2012 The Society Pages Media Award for Measured Social Science

2011 Public Understanding of Sociology Award, American Sociological Association 

2007 Feminist Mentoring Award, Sociologists for Women in Society

2005 Katherine Belle-Boone Jocher Beard Award, Southern Sociological Society

2002 Distinguished Feminist Lecturer, Sociologists for Women in Society

2000 North Carolina State University Alumni Distinguished Research Professor

1999-2000 College of Humanities and Social Science Distinguished Research Award

1995 NCSU Equity for Women Award

Barbara Risman (right) at the 2011 ASA annual meetings in Las Vegas, NV with Verta Taylor (lleft) 2011 winner of the ASA Jesse Bernard Award.   The feminist winners celebrate together.