Phenomenal teacher, accessible to men and women. TAKE HER CLASS

SOOOOO GOOD!

She is absolutly AMAZING...very inspirational and will change your life

Interesting, I must say

she's the best! she's really engaging and funny, really cares for her students

one of the best classes i've ever taken! *everyone* should take her classes!

She is inspirational and extremely informative. Open your eyes and take this class.

I took Intro to Feminism from you in 1983 and I have seen the world differently ever since. You taught me more in one semester than anyone before or since. So sorry to hear about your father.

Although not necessarily heavy in substance, Bettina changes the atmosphere of academics from textbooks to tapestries. A wonderful intro to womens studies. I am a male womens studies major.

Betina is an outstanding lecturer. I took her intro to feminism class and loved it (and I'm a normal-ish guy).

Great class!

Bettina is one of the best profesors at santa cruz. Her personal stories bring a real touch to her teaching style and understand the information. She is really inspirational, creative, and a unique profesor. No finals or midterms, but a final project.

Easy Gen Ed

Excellent class, loved it. Inspiring. Great teacher.

this woman is simply amazing! take her class and it might change your life.

She is a brilliant lecturer. Her personal stories make the class warm, friendly, and safe for expression. She opens students eyes to global issues and teaches strength and courage.

She's even better in a seminar setting than in the huge lecture hall. She's intelligent, approachable, and inspirational. Her intro class is basic, but a wonderful introduction none the less. Go, find Bettina, love Bettina!

Very interesting topics discussed in the class. Great teaching ability. Deffenitly changed my perspective about being a women in society. Deffienenty would take the class again and again.

1A is very basic and elementary; her other classes are much better and more engaging, if a little second wave-ish. Prof. Aptheker is a great instructor, and she presents some interesting material. She is wonderful in seminar, and very approachable.

the best class!!!

Intro to Fem was depressing. Should be aimed at junior high boys who do not understand anything about feminism. Did not uplift women like they deserve but rather made the female dominated class feel really crappy. Bettina was a great speaker though.

this class was boring seemed more like therapy for women with issues than a lecture. Easy A though.

Bettina is great! She's very clear. She makes class interesting and is not afraid to spice it up every now and then when she thinks we're getting bored. It's clear she cares very much about her subject and that really helps.

Great teacher. she's such a character, very funny. this was a pretty easy class, just make sure to get on the good side of your TA. they do all the grades

The best professor I have had. the class is good if you are willing to care. TAs are cool, but they actually care about work, well mine did. Chill, sit back and prepare to learn and laugh.

The class was pretty general, and didn't teach me much about feminism that i didn't already know. Good for someone totally new to the field. Bettina was great and told wonderful stories.

Wonderful..

She obviously has great experience and dedication to her subject and takes interest in her students, but she tends to let a few students dominate discussions at times. Many of the people who don't like her seem to be defensive about having their beliefs challenged.

A captivating speaker, an inspirational story-teller, and a wonderful professor with a knack for engaging with her class! The course is a great primer in women's issues, and someone already educated on the issues will find the class to be enriching in other ways.

On the first section the TA said everything we say would be confidential because we would get into some deep topics. What is this a class or a therapy session? Bettina may have some good stroies, but good stories do not make a class. Otherwise a very easy class.

she had a lot of backround in the subject and great personal stories

Very good speaker, funny and entertaining. I loved this class. Even if you don't agree with everything you can enjoy the wonderful stories and hash out your disagreements in section. Very good class.

This class was very explosive, lectures felt a little like a wild church. The professor shined with passion. However, the professor might want to think about different ways to include men into the world of feminism. Many of my male friends felt bewildered, EXCLUDED, and even looked down upon.

um. bettina is so second wave it isnt even funny. i really liked intro to fem at first, but the more i think about it (and the lectures of hers i have been to since) i start to be a little bitter with her.

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Easy...

bettina rocks

bettina is amazing. that is all.

Awesome teacher- great stories. You must take at least one class with her to see what a real dedicated, funny, smart, awe-insiring teacher is like.

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Most of her lectures were amazing; however some were on the boring side. But, to say the very least what she talked about caught my attention. She could incorporate more positive light on males, but I think she tried her best. The assignments are very simple.

She's the best prof.

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Only she can get a class of 300 students to clap for her after almost every class.

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Amazing woman, such a great class, insightful and passionate and brilliant and intriguing, everything, she's the ****ing****!

