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ABI - Empirical Intersectionality in Minority Contexts

In Europe, intersectional approaches within minority studies are still rare. In particular, there are very few empirical intersectional analyses on and of the real-life experiences of minority women, queer individuals and gender identities as recently evidenced by research commissioned by the OSCE High Commissioner on National Minorities. While some Europe-based International Organizations (IOs), international NGOs and research centres have started to introduce intersectionality and intersectional approaches in their activities, intersectional research in Europe has so far focused mainly on systems of power and resistance and on migrant women only.

Applying an intersectional lens remains most challenging but fundamental to capture the matrixes of social inequalities and discriminations that also minority members (particularly, women and queer individuals) may face when they find themselves at the nexuses of, e.g., gender, ethnicity, race, class, disability and gender-based violence. Indeed, the need to foster intersectional approaches and analyses is (re)gaining academic attention, also -paradoxically- thanks to the rising of anti-gender movements and of extreme rightwing parties that aim to make invisible those matrixes and structures of oppressions that intersectionality precisely aims to unveil.

In this frame, this project tackles empirical intersectional analyses on minority women and queer individuals at local, national and international level with a geographical focus on minority regions in Europe.

Detailed project description

In particular, this project builds upon previous IMR projects such as “The Intersection of Gender and Ethnicity in Socioeconomic Participation in South Tyrol and Catalonia in Post-Pandemic Times (InGEPaST)”. At the same time, it pursues further funding opportunities.

In this frame, it aims to address the following research questions:

How intersectional discrimination may be framed and applied in minority studies?
How do crucial social factors (e.g., disability, class, race/ethnicity, gender-based violence) affect women and queer minority members socioeconomic participation (e.g., gender gap)?
How queer individuals with a migratory background cope with their cultures and identity within a minority substate unit?

Methodology-wise, it aims to combine qualitative legal and social sciences research methods. Inter alia, it aims to pursue a critical participatory action research approach, that is, the type of research that is critical of social processes, looks for improvements, and involves participants since the project’s design and in all its stages (Robson & McCartan 2016: 199-201; Letherby 2020: 73).

By building upon the theory of intersectionality (Crenshaw 1989 and 1991; Collins 1990) that allows to explore how different factors operate and shape multiple forms of social inequalities, EncloSe adheres to the “paradigm intersectionality approach” proposed by Hancock (2019: 118) to empirically analyze the complex causalities of specific social inequalities and, at the same time, suggest ideas to transform the legal institutions.

In conclusion, this project tackles empirical intersectional analyses on minority women and queer individuals at local, national and international level with a geographical focus on minority regions in Europe (e.g., South Tyrol, Catalonia). It thus contributes to widen the application of intersectionality as a theory and as a methodology in minority studies.

In this frame, it also serves as a socio-legal research vehicle to assess and promote the local application of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) nos. 5 (gender equality), 8 (decent work and economic growth), 10 (reduced inequalities), and 16 (peace, justice and strong institutions) and of the three principles of universal values (human rights-based approach; leave no one behind; gender equality and women’s empowerment).

Main outputs 2025:

Tomaselli A (2025) Intersectional analysis of gender employment gaps in multilingual wealthy regions, Cogent Social Sciences, 11(1). https://doi.org/10.1080/23311886.2025.2505127

Tomaselli A, Merino-Sancho V, eds. (2025) Excluded Spaces: The Impact of Gender-Based Violence on Diverse Expressions / Espacios Excluidos: El Impacto de la Violencia de Género en las Expresiones Diversas, Bozen Bolzano: Eurac Research, https://doi.org/10.57749/PS8Q-3F33

Tomaselli A (2025) What Hinders (an Effective) Socioeconomic Participation of Minority Women?: An Intersectional Analysis on South Tyrol and Catalonia, in Budabin A et al., eds., Minority Women, Rights, and Intersectionality: Agency, Power, and Participation, Routledge.

