18th Annual WOMEN'S WAY Book Prize Committee

Love to read? Interested in connecting with fellow gender equity book lovers? Join our volunteer Book Prize Committee and help select the winner of the 18th Annual WOMEN'S WAY Book Prize.

About

As we celebrate our 50th Anniversary this year, we're excited to continue the annual tradition of the WOMEN'S WAY Book Prize. Established in 2007, this prize honors the legacy of Ernesta Drinker Ballard, a founder of WOMEN’S WAY, the first president of our Board, and an extraordinary champion for women and girls. Widely known as “the godmother of Philadelphia feminism,” Ernesta helped shape the region’s advocacy landscape by co-founding WOMEN’S WAY, advancing the fight for equal pay, marching and lobbying for the Equal Rights Amendment, and building critical infrastructure for women’s rights, including founding Philadelphia NOW and Reproductive Freedom for All (formerly NARAL).

The Book Prize celebrates her vision and contributions each year by honoring a woman or gender-expansive author whose work advances dialogue around gender equity. Past Book Prize winners have included Janet Mock, Lindy West, Ijeoma Oluo, and many other incredible authors and thought leaders. Explore the full list of past winners and help us select the next honoree by signing up to join the committee today!

Committee Details and Responsibilities

  • Three books will be assigned via email on June 1, 2026.
  • The Book Prize Committee will meet on August 4, 2026, at 5:30 PM to discuss the books and pick the winner. Attendance is required for this meeting.
  • Everyone will be responsible for reading the three assigned books, filling out a form supporting their choice for the winner, and coming to a final meeting to vote for their selection.

How to Sign Up

If you would like to be considered for the WOMEN’S WAY Book Prize Committee, please fill out this form by May 28, 2026. If we receive more interest than availability, we will use a lottery system to determine who receives a space on the Committee. Please note that prior involvement does not guarantee future participation.

Any questions? Reach out to us at jmuslin@womensway.org