Anthropologist Annabel Cabezas champions girls’ education

Can you summarise your route to Cambridge and educational journey? 

As an 18-year-old, I’d always wanted to study abroad at university. In a way, I felt like whatever I could experience at home could ultimately “wait” for me to be back, but moving to a completely unfamiliar place couldn’t, apparently! I investigated applying to many different places – including Cambridge – but 2020 was a life-changing year for all of us. Ultimately, I applied to study Social and Cultural Anthropology at home, at the University of Barcelona.

What motivated you to continue your studies and apply for an MPhil? 

Anthropology per se is a discipline most people have never heard of, yet most are quick to assume it’s a “useless” degree. This really made me doubt my decision to pursue it at first, because when you do well in school everyone expects you to become a doctor, a lawyer, or something along those lines. 

"Luckily, my parents always supported me in my decision and encouraged me to pursue everything I was passionate about. I loved and cherished every moment during undergrad; I fell in love with social science and the idea of learning about myself through people."

In 2023, the Erasmus+ Programme brought me to University College Cork (Ireland), where I completed my third year. Knowing I wanted to look for opportunities beyond the classroom, I discussed my ideas with my professors and ended up working as an ethnographic interviewer for the Cork Folklore Project: a database that collected the accounts of local people regarding different aspects of their lives. That summer, I juggled a full-time job with an undergraduate research position in Barcelona, which led me to discover the area of research I’ve been working on ever since: embodiment and femininity in sports.

When did you begin to consider Cambridge as a possibility?

I knew I wanted to pursue a career as a social anthropologist and continue learning. So, I took my “useless” degree and applied to the La Caixa Foundation Postgraduate Fellowships Abroad: a funding opportunity in Spain that supports 100 people yearly in their pursuit of postgraduate degrees outside the country. 

At first, I wasn’t sure where I wanted to go. I did know, however, that I wanted to go somewhere that allowed me to learn beyond the classroom and to produce critical research with other people - that is, beyond the lecture hall. This is how I discovered the MPhil in Social Anthropological Research here in Cambridge, arguably one of the only master’s degrees in the world aimed at people who hold a previous degree in Social Anthropology. 

"It has been incredibly refreshing to me, to be treated like someone capable of thinking critically with their existing set of tools and knowledge. Every day I get to share my time with people who share my love for this discipline, which is something I didn’t know I needed before coming here."

How would you summarise your academic experience of Cambridge so far? 

I have loved my first term here. It has really flown by. As someone who used to work, study, and pursue different hobbies in undergrad, what I’ve struggled with the most is the degree of “autonomy” I have here — the ability to organise my days and my study around my needs. As odd as it may sound, I believe I was simply used to the 'structure' of my frantic days in Barcelona! 

What are you researching for your MPhil project, and why is your topic or subject important or exciting to you?

"My dissertation tackles the perception of the body and the idea of fitness among women in Cambridge. I think all anthropologists have somewhat of a 'personal' relationship to what they study, and I am no exception."

I have witnessed lots of women develop conflicting relationships with sports, discipline, eating, and their appearance. This is something that is either pathologized or somewhat ignored, which is why I want to research it ethnographically so we can grasp how certain ideas are reproduced and manifested, in order to gain awareness of our agency and power to promote change.

How have you found College life so far? Has it been easy to settle in and feel part of a community? 

College life has been so easy. I really believe it is an inherent part of the experience here at Cambridge. I am very glad I can live on site because Wolfson feels like a home away from home – as cheesy as this may sound! 

"Living with people from all over the world has led me to learn valuable things – like how it is basically illegal to have a cappuccino in Italy past noon, or how, under German standards, no bread is “real” bread here."

I have got to know people over hours of studying, talking, and losing at pool in the Club Room. In a way, being in a mature college leads you to become friends with people from so many different academic and personal backgrounds. I have found the environment to be relaxed and friendly; we’re all just happy to be here.

What activities or events have you been involved in at Cambridge so far? 

"I’m especially involved with the community initiatives at Wolfson. I started attending the Volunteer Café run by our Community & Leadership Impact Coordinator, Simona Obeng, and that led me to manage a body of volunteers who are going to be running a PowerHouseGame in March. This is an initiative by Power2Inspire, a charity that brings together able-bodied and disabled children to play sports." 

I am also working to start an Inspiring Girls UK chapter within Wolfson, which would aim to train women in the College to deliver engaging workshops about their discipline to promote higher education among girls in schools. Alongside other minor engagements, I also mentor students wishing to apply to major scholarships in Spain – particularly people who, like me, come from humble backgrounds. 

Why is voluntary work, work in the community, and making an impact so important to you? 

When people ask me why I do these things, my answer is, simply, why not? I believe I am privileged to be here and have access to all the resources that both the College and the University have to offer. I find that, if I organise my time wisely, I can do all these things while still finding time to unwind and socialise. 

I’d say most of the initiatives I’m involved in – both here and back home – respond to problems I’ve identified as both an anthropologist and a person: namely, the need to assess access to Higher Education, to produce outreach work that’s engaging, and to identify and tackle women’s needs. 

"Besides, when students look for ways to “prove” their skills in their CV, they rarely think of volunteering! As someone who has been doing so since high school, I can say volunteering has been the most accessible way to acquire relevant skills I’ve encountered – whether that involved feeding horses in equine therapy or doing administrative tasks."

Do you have any top tips or words of wisdom for applicants or incoming postgraduate students? 

I think it’s very important to let people know where you come from and be proud of it. When you write a CV for an application, you only let people see a “superficial” version of what you’ve done. It doesn’t mention how, while doing that research internship, you were working full-time on the side. Or how you were taking care of your family while studying for your exams. 

"Sometimes, two people will aim for the same finish line while coming from very distant starting lines. It’s okay to recognise you’ve had to run a lot longer to get there. Be proud of it!"

Finally, what are you most looking forward to for the remainder of your MPhil programme? Do you have any idea where your MPhil might take you?

I am looking forward to being here and enjoying the rest of my time at Wolfson. As far as I know a lot of work is coming my way, but I am excited to see where my efforts (paired with unhealthy amounts of caffeine) may take me. Regarding the future, I’d say it’s still a bit uncertain. I would definitely say I want to continue studying and pursue a PhD, but I’ll probably take a year off to explore life and work beyond the classroom. At the end of the day, uncertainty is something worth embracing!

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This article is part of our 2025-6 Postgraduate Student Profile Series.

• "That’s where Charles Darwin used to live": Anfas Muhammed on science and study
• "It’s about real people, real decisions, and real consequences": Tom Myers on his drive to study politics
• "Age really makes no difference": Gillian Hepplewhite on the joys of university after a career

You can discover more about our Wolfson Volunteers network, led by Community & Leadership Impact Coordinator, Simona Obeng. 

You can learn about the funding available at Wolfson and how to apply to study for a postgraduate course at Cambridge as a Wolfson College student on our website.