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Psychology of Women and Equalities Section

The Psychology of Women and Equalities Section (POWES) works within the BPS to highlight issues of gender and inequality in academic and applied psychology in order to positively influence policy and practice.

About

The primary purpose of the section is to promote the psychology of women in academic and professional domains and to inform the public and the discipline about psychological, social, and economic problems of women and minority groups.

Originally founded in 1988 as The Psychology of Women Section, the modern version of POWES works to encourage psychological research which challenges negative assumptions about minority groups and which challenges processes of exclusion, marginalisation and oppression in fields of study and practice, while also maintaining a strong inter-disciplinary focus, seeking to work and build inclusive alliances across disciplines.

The main aims of the Psychology of Women and Equalities Section are:

  • to address gender issues and inequalities in the psychology curriculum
  • to facilitate and develop feminist and emancipatory research, theory and practice
  • to influence public policy in areas such as equal rights, parenting, and employment.

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Psychology of Women and Equalities Section

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Psychology of Women and Equalities Section

Events

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Psychology of Women and Equalities Section

Guidelines

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Resources

Useful Links

  • Psychology's Feminist Voices

    Psychology's Feminist Voices is an online, multimedia digital archive containing the stories of women of psychology's past and contemporary feminist psychologists who have shaped and continue to transform the discipline of psychology.

  • American Psychological Association (Division 35)

    The Society for the Psychology of Women is a division of the APA which provides an organizational base for all feminists, women and men of all national origins, who are interested in teaching, research, or practice in the psychology of women.

  • Australian Psychological Society - Women and Psychology Interest Group

    The Women and Psychology Interest Group aims to establish an active presence in every state and territory of Australia.

Decolonising the curriculum

Decolonising the curriculum

Universities and academics worldwide are involved in efforts to decolonise the psychology curriculum in higher education.

Publications

Psychology of Women and Equalities Review

A collection of papers that make significant and original contributions to the field of the psychology of women and equalities.

Find out more about the Psychology of Women and Equalities Review

Latest articles - Psychology of Women and Equalities Section Review

  • Periodicals

Walk the walk, slowly and carefully when centering women and survivors in the Perpetrator Work of Coercive Control: In conversation with Jo Todd - Psychology of Women and Equalities Section Review

Volume: 7 Issue: 1

Author(s): Mónica Sánchez Hernández

Psychology of Women and Equalities Section
  • Periodicals

Coercive control: A decade later - Psychology of Women and Equalities Section Review

Volume: 7 Issue: 1

Author(s): Tanya Frances, Emma L Turley, Lois C Donnelly

Psychology of Women and Equalities Section
  • Periodicals

Male entrapment and its charm warrant: A systematic review characterising male entrapment behaviours of domestic abuse, how they are described and researched - Psychology of Women and Equalities Section Review

Volume: 7 Issue: 1

Author(s): Nikki Moore, Peter Branney, Lisa Edwards

Psychology of Women and Equalities Section
  • Periodicals

The Impact of Coercive Control Legislation for Transgender People in Australia - Psychology of Women and Equalities Section Review

Volume: 7 Issue: 1

Author(s): Aaron Sylvian

Psychology of Women and Equalities Section

Awards & funding

POWES Professor Marcia Worrell Mentoring Award

Closing date: 06 June 2024

Professor Marcia Worrell

Professor Marcia Worrell was an exceptional colleague, mentor, advocate, tutor, and friend to an international community of students, academics and practitioners.

Her commitment to supporting others has inspired all who have worked with her since she began her academic career in 1992.

This award is in recognition of her ongoing impact and presence in the lives and work of the international POWES community, specifically recognising her exceptional capabilities to inspire and mentor others.

We welcome nominations for the award for mentors who:

  • Demonstrate sustained engagement with offering feminist support, direction, guidance and supervision to undergraduate or postgraduate students or their colleagues in Psychology
  • May be well known for supporting 'non-traditional' students. For example, in helping them navigate academia and supporting them in the successful completion of their studies.
  • Foster a welcoming atmosphere and culture of inclusion
  • Inspire students in their studies and/or professional development

The winning nominee will receive:

  • A framed award certificate from POWES
  • A funded place at the POWES 2024 Annual Conference (10-12 July 2023) to accept their award. (POWES will reimburse the full conference fee and travel to the conference up to the maximum amount of £140.)
  • Additionally, the nomination statement will be published in the POWES journal The Psychology of Women and Equalities Section Review (POWER).

