Intolerable intersectional burdens: a COVID-19 research agenda for social and cultural geographies

Abstract

This commentary outlines key social and cultural geographies highlighted by the current Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, which evidence important opportunities for geographers to contribute to i) understandings of life and death during the pandemic; ii) associated policy developments; and iii) new theoretical insights. The pandemic has surfaced previously obscured or ignored deathscapes and geographical inequalities. Social and cultural geographical research can make a difference to society by capitalising on the increased attention given to issues of social justice, health, mobilities, housing, employment practices and digital access engendered by the pandemic, as well as the value of mutual aid, and the role of the arts in society, to name but some. We underline a particularly urgent need for research on social groups that are experiencing the impacts of the pandemic acutely, especially those with multiple intersectional burdens.