The internship with the Centre for Protecting Women Online was a valuable opportunity to work alongside academics focused on women’s safety in online spaces. I applied because of my interest in DEI through the Open University and because the Centre was still in its early stages. The idea of contributing to work that was still being developed and aimed at supporting marginalised groups was something I wanted to be part of.
Before starting, my expectations centred on observing how researchers collaborated toward shared goals, and the experience met those expectations while offering more insight than I anticipated. I was able to see how the team discussed ideas and moved projects forward in a way that supported the centre’s mission.
During my time at the Centre, I wrote a commentary on Black Incels titled The Racepill: Understanding Black Incels Through an Intersectional Lens. It was later published with POWER: The Psychology of Women and Equalities Research. The project leads played a key role throughout the process. Their guidance and thoughtful feedback helped me handle a sensitive topic responsibly and strengthened my research skills. Working on a piece that focused on an underrepresented group made the project feel meaningful, and it confirmed that I enjoy research that brings attention to voices that are often overlooked. It also showed me how impactful good mentorship can be in shaping work like this.
The project leads’ approach combined clarity and patience, making it easier to engage with the topic and understand how academic work develops in practice. Their ability to challenge my thinking while creating space for questions demonstrated how effective mentorship depends on trust and a genuine willingness to invest in someone’s development.
My favourite part of the internship was learning from them. Observing how they approached complex questions and reached conclusions gave me a better understanding of the kind of research environment where I work best. I am thankful for the experience and the support I received during my time at CPWO.