How to make a nomination

  • POWES members are eligible to nominate candidates for the award, however, the nominee does not need to be a member of POWES or the BPS
  • Nominators can be individuals or groups (please note: the scheme is not open to self-nominations)
  • To nominate a feminist mentor, please provide a nomination statement (maximum 1000 words in doc format) outlining how and why that person is particularly impactful on your life or those of others. We suggest you include examples of specific activities, anecdotes and personal characteristics of the mentor that have been influential in the life and career of others
  • Decisions will be made by a panel of POWES committee members and announced ahead of the POWES conference in July each year

Submit a nomination now

The deadline for applications is midnight 06 June 2024.

Conference Bursaries and Concessions

Deadline: 20 June 2024

POWES is very keen to promote attendance of students at their annual conferences.

We have set aside funds for a small number of bursaries and concessions to be awarded to cover the cost of attendance, accommodation, meals and travel.

Guidance for applications:

  • Applicants presenting at the conference will be prioritised
  • The initial deadline for bursary applications is 11pm on 20 June 2024. Bursary applications received by that date will be considered and applicants contacted with confirmation as to whether they have been successful and confirmation of the bursary amount by Monday 24 June. 
  • If the bursaries are oversubscribed, there will be a first-come, first-served policy.
  • Potential applicants are welcome to enquire after the deadline about the continuing availability of bursary funding, accepting that the overall Bursary Fund may be depleted.
  • Once successful the recipient of the bursary will need to register to the event by 01 July 2024. Information about registering will be provided in the confirmation email. 

Apply for a conference bursary now
 

POWES and Feminism & Psychology Postgraduate Award

Closing date: 19 April 2024

Postgraduate students who have submitted their thesis this year (2023-24) or within the last three academic years (2020-23) are invited to submit a short article for the POWES and Feminism & Psychology Postgraduate Award.

Criteria

  • Submissions can include research from all areas of Psychology and the Social Sciences.
  • The article must be clearly related to the research carried out as part of a postgraduate degree and must not have been published previously.
  • Articles must make an original contribution to the psychology of women, gender, feminist theory, practice and beyond. For example, articles may explore issues around gender, racism, or gender and other intersecting inequalities. 
  • Articles can be up to a maximum of 3,500 words. Word counts do not include abstract, title, references, data extracts or tables. Abstracts can be a maximum of 200 words.

International submissions

POWES is aware of the problematic Western and English language dominance in psychology. We welcome submissions from those not based in the UK and from those who do not use English as their first language. Whilst submissions do need to be written in English, we are happy to provide proof reading support if you are a second language English speaker before you submit your paper. To gain this, please contact [email protected] by the 1st April 2024.

Review process

Every entry will be anonymously reviewed by two members of POWES with relevant knowledge and expertise. Submissions that receive a positive review from both reviewers will go to the judging panel, who will assess, comment on, and score the article based on the criteria for submissions. The panel of judges will make the final decision.

The winner receives

  • A funded place at the POWES 2023 Conference (10-12 July 2024)
  • The opportunity to present your paper at the Conference 
  • A one year subscription to Feminism & Psychology & PoWER
  • Invitation to publish your paper in PoWER subject to addressing any feedback from prize reviewers
  • Award certificate and £50 voucher

How to apply

Submit application 

Find more information on the Prizes page.

Deadline: 19 April 2024, 23:30

POWES particularly welcomes applications from the following groups of people who are often under-represented: Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic people, disabled people and people who identify as LGBTQ+.

For enquiries please email [email protected].

POWES Undergraduate Student Awards

Closing date: 19 April 2024

Current undergraduate students (2023-24) and those who have submitted their dissertation within the last three academic years (2020-23) are invited to submit a short article for the POWES undergraduate awards.

