Carnival for one day: how holiday leisure contributes to an intersectional ‘we’

Foreign domestic helpers’ leisure experiences on holidays are attracting growing attention in academia. However, little research has examined how leisure practices contribute to the evolution of social identities from an intersectional perspective. Adopting an ethnographic method, this study explores this topic through participant observation, semi-structured interviews, and secondary data analysis. Findings centre around a trio of relational themes–seeking a sense of belonging, self-categorizing, and self-representing–that reveal how holiday leisure practices inform foreign domestic helpers’ identification of themselves and others in Hong Kong. A comprehensive understanding of marginalised groups’ travel choices and experiences is provided along with a glimpse into potential extensions of social identity and self-representation. Practical implications for the government and destination managers are also offered.