Brittany P. Battle receives SWS Feminist Activism Award

Brittany P. Battle, assistant professor of sociology, has received the 2021 Feminist Activism Award from Sociologists for Women in Society (SWS). The award recognizes individuals who notably and consistently use sociology to improve conditions for women in society and honors outstanding feminist advocacy efforts.

Battle was recognized for the intensity and impact of her scholarship, teaching, mentoring and activism both at Wake Forest and in the Winston-Salem community.

In the classroom, Battle uses her scholar-activist framework to empower students to work towards social change. Whether gathering on the sidewalk in front of the local detention center or sitting in a circle at a park, she blends academia with social action.

She is committed to gathering scholars, organizations and community members to address issues ranging from housing equity to the criminalization of Black youth to immigration detention.

Battle founded the Triad Abolition Project, mobilizing the organization for Occupy Winston Salem in the wake of George Floyd’s murder. The award also recognizes her activism that resulted in Forsyth County agreeing to notify the public when an inmate dies in police custody.

The SWS Feminist Activism Award is Battle’s second national award this semester; Battle also received the Division on Critical Criminology and Social Justice Praxis Award from the American Society of Criminology.