dr. SRJM (Samira) van Bohemen

Biography

Samira van Bohemen is an Associate Professor at the Erasmus School of Social and Behavioural Sciences and a cultural sociologist specialising in identity, sexuality, and social inequality. She serves on the board of the Netherlands Sociological Association (NSV) and leads the interdisciplinary Erasmus Love Lab (ELL). Her research is unique for its emphasis on pleasure - examining how different social groups perceive and experience pleasurable activities and how this relates to questions of identity, inequality and power.

Samira’s work has gained substantial recognition, including multiple scholarships and awards. Among them is the prestigious Vidi grant from The Netherlands Organisation for Scientific Research (NWO), supporting her current project on pornographic stereotypes, their social origins, and their impact on young people. She was also co-applicant of a major Consortium Grant within the Dutch Research Agenda (NWA) to lead efforts in minimizing sexually transgressive behaviour and sexual violence.

Beyond her academic research, Samira is dedicated to making societal impact  that reduces socio-sexual inequality and promotes young people's healthy sexual development. Through her leadership at the Erasmus Love Lab, she collaborates with various organizations to raise awareness about youth sexuality and public health. She frequently contributes to social-scientific periodicals, Dutch television, radio, and other media, demonstrating her commitment to accessible and impactful research. 

She is widely recognised for the creative ways she conducts and shares her research—ranging from gamified research tools to theatrical science communication and documentary-based teaching. In 2024, she brought her work to a wide public through a large-scale Lowlands Science project, which earned coverage in Nature.

For a deeper dive into Samira's current research interests, you can listen to one of her podcasts on De Universiteit van Nederland (in Dutch) and the Sociologie Show (in Dutch) or watch her lecture night 'Let's Talk About Porn' (in English). All these links provide further insights into her current work on pornography and stereotypes.

More information on Samira's Vidi project can be found here.

More information about the Erasmus Love Lab can be found here.