I think when the class gave Bettina a standing ovation after she read the SYLLABUS on the FIRST day of class was the beginning of my awareness of this professor as completely overrated. She has a cult following, which I can't understand having not taken Intro to Fem. She's an average prof. in my book and her status only hinders the experience .

It is nice to see professors who are truly passionate about their field.

Awesome

Such an incredible class!

Bettina Rocks!!!!! You have to take her class - boy or girl - she is facinating.

Ammaaaaazzzziiinnnnnnnnnggg!!! One of the most inspiring people I've ever been in the presence of. Be sure to take this course if you go to UCSC!!!

What an inspirational professor. I graduated three years ago and I still think about what I learned in that class every day.

very enthusiastic teacher love her class because you can tell she is really dedicated to her work am actually considering changing from a politics major to feminisms major....keep up the good work

What an inspirational woman! It's no wonder she's a cult figure on campus.

If you aren't peeing your pants from laughing so hard in this class then you have no pulse. A truly brilliant educator and an inspiring woman. Truly a gift to UCSC and a class NOT to be missed! And in a class of over 400, she responds to EVERY email she gets. Invested in her students and brings an energy, passion, and life to a difficult subject to teach. A+++++++

This class is amazing. Her lectures give me so much inspiration and makes me questions my actions and beliefs like no one else. She's always honest and natural when it comes to explaining a concept or an idea.

She is awesome and inspirational.

YOU are not a woman until you taken her class! She goes in dept about all diff parts of bineg a woman. I recommend her class to everyone i know

Bettina is truly one of the best lecturers I've had. She's very open-minded, and she incorporates personal experience and passion into her lectures. Even in a class of 500 students, you'll leave feeling a connection to her and her work. She's so amazing and inspirational!

I've never cried at a lecture before. She's very moving and inspirational. Essays require a lot of thinking, but the subject matter is interesting, even for non fem majors such as myself.

Bettina is an amazing professor, and if anyone is remotely interested in women's studies, I would recommend the class. She is great, full of amazing information, and doesnt push her views upon the students at all. I want to be a women's studies major thanks to her!

very emotional class, sections can be hard and a lot more work depending on the TA. 3 essay response papers and a subject evaluation paper, no final, really great lectures that made me want to attend class

I love Bettina! Even though there were nearly 500 in the class, she made you feel as if you wanted to be adopted into her family, so that she could be your grandma. She incorporated her personal experiences with political and historical women's issues. I cried mulitiple times throughout lecture. Work load totally depends on T.A (Rashad is easy)

DUDE! She's like the most interesting teacher ever! I loved the way she taught and everything we had to study and learn was very captivating for me. You'll enjoy this class I swear.

she is amazing, if she gives u an opportunity to be in her TA seminar. DO IT. it will change your perspective on academia.

great professor!

Intro 2 Fem is good but it never goes beyond an intro & is very 2nd wave. She is rarely critical of mainstream feminism & does nothing to encourage analytical thinking. She's a great speaker w/ lots of personal experience but she buys into her own hype. Some lectures were very problematic if u know anything about fem. Take her w/ a grain of salt.

Simply the best! Makes you interested in what you're learning. I am and always will be a Bettina junkie!!!!!

Bettina doesn't teach Feminism, she preaches it. It is the only class I have ever been in where everyone gives her a standing ovation at the end of each lecture. She is truely amazing. Also the class was pretty easy.

she gives feminism a whole new definition. wow. critical and passionate... i love how she ends her class... she ends it with a poem or a piece... what i didn't appreciate were the students around me who found this class boring and who devalued the concept and the studies of feminism. she gives every women a HERSTORY!!! VIVA BETTINA!!!!

Although I am a fem. studies major I found this class to be very boring and sometimes problematic, there are several times in which she and the reading reinforce many of the issues that fem. studies attempt to undo. Keeping that in mind, this is an intro. course and the theories/readings are more about consciouness raising, I suggest fem. theory.

one word, WOW. This class and teacher is amazing.

SUCH an easy class. I was so excited to take it, but if you know anything about feminism beforehand it's useless. I got by with hardly going to lecture and never reading, but since your grade is only based on essays I got an A. She's a cute old lady with good stories, but it was way too introductory for me. Her memoir is really good though.

She is a wonderful, passionate professor with a lot of stories that relate to what she teaches. Some of her lectures are emotional, especially if you as a student can relate to them. This class will open your eyes to see that prevalence of oppression, not only against women, but the poor, homosexual, people of color, etc. Take this class!