Tomaselli A (2025) Intersectional Insights into Socioeconomic Participation of Minority Women and Youth in Europe, Conference: ECMI Workshop| “Intersectional perspectives on the socio-economic participation of minorities” | Flensburg: 6.6.2025 - 6.6.2025

Tomaselli A (2025) Gender equality at work: from data to gender harmony (workshop), Conference: We4DRR annual network event | Bolzano | 8.4.2025 - 9.4.2025

Planned activities 2026:

Knowledge exploitation and new analyses of former projects' data

Conference papers and presentations

Scientific articles

Preparation of project proposals

Within the SERIGO HE project, further knowledge exploitation and publications

Research within initiative URV Ecofeminist perspectives for a just eco-social transition, decolonial proposals for the sustainability of life and territories

Collaboration with CCT Adaptation project for application of intersectional approach

References:

Crenshaw K. (1989) Demarginalizing the intersection of race and sex: A black feminist critique of antidiscrimination doctrine, feminist theory and antiracist politics. The University of Chicago Legal Forum, 140, 139-167.

Crenshaw K. (1991) Mapping the margins: Intersectionality, identity politics, and violence against women of color. Stanford Law Review, 43(6), 1241-1279.

Hancock A. (2019). Empirical Intersectionality: A Tale of Two Approaches. In O. Hankivsky & J. S. Jordan-Zachery (eds.) The Palgrave Handbook of Intersectionality in Public Policy (95-132). Palgrave-MacMillan.

Letherby G. (2020) Gender-sensitive method/ologies. In D. Richardson & V. Robinson (eds.) Introducing Gender and Women Studies (58-75). Red Globe Press-Macmillan.

Robson C. & McCartan K. (2016) Real World Research. Wiley, fourth edition.

Project duration: January 2024 - December 2026
Project status:
Funding:
Internal funding EURAC (Project)
Institute: Institute for Minority Rights

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Scientific Publications

Edited book2025

Excluded Spaces: The Impact of Gender-Based Violence on Diverse Expressions / Espacios Excluidos: El Impacto de la Violencia de Género en las Expresiones Diversas

Tomaselli A, Merino-Sancho V

Alexandra Tomaselli

Gender-based violence (GBV) is a ubiquitous phenomenon that affects all our societies in vicious forms. With this edited collection we aim to contribute to the knowledge gap on GBV by bringing cases from Italy, Spain and India on four under-researched dimensions: GBV against disabled minors, trans people, and Dalit women. This helps to understand the dynamics of GBV when the victims are not only adult women, that at least are captured by statistics, but also most invisible peoples that find themselves at the vicious intersection of gender and other axes such as disability, sexual identity and ethnicity.

La violencia de género (VG) es un fenómeno omnipresente que afecta a todas nuestras sociedades de formas brutales. Con esta colección editada, pretendemos contribuir a la brecha de conocimiento sobre la VG presentando casos de Italia, España e India sobre cuatro dimensiones poco investigadas: VG contra menores con discapacidad, personas trans y mujeres dalit. Esto ayuda a comprender la dinámica de la VG cuando las víctimas no son solo mujeres adultas, que al menos aparecen en las estadísticas, sino también las personas más invisibles que se encuentran en la virulenta intersección del género y otros ejes como la discapacidad, la identidad sexual y la etnia.

DOI Source

DOI: 10.57749/PS8Q-3F33

Journal article2025

Intersectional analysis of gender employment gaps in multilingual wealthy regions

Tomaselli A

Alexandra Tomaselli

The gender employment gap is a widespread reality, albeit with significant differences between the Global North and South. In Europe, the World Economic Forum, in 2024, has predicted this gap may close in 134 years. Eurostat and the Gender Equality Index show that since 2010 gender equality in labour has been progressing slowly. National statistics show that some states perform better (e.g. Spain) than others (e.g. Italy). Substate statistics may show reverse situations in wealthy regions (e.g. Catalonia and South Tyrol). Although statistics have begun adopting an intersectional approach regarding, e.g. age, origins, and disability, they offer a limited picture. Moreover, statistics are stuck in the binary division of sex assigned at birth without considering the growing (i.e. more visible) nonbinary population. Hence, they conceal that part of the gender gap that refers to LGBTQIA+ individuals. In this frame, this article uses an intersectional lens to explore how gender, ethnicity, race, and other social drivers and external factors impact the gender employment gap even in wealthy regions with low unemployment rates. Simultaneously, it suggests expanding the understanding of the gender employment gap by including the perspective of LGBTQIA+ individuals, who, like women, remain among those sectors of society that are underrepresented in the labour market. This research ultimately contributes to the understanding of how a wide array of social drivers and external factors may eventually feed the gender employment gap into a vicious circle by considering factors, such as antigypsyism or gender-based violence, that are usually dealt with separately.

