Research theme

Occupational health, intersectionality and gender

Iara Teixeira studies how work affects mental health and how psychosocial risks are shaped by gender, social position, migration status, sexual orientation and organizational structures.

Keywords: occupational health · intersectionality · gender · psychosocial risks · mental health at work · workplace inclusion · Portugal · Brazil · Europe

Why this theme matters

Occupational health research often treats risk as if it were evenly distributed across workers. An intersectional approach asks which workers are more exposed to psychosocial risk, through which structures, and with what consequences for mental health and dignity at work.

This line of work connects psychosocial risk assessment, gender and sexual diversity, migration, occupational class and workplace inclusion.

How it connects to the IOH Framework

The Intersectional Occupational Health Framework proposes that psychosocial risk is not only an individual exposure but also a structural allocation. It helps organize research on how gender, migration status and occupational class shape work-related health outcomes.

Related research directions

Gender and invisible mental load

Research on women’s work-life balance, invisible mental load and psychological health in Portugal.

Intersectional occupational health

Conceptual work on how psychosocial risk is distributed across social and occupational positions.

Workplace inclusion

Studies on LGBTQIA+ inclusion, organizational climate and the lived experience of workers.