EASP PRECONFERENCE 2026: GENDER AND INTERSECTIONALITY IN SOCIAL PSYCHOLOGICAL RESEARCH

This preconference aims to provide a platform for research that explores how gender intersects with other axes of inequality — such as age, race, ethnicity, class, sexual orientation, and (dis)ability — to shape social experiences, opportunities, and outcomes. We particularly welcome contributions that integrate multiple levels of analysis, including experimental, survey, qualitative, and mixed-method approaches, and that offer novel theoretical or methodological insights into intersectional dynamics.

Theme

Our central focus is to provide a space for research that examines the complex intertwining of gender-based inequalities with other inequalities. As early as the beginning of the 1990s, research introducing the concept of intersectionality (Crenshaw, 1991) pointed out that the situation of black women cannot be understood simply as "women" or "black," and that examining the categories separately gives a distorted picture (Cole, 2009). Stereotypes about black women differ from those about black men and white women, often rendering them "invisible" in social judgments (Goff, Thomas & Jackson, 2008), and due to "intersecting biases," black female leaders experience different types of evaluation disadvantages than white women or black men. Rudman & Glick's (2001, 2012) research on backlash and role incongruity has shown that gender bias manifests itself differently when gender intersects with other categories (e.g., race, ethnicity). Bowleg (2012) showed that without intersectional analysis, health inequalities among women cannot be fully understood, and that gender × ethnicity × social class together influence school performance and attitudes (Else-Quest & Hyde, 2016).  According to Purdie-Vaughns & Eibach's (2008) theory of "invisibility," marginalized groups (e.g., women with disabilities) may experience multiple prejudices and a lack of representation at the same time. Research into intersectionality is becoming increasingly central, both from a methodological perspective, in terms of how we can explore these intersections in quantitative research, and from a qualitative perspective, as certain intersections of inequalities are becoming increasingly visible in society. It can play a key role in areas such as diagnosing neurodiverse individuals without taking gender into account, or simply in the special social situation of older women in aging societies, LGBTQA+ identities or masculinities. This preconference has the potential to foster new interdisciplinary collaborations by bringing together scholars who investigate gender and intersectionality from both quantitative and qualitative perspectives. It can inform interventions in education, healthcare, and organizational contexts by highlighting how overlapping inequalities shape experiences and outcomes. By emphasizing intersectional approaches, the event can inspire more inclusive policies, from tackling bias in leadership evaluation to addressing barriers to diagnosis and care in health systems.

The preconference can also serve as a platform for early-career researchers and underrepresented voices, ensuring that innovative perspectives gain visibility. The aim of this meeting is to discuss new directions in research on gender and intersectionality. Ultimately, the discussions can help translate research findings into practical strategies for reducing inequalities, while expanding the theoretical and methodological toolkit of social psychologists across Europe.