research programme are to examine the impacts of tourism social entrepreneurs. Her work has critiqued the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), as well as considered the global framework as a mechanism to improve our understanding of how tourism may operate more responsibly.

Antonia Canosa

Antonia Canosa, Ph.D. is a Social Anthropologist and Research Fellow at the Centre for Children and Young People, Southern Cross University, Australia. Antonia’s work focuses on children’s rights, participation, and well-being in the context of tourism. She also researches in the areas of identity, belonging, ethical research and youth cultures. Antonia’s research has been published widely in highly ranked international journals and presented at national and international conferences.

Sandro Carnicelli

Sandro Carnicelli, Ph.D., is a Senior Lecturer at the University of the West of Scotland and the Unit Leader for the Marketing, Events and Tourism group. Sandro has contributed to scholarly works in the fields of tourism and events for over 15 years and his main research interests are tourism education; critical pedagogy; adventure tourism; emotional labour; and outdoor learning. Sandro is currently a member of the editorial board of Leisure Studies and Associate Editor of the Journal of Adventure Education and Outdoor Learning.