about
Who are wo-men?
The wo-men publishing house is an independent art publishing company founded by literary documentarian Barbora Baronova in 2012. We focus on niche and often taboo topics that tend to be excluded from the mainstream. Our primary areas of interest include:
Non-fiction
Gender literature; topics of sexuality, intimacy, intersectional feminism, gender equity
Social change; resilience of democracy, social justice, inclusion and equity, family politics
Art books with strong messaging; literary documentary, photography books
Many of our books have received awards both in the Czech Republic and abroad, including the Magnesia Litera and the title Most Beautiful Czech Books of the Year. You’ll find them in private and institutional collections around the world. We are a proud member of International Alliance of Independent Publishers based in Paris.
Meet the publisher: Barbora Baronova
Mgr. Barbora Baronová, Ph.D., is a literary documentarian, independent publisher, author, and book curator. In 2012, she founded the wo-men publishing house, and since 2016 she has been lecturing on publishing practices and participating within many discussions on book ecosystems in many countries, such as France, Ukraine, Germany, Spain, Belgium, Poland, Slovakia and more.
Beyond her own publishing and authorial projects, Barbora has been involved in a range of international collaborations in many countries for over two decades (Japan, Australia, South Africa, Switzerland, Thailand, Belgium, Poland, Slovakia, Netherland, Hungary, France, Germany, Italy etc.).
As a member of the International Alliance of Independent Publishers, Barbora actively advocates for greater bibliodiversity and sustainability within the book ecosystem.
Barbora has received numerous prestigious publishing awards. In addition to her publishing practice, she offers hands-on publishing workshops and one-on-one consultations for authors looking to bring their work into book form.
Why do we care about bibliodiversity?
The International Alliance of Independent Publishers explains bibliodiversity as cultural diversity expressed through the world of books. It is a complex, yet self-sustaining system of storytelling, writing, publishing, and other kinds of production of literary and oral history. We, as publishers and readers, are important agents of bibliodiversity. Therefore, we should care deeply about the diversity and vitality of the entire literary ecosystem we inhabit.
Cultivating bibliodiversity means valuing not only quantity but also diversity. Our global society benefits from the widest possible spectrum of books—whether in terms of content and themes, types of authors, genres, or plurality of worldviews. Bibliodiversity helps us avoid isolating ourselves into small, sealed communities. Instead, through literature, we learn to understand one another.
Independent publishers and booksellers play a vital role within bibliodiversity. They approach publishing and selling books with sensitivity, care, and patience. They are brave enough to steer clear from fastsellers, commercialized authors and unsustainable pace—in order to produce books that are truly valuable.
At wo-men, bliodiversity has been our internal compass since 2012. With our membership in the International Alliance of Independent Publishers, we have come to see our role as publishers as a weapon for social change. A weapon that needs to be handled with responsibility and focus—and slowness.
awards
Odolná společnost: Mezi bezmocí a tyranií
The Best Documentary Book of 2023 – Ji.hlava IFF – shortlisted (Czech Republic, 2024) The Most Beautiful Czech Books of 2023 – shortlisted (Czech Republic, 2024)
Vlastní pokoje The Most Beautiful Czech Books of 2023 – (3rd place in the Belles-Lettres category and Printing) (Czech Republic, 2024)
Proč jsme tak naštvané? Czech Grand Design 2023 – shortlist for the photographer Michaela Karásek Čejková (Czech Republic, 2023) Boom of the Year by Deník N – shortlisted (Czech Republic, 2023)
Toho dna se dotýkám už málo The Best Documentary Book – Ji.hlava IFF – shortlisted (Czech Republic, 2023)
Mařka The Most Beautiful Czech Books of 2022 – Hollar prize (Czech Republic, 2023) The Best Documentary Book – Ji.hlava IFF – shortlisted (Czech Republic, 2023) Czech Grand Design 2023 – shortlist for the artist Adéla Marie Jirků (Czech Republic, 2023)
Hlasy žen: Austrálie / Voices of Women: Australia
The Most Beautiful Czech Books of 2021 – shortlisted (Czech Republic, 2022) The Best Documentary Book – Ji.hlava IFF – shortlisted (Czech Republic, 2022)
Hranice lásky / Borders of Love
Magnesia Litera, shortlisted (Czech Republic, 2022)
The Most Beautiful Czech Books of 2021 – (2nd place) (Czech Republic, 2022)
The Best Documentary Book – Ji.hlava IFF – shortlisted (Czech Republic, 2022) Czech Grand Design 2023 – shortlist for the graphic designer Štěpán Malovec (Czech Republic, 2023)
Milk and Honey
The Most Beautiful Czech Books of 2020, shortlisted (Czech Republic, 2021)
Děvčata první republiky
The Most Beautiful Czech Books of 2020, shortlisted (Czech Republic, 2021)
The Most Beautiful Czech Books of 2020, awards for outstanding execution of printing (Czech Republic, 2021)
Svátosti / The Sacraments
The Most Beautiful Czech Books of 2020, MCL and MDA award for the best young artist under 30 (Czech Republic, 2021)
Ženy o ženách
Rector´s Award 2020, Tomas Bata University in Zlín, the best thesis of 2019 at FMK UTB (Czech Republic, 2020)
The Most Beautiful Czech Books of 2019, shortlisted (Czech Republic, 2020)
Černé roky
Vienna Photo Book Festival (2nd place) (Austria, 2017)
Kde domov můj / Where is my home
The Most Beautiful Czech Books of 2016 (the first place in the Fine-press and artist´s books category) (Czech Republic, 2017)
The Best Photobook in the Middle and Eastern Europe, 1st prize in the category of Contemporary Photograph, Mesiac fotografie, Bratislava (Slovakia, 2016)
Intimita
Les Prix du Livre (Prix Photo-Texte) at Les Rencontres de la Photographie in Arles - shortlisted (France, 2016)
Magnesia Litera in the category of Publishing Achievement (Czech Republic, 2016)
The Most Beautiful Czech Books of 2015 (2nd place in the Fine-press and artist´s books category) (Czech Republic, 2016)
Dita Pepe: Autoportréty / Dita Pepe: Self-portraits
35 best books - KALEID editions London (Great Britain, 2015)
Měj ráda sama sebe / Love yourself
The Best Photo Book at the Art Books Wanted Intl Award by Edition Lidu (Czech Republic, 2014)
Shortlisted - KALEID editions London (Great Britain, 2015)
Slečny
The Most Beautiful Czech Books of 2012 (3rd place in the Belles-Lettres category) (Czech Republic, 2013)
Honorable Mention at the Art Books Wanted Intl. Award by Edition Lidu (Czech Republic, 2012)
