SWS Awards

Through our commitment to honoring and celebrating the work of feminist sociologists, SWS offers several student and faculty awards. 

Congratulations to the 2025 award winners!

All awards have an April 1st deadline. 

SWS membership is required to be eligible for awards. We offer the following awards.  

Award Open to any SWS member

Feminist Initiative Award

Supports and encourages the efforts of SWS members to make a difference in their community. Maximum 2 awards per cycle.

Graduate Student Dissertation Scholarship Awards

Barbara Rosenblum Dissertation Scholarship

Supports doctoral research in sociology, anthropology, psychology, and related fields on women’s experience of breast and other reproductive cancers and the prevention of these cancers. One award per cycle.

Beth B. Hess Memorial Dissertation Scholarship

Awards an advanced sociology Ph.D. student, preferably in the last year of their program, who began their study in a community college or technical school. One award per cycle and up to two honorable mentions.

Esther Ngan-ling Chow and Mareyjoyce Green Dissertation Scholarship

Supports women and non-binary scholars of color who are from underrepresented or marginalized groups who are studying concerns that women of color face domestically and/or internationally or transnationally. One award per cycle and up to two honorable mentions.

Graduate Student and Recent PhD Award

Cheryl Allyn Miller Award

Recognizes a sociology graduate student or a recent sociology doctorate whose research or activism constitutes an outstanding contribution to the field of women and work. One award per cycle.

Academic & Applied Professional Awards (student members not eligible)

Mentoring Award

Celebrates the power and importance of feminist mentoring. One award per cycle.

Trailblazer Award

Recognizes a member who exemplifies “trailblazer” qualities of taking risks, changing society for the better, being a leader on campus and/or the community, showing courage, and forging new bold paths in research and activism. One award per cycle.

Awards are reviewed by committees composed of SWS member volunteers. Applicants will be informed of award decisions by the end of the summer. The award winners will be celebrated at the following annual SWS winter meeting. 

Applicants must be a member of the association at the time of award submission. Please submit all application materials on the Member Portal. 

Please direct any questions to [email protected].