There are two awards:

POWES: Undergraduate Spotlight Award on racism and race inequalities - we invite submissions for the Spotlight Award for work that centres racism and race-related inequalities.

POWES: Undergraduate Gender Inequalities Award – we invite submissions for the Gender Inequalities Award that focus on gender OR gender AND other intersecting inequalities (e.g. Black women's perinatal experiences, queer women's coming out stories).

Criteria

  • Articles can be up to a maximum of 3,000 words. Word counts do not include abstract, title, references, quotes or tables.
  • Abstracts can be a maximum of 200 words
  • Articles must be clearly related to the research carried out as part of an undergraduate degree and make an original contribution
  • Articles must be in Word doc format
  • Individual entries and group submissions are both welcomed, but must not have been published previously.
  • Submissions can include research from all areas of Psychology and the Social Sciences.

International submissions

POWES is aware of the problematic Western and English language dominance in psychology. We welcome submissions from those not based in the UK and from those who do not speak English as their first language. Whilst submissions do need to be written in English, we are happy to provide proof reading support if you are a second language English speaker before you submit your paper. To gain this, please contact [email protected] by the 1st April 2024.

Review process

Every entry will be anonymously reviewed by two members of POWES with relevant knowledge and expertise. Submissions that receive a positive review from both reviewers will go to the judging panel, who will assess, comment on and score the article based on the criteria for submissions. The panel of judges will make the final decision.

The winner receives

  • A funded place at the POWES 2024 Conference (10-12 July 2024)
  • The opportunity to present your paper at the Conference
  • An award certificate and £50 voucher
  • A one year subscription to PoWER
  • Invitation for assisted publication of your submission in PoWER subject to standard peer-review process

How to apply

Submit application

Find more information on the Prizes page.

Deadline: 19 April 2024, 23:30

POWES particularly welcomes applications from the following groups of people who are often under-represented: Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic people, disabled people and people who identify as LGBTQ+.

For enquiries please email [email protected].

Previous Award Winners

POWES Student Prizes

2010: C. Rivas (Queen Mary, University of London)

2009: P. Pinto (University of Minho, Portugal)

2008: L. Lazard (University of Nottingham)

2007: C. Nguyen (London School of Economic and Political Science)

Committee

Chair: Dr Hannah Frith

Committee members: 

  • Bipasha Ahmed
  • Charlotte Dan
  • Elle Louise Wright
  • Helen Bowes-Catton
  • Jo Law
  • Joanna Semlyen
  • Hohanna Motzkau
  • Nikki Hayfield
  • Renata Bongiomo
  • Sonja Ellis
  • Jamie Chan
  • Wendy Stainton Rogers

Join

Membership of the Psychology of Women and Equalities Section is only open to members of the British Psychological Society.

If you are not already a member, you can join the Section at the same time as applying for membership of the society.

Apply to join the society

Benefits of belonging

Benefits of Psychology of Women and Equalities Section Membership

  • Discounted registration for the Section's Annual Conference
  • Opportunities to influence and take part in the development of the section
  • Opportunity to voice your opinion, either at the Section's AGM and/or by becoming a member of the section's committee
  • Psychology of Women and Equalities Review
  • Regular updates via our membership announcement email list

Member Announcement Email List

The Psychology of Women and Equalities Section uses its membership announcement email list to inform its members of activities and initiatives that are relevant to their interests and to make requests for engagement on topical issues. 

By becoming a member of the Section you are automatically added to the announcement list.

To receive these emails you will need to:

  1. become a member of the Psychology of Women and Equalities Section
  2. opt into receiving email communication and provide a working email address

These preferences can be updated by logging into your member portal.

If you have any queries, please contact Member Network Services.

To assist us in responding to your query please make sure to include your membership number and quote 'Psychology of Women and Equalities Section announcement email' in the subject line.

Getting involved with the Psychology of Women and Equalities Section Committee

The Psychology of Women and Equalities Section relies on a wide range of people getting involved, and the work of the Section is largely achieved through the dedication of unpaid volunteers.

Our volunteers come from a wide range of different backgrounds, whether they be practitioners or academics, or full members or students members, and together form an open and inclusive community.