Contribution long abstract:

Some years ago, I attempted to locate ‘diverse’ (e.g. ethnic minority, queer, working class) folklorists in the UK, both historically and currently. I found this endeavour difficult, almost fruitless. Where were these folklorists, and what did this apparent lack of diversity mean for the kind of folklore that was being explored and celebrated in the UK, or how folklore is more broadly perceived? I consider these questions and their potential impact on folklore studies, reflecting on more recent discussions in the Folklore Without Borders network, particularly in the potential development of a UK equivalent to the American Folklore Society’s ‘Notable Folklorists of Color’.