Awesome professor.Great lectures, and were cut short about 15min so not too long but usually very moving. The material is very useful and informative as long as you care about the subjects which are relevant to you even if you're a guy (this is coming from one). The class is easy and there is extra credit. Ecompasses all social fields. Got an A+!

Brilliant! Gave thoughtful feedback

Bettina was nothing short of inspirational. Even though 5 or 6 papers were required, they were interesting to write. Don't hesitate to take this class!

Bettina was nothing short of amazing. She gave personal stories that were easy to relate to so it was easy to stay interested. If you are at all interested in feminism this is a great place to start. And even if you're already well read this class can be very inspiring.

Bettina is absolutely amazing. I was awestruck at every one of her lectures. Wonderful guest speakers. Don't really need to go to lectures.. even when papers were due people just left after turning them in. Definitely worth staying though. About 5-6 short essays and reading that isn't mandatory but very inspirational.

As a result of this class I believe I am going to be a fem studies double major.

I loved her! A very interesting and well spoken teacher. I highly recommend her and her Intro to Fem class.

sheer brillance..really engaging...i love fem now!!! really opens ur eyes to things u wud never have knownn

Had her Intro to Fem class back in '87, then Women in US Hist in '01. Remains one of the most inspiring lecturers I've ever heard. I worked for her classes because she stoked such a high level of interest. A great prof.

Really powerful class. Everyone should take a feminist class! Bettina is a great professor and will be missed. No tests, all essays. Good TA helps a lot- sections required. Has inspired me to consider being a Fem major.

She's very intelligent!

Great professor ! She's super helpful and so interesting. Take this class ! I took her Feminism and Social Justice Class it was amazing

Bettina is amazing. She is funny, wise, and wickedly smart. She knows what she is teaching from personal experience and I will always try to go to her lectures. The essays can be hard but the work load is manageable.

Inspiring and funny professor. Total badass, you gotta have a class with her

In a sea of yellow happy faces, my review is no different. Bettina Aptheker is an inspirational professor and I feel very fortunate to have taken a class by her. If you get the chance, take her class and it will enlighten your perspectives on so many issues. Amazing lectures and stimulating material.

Bettina is fabulous. She knows a lot about what it means to be an activist and a feminist, and adds a lot of personal wisdom to her lectures. It can be rough to keep up with her, because she does go a bit all over the place during class, but she made the course relatively easy.

BORING...Don't be fooled by her kind appearance. She can be rather scary with her opinions. Section helped though.

She's so awesome! A legitimate legend. You need to have at least one class with her someday. Not a lot of work and such a great and valuable perspective

Bettina is a very interesting lecturer! This class is the easiest ever, just section attendance and three short papers, no midterm, no final, no textbook. However, be warned that while Bettina is reasonable, some students in this class will be radical. If you are moderate, be prepared to defend your opinions and have some interesting discussions!

Wonderful woman, extremely insightful. Has had many incredible life experiences and uses them as teaching tools in class. Fantastic introduction to feminism.

this woman and her intro class made me major in womens studies at ucsc. i took a couple more classes she lectured for and let me tell you, it just gets better. very insightful, intelligent, and intriguing person. sucks you in. go for it. this major made me a better person :)

Bettina cares about her students. She is unbelievably kind, and incredibly intelligent. Her classes have a manageable level of difficultly that makes it easy to learn and comprehend the material. I was fortunate enough to take my senior seminar with her, and it was an extremely rewarding experience. An inspiring class, and inspiring professor.

She is one of the best teachers on Earth. Her stories are amazing, she's a celebrity in the social movement world. Do the readings around the time of the lecture so you follow, they're pretty painless and always interesting and relevant. She will tie them together with stories and inspire you. The TAs are always available too. Take the class!

AMAZING TAKE THIS. Readings out of reader are interesting, easy to read, and not too long. Lectures are full of stories, engaging, with great films. 3 papers. attendance in class and section. multiple prompt options for each paper. great TAs. amazing amazing woman i was celebstruck by her you should hear her stories and talk to her in office hours

Bettina is a wonderful, hilarious, knowledgable badass and I highly recommend this class. It is very easy, and I had a wonderful TA as well. 3 3-4 page papers and the rest of the grade is just attendance-based! The subject matter will change how you see the world.

I loved this class! I took this class out of pure curiosity, but Bettina is amazing! She is an amazing lecturer and very easy to get along with. I looked forward to this class every day and I never got bored. I definitely recommend taking any of her classes because she is the best!

Best instructor I've ever had, hands down. She is incredibly passionate about the subject matter, easily approachable, and a true inspiration. So glad I stumbled onto her class.

