Elena Madiai
#EditorialWriter #EventsOrganiser
Exploring how urban spaces can be made more just, inclusive, and gender-equitable through a feminist and sociological lens—while actively bridging academia and wider communities
Elena Madiai is a researcher and PhD candidate at the intersection of Applied Economics and Urban Policy & Design at Politecnico di Milano. Born and raised in Milan, she holds a Bachelor’s degree in Sociology from the University of Milano-Bicocca and a joint Master’s degree in Politics and Policy Analysis from Bocconi University and the University of Mannheim. Following her studies, she worked both in academia as a research assistant and in the private sector as a consultant on innovation projects for the public sector.
Her doctoral research explores the interconnected themes of space, social equity, and gender equality through an interdisciplinary lens. Drawing on Feminist Theory, Urban Sociology, and Applied Economics, she brings a multifaceted perspective to issues of urban justice and inclusion. Her current work critically examines how gendered spatialities are produced, maintained, and can be transformed within contemporary urban contexts. Specifically, she investigates how the built environment influences entrepreneurial outcomes, with a focus on spatial capital and the role of physical space in facilitating access to, and activation of, critical resources.
She is actively involved in teaching activities and collaborates on scientific and policy evaluation projects at both the national and international level.
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