DOI Source

DOI: 10.1080/23311886.2025.2505127

Inbook2025

Introduction to Excluded Spaces: The Impact of Gender-Based Violence on Diverse Expressions

Tomaselli A, Merino-Sancho V

Alexandra Tomaselli

The multifaceted nature of gender-based violence (GBV) is compounded by intersecting social categories
and demands a nuanced and inclusive approach to capture the diverse experiences of all individuals
affected. As the authors of this collection flag, research must navigate personal, familial, societal, and
professional barriers, which complicate the identification and reporting of violence. Moreover, shifting
public perceptions and the rise of anti-gender movements further strain efforts to address GBV
comprehensively. Thus, while strides have been made, there is a pressing need for continued dedication
to expanding the scope and depth of GBV research, ensuring that all voices, particularly those of the
most marginalized, are heard and protected.

DOI

DOI: 10.57749/PS8Q-3F33

Inbook2025

What Hinders (an Effective) Socioeconomic Participation of Minority Women?: An Intersectional Analysis on South Tyrol and Catalonia

Tomaselli A

Alexandra Tomaselli

In October 2023, the OSCE High Commissioner on National Minorities adopted its tenth set of Recommendations specifically focusing on the Effective Participation of National Minorities in Social and Economic Life. The obligation upon state parties to enhance socioeconomic participation of minority members is also enshrined in article 15 of the Framework Convention on National Minorities. This article, however, and the literature related to it, has mainly focused on one of the other key dimensions of minority participation, namely the political aspect. Although this remains crucial, socioeconomic studies on minorities are rare, even more with regard to minority women.

Focusing on socioeconomic participation as access to work, education and social and public services, this chapter explores the difficulties that minority women face in this field through an intersectional approach. It builds upon recent empirical data on two of the wealthiest (minority) regions in Europe, namely South Tyrol (Italy) and Catalonia (Spain), both of which register low unemployment rates and good rates of women workers.

Despite minority women’s participation may seem high in numbers, this chapter shows how underlining assumptions on minority and on women ultimately intersect and have a negative impact upon them. Also, it points at unveiling how the intersection with other social drivers and conditions (e.g., age, disability, gender-based violence) eventually hinder an effective socioeconomic participation of minority women.

DOI Source

DOI: 10.4324/9781003510161-12

All Publications

Dati su disparità Uomo-Donna in Alto Adige / Daten zur Geschlechterungleichheit in Südtirol
Tomaselli A (2026)
Presentation/Speech

Conference: Seduta del Consiglio comunale 05.03.2026 Sitzung des Gemeinderates | Bolzano-Bozen | 5.3.2026 - 5.3.2026

More information: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7hlfE_Fd-_Y

Vivere disuguaglianze intersezionali circondat3 dal benessere: lavorator3 LGBTQIA+ in regioni europee prospere e multilingue
Tomaselli A (2026)
Presentation/Speech

Conference: POLITICA, DIRITTI, UGUAGLIANZA LGBTQIA+ azioni, reazioni, resistenze | Verona | 29.1.2026 - 30.1.2026

More information: https://sites.dsu.univr.it/politesse/it/event/convegno-p ...

Miradas ecofeministas para una Transición Ecosocial Justa: aportes conceptuales y evidencias de impacto social desde el proyecto ECOFEM
Borràs-Pentinat S, Del Valle-Calzada E, Esteve-Jordà C, Herrera-Burgos MF, Herrero-López Y, Merino-Sancho V, Tomaselli A, Vanyó-Vicedo R (2026)
Presentation/Speech

Conference: VIII International Conference of Science, Feminism and Masculinities (CICFEM26) | Valencia | 27.2.2026 - 28.2.2026

More information: https://www.cicfem.com/

Project Team

Alexandra Tomaselli

Nicola Arrigoni

Alice Engl

Dictionary of (non) politically correct words

Consultancy

Publications

Training

Journal article2025

Intersectional analysis of gender employment gaps in multilingual wealthy regions

Tomaselli A

Alexandra Tomaselli

DOI Source

DOI: 10.1080/23311886.2025.2505127

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