Academic conferences: a female duo-ethnography

Abstract

Literature has identified a range of conference attendance motivations, including networking, professional development, and the venue/location of the conference. However, very few studies have examined delegate behaviour from a gender perspective, and studies focusing on the lived experience of conference delegates are extremely rare. This paper is guided by hermeneutic phenomenology and uses a duo-ethnographic approach to explore experiences of female academics attending tourism, hospitality, and events conferences. Findings suggest that there are particular issues for female delegates which have not arisen in previous studies. These include not only the importance of having strong female role models and the significance of fun and friendship, but also the prominent role of emotions, carer responsibilities, safety concerns, and harassment. The notion of the academic persona also emerged as a key part of the conference experience. Areas for future research are suggested and practical implications for conference organizers are also presented.