Towards Queering the Business School: A Research Agenda for Advancing Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Trans Perspectives and Issues

Abstract

This article draws on queer theory to advance a research agenda that foregrounds lesbian, gay, bi and trans (LGBT) perspectives and issues as one means by which business schools can be made queer(er) institutions to work. As such, this article employs a process of queering to expose how LGBT people experience and negotiate the heteronormativity within business schools. A queering approach is encouraged to generate research on LGBT sexualities that can reveal instances of queerness within business schools, with the aim of helping LGBT people and their allies to foster alternative ways of relating, identifying and organizing that transcend heteronormativity. As such, the research agenda elaborates on the importance of the following: problematizing organizational heteronormativity; queering organizational and management knowledge; and the role of straight and queer allies. This article concludes by speculating about the implications of a queer(er) business school for LGBT people and their allies.

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