Bettina is an amazing lecturer and person. Her stories are so inspiring and I learned so much from her. Readings are really great too. I recommend that everyone take this class, it is definitely a once in a lifetime experience!

Bettina is amazing. She is humorous, engaging, and extremely knowledgeable with a lot of personal insight that she is willing to share. I genuinely enjoyed every class and honestly recommend this course to anyone interesting in learning perspective. Not difficult- just a few papers that require critical thinking and great readings.

Aptheker is a wonderful professor and one of the best ones I have had at UCSC so far. She is extremely engaging and intriguing and keeps the lectures interesting. The readings are also easy and interesting. On the last day of class, we all gave her a standing ovation. A very eye-opening course. I recommend every one to take it.

I loved this class. While my initial interest in this class was because it was a feminist course, I honestly would take anything if Bettina was teaching it. I no longer felt like I was taking a course, instead I felt like she was explaining an amazing story. Readings and essays are intense, but very doable. I got a B+ and I'm a freshman.

If you already have a basic understanding of feminism already, the only thing that you're going to get out of the class is specific examples that you can whip out during conversations. Only did the reading for the assignments, left class after signing in. She goes very slowly and talks as if she is telling stories the whole time. Truly an intro

Bettina is the best! She is very relatable and never draws out a lecture. Instead she combines personal anecdotes and historical context to make very interesting lectures! I now have a more complete understanding of what intersectionality is and how strongly it relates to feminist issues. You will be lucky to have Bettina as a professor!

Bettina is amazing. I loved her class and I think that it should be mandatory for the whole school. Her lectures are amazing. she provides historical context to all of the current issues. She is also very funny and tells stories about her own life that are relevant to class. She opened my eyes to the meaning of intersectionality. I love her!!

She is an amazing professor! So far the best I have had and probably the best I will ever have. She has so much knowledge and personal experience that really add to the course. Go to class! It's mandatory but honestly her class is something I looked forward to each time! Definitely take the opportunity to take her class!

love love love Bettina!! 100% take this class!

This should be a required class for all students. Bettina's a wonderful lecturer and the reading wasn't bad at all. Your grade is just attendance and participation plus two short and one medium paper. I know it's probbaly cliche to say it was "eye-opening" but what can I say, it was.

Incredibly inspirational! Bettina is both a serious and hilarious lecturer. She incorporates her own experiences as an activist into her teaching. A decent amount of reading but it's not excessive, and there were only three papers assigned throughout the course. Highly recommend!

BETTINA IS LIFE!!!!!! Her social justice class is SO IMPORTANT for learning about intersectional feminism and the BLM movement. Aptheker is an amazing activist and role model, she has great insight. She teaches people to be understanding, loving, and excited about educating others about these important issues.

This class was incredible. I took it in my first quarter of college, and it has set my expectations way too high for every course that came after it. Bettina does a phenomenal job integrating her personal experience with what we are reading and learning about in class. It's overall just a fantastic experience that I would recommend to everyone.

A really respected professor. Many readings, not assigned or with any notes unless given by your TA but they're very useful with the study questions (essays), which you will have (3). Content is good! Lectures have a lot of information but if you love this material or attend section you should be fine! Overall good class.

Super inspirational speaker. I took this to satisfy a GE and I got way more out of it than I could have hoped for. Class and sections are mandatory, but honestly worth it. You are only graded on like 3 papers, all of which are super opinion based and open ended. Bettina is lovely, hilarious, and her delivery really made this class incredible.

feel so lucky to have taken this class with Bettina before she retires! She is an inspiring lecturer and is very passionate about the material. Lecture can be a bit boring at times, but her anecdotes are really interesting and she is an amazing person.

I loved Bettina! Her lectures and the sections were both mandatory, which sucked, but she really knows what she's teaching. I thought it was interesting, thought provoking, and really educational. I learned a lot and it wasn't difficult at all to do well in. My papers easily got As without too much effort. A lot of reading though!

Great person and great professor! Made me excited to go to her class, only missed one because I absolutely had to. Very sweet, smart, caring, and easy to talk to.

I'm so glad I got to take a class with Bettina before she retired! She is by far one of the most passionate professors I have ever had for any class I've taken in college thus far. Attendance is mandatory in section and lecture, but with the amount of passion she conveys in each lecture it wasn't hard to attend.

I have taken Bettina for multiple classes and it has been an honor to have been taught by her! She is kind and patient, and her classes are very easy, she wants you to succeed. The workload is SO manageable, if you have the chance you must study under her she is an icon.