Researcher
Serena D'Agostino
- Research Expertise (University of Antwerp):Serena D'Agostino's current research project, "Racial(ized) Queer Activism: Practices and Experiences of Intersectional Mobilizations in Belgium" (FWO Senior Research Project, 2024-2027), investigates activist practices and experiences at the intersection of racism and (hetero)sexism. Utilizing a qualitative case study and participatory action research methodology (Photovoice), this project centers intersectional activists as key subjects of inquiry. In doing so, it contributes to the re-politicization of intersectionality by refocusing the concept on its activist roots. In her PhD thesis (VUB, 2018), "Romani Women in European Politics: Exploring Multi-Layered Political Spaces for Intersectional Policies and Mobilizations," she examined whether contemporary European multi-layered political spaces foster or hinder intersectional policies and mobilizations at both the national and transnational levels. Her research interests lie at the crossroads of (political) intersectionality, activism and social movements, and minority politics and rights, with a focus on Romani politics, Romani feminism, and Roma rights in Europe. She is the co-editor, alongside Nadia E. Brown, of "Intersectional (Feminist) Activisms: Global Practices and Experiences" (Routledge, 2024). Serena's research has been published in the European Journal of Politics and Gender, the International Feminist Journal of Politics, the Journal of Diversity and Gender Studies, the Journal of Women, Politics & Policy, and Politics, Groups, and Identities, among others.
- Research Expertise
(Vrije Universiteit Brussel):
Serena D'Agostino (she/her/hers) is a Senior Researcher in Political Science at the Politics and Public Governance research group at the University of Antwerp, as well as a Senior Associate Researcher at the Centre for Migration, Diversity and Justice (CMDJ) at the Brussels School of Governance (BSoG), Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB). She is also a member of the VUB's Brussels Interdisciplinary Research centre on Migration and Minorities (BIRMM) and RHEA - the Research Centre for Gender, Diversity and Intersectionality.
Serena obtained her PhD in Political Science at the VUB in 2018 with the thesis "Romani Women in European Politics. Exploring Multi-Layered Political Spaces for Intersectional Policies and Mobilizations”.
Her current project, "Racial(ized) Queer Activism: Practices and Experiences of Intersectional Mobilizations in Belgium" (FWO research project), investigates activist practices and experiences at the intersection of racism and (hetero)sexism.
Her research interests lie at the crossroads of (political) intersectionality, activism/social movements, and minority politics and rights, with a focus on Romani politics, Romani feminism, and Roma rights in Europe. She is the co-editor, alongside Nadia E. Brown, of "Intersectional (Feminist) Activisms: Global Practices and Experiences" (Routledge, 2024).
Serena holds a Postgraduate Certificate in EU Law on Immigration and Asylum from the 'Odysseus Academic Network' of the Université Libre de Bruxelles (2013), an MA in International Politics and Relations from the University of Pisa (2009, summa cum laude), and a BA in International Communications from the University for Foreigners of Perugia (2005). During her Master, she spent a year as an Erasmus student at the Department of Hautes Etudes Internationales (HEI) of the Institut National des Langues et Civilisations Orientales (I.Na.L.C.O. – Paris).
From 2009 to 2012 Serena worked in the NGO sector in the Western Balkans and Eastern Africa.
Serena's research work has been published in the European Journal of Politics and Gender, the International Feminist Journal of Politics, the Journal of Diversity and Gender Studies, the Journal of Women, Politics & Policy, and Politics, Groups, and Identities, among others.
- Keywords (University of Antwerp):ROMANI POLITICS, MINORITIES, INTERSECTIONALITY, Political and social sciences
- Keywords (Vrije Universiteit Brussel):Political and social sciences, Law (incl. notarial studies)
- Disciplines (University of Antwerp):Immigration, Citizenship, Political inequality, Citizenship, immigration and political inequality not elsewhere classified, Democratisation, European union politics, Social change, Social movements and collective action, Voluntary associations, participation and civil society
- Disciplines (Vrije Universiteit Brussel):Political inequality
- Research techniques (University of Antwerp):Qualitative research methods and participatory action research.
- Users of research expertise (University of Antwerp):Fellow academics; journalists; activists
- Users of research expertise
(Vrije Universiteit Brussel):
Serena D'Agostino (she/her/hers) is a Senior Researcher in Political Science at the Politics and Public Governance research group at the University of Antwerp, as well as a Senior Associate Researcher at the Centre for Migration, Diversity and Justice (CMDJ) at the Brussels School of Governance (BSoG), Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB). She is also a member of the VUB's Brussels Interdisciplinary Research centre on Migration and Minorities (BIRMM) and RHEA - the Research Centre for Gender, Diversity and Intersectionality.
Serena obtained her PhD in Political Science at the VUB in 2018 with the thesis "Romani Women in European Politics. Exploring Multi-Layered Political Spaces for Intersectional Policies and Mobilizations”.
Her current project, "Racial(ized) Queer Activism: Practices and Experiences of Intersectional Mobilizations in Belgium" (FWO research project), investigates activist practices and experiences at the intersection of racism and (hetero)sexism.
Her research interests lie at the crossroads of (political) intersectionality, activism/social movements, and minority politics and rights, with a focus on Romani politics, Romani feminism, and Roma rights in Europe. She is the co-editor, alongside Nadia E. Brown, of "Intersectional (Feminist) Activisms: Global Practices and Experiences" (Routledge, 2024).
Serena holds a Postgraduate Certificate in EU Law on Immigration and Asylum from the 'Odysseus Academic Network' of the Université Libre de Bruxelles (2013), an MA in International Politics and Relations from the University of Pisa (2009, summa cum laude), and a BA in International Communications from the University for Foreigners of Perugia (2005). During her Master, she spent a year as an Erasmus student at the Department of Hautes Etudes Internationales (HEI) of the Institut National des Langues et Civilisations Orientales (I.Na.L.C.O. – Paris).
From 2009 to 2012 Serena worked in the NGO sector in the Western Balkans and Eastern Africa.
Serena's research work has been published in the European Journal of Politics and Gender, the International Feminist Journal of Politics, the Journal of Diversity and Gender Studies, the Journal of Women, Politics & Policy, and Politics, Groups, and Identities, among others.