OVERALL DIFFICULTY: Pretty easy. I would recommend it as an easy GE.

INTERESTING?: My motivations for taking this was that it was a GE that fit my schedule. I don't consider myself a feminist (but I'm no misogynist either), and while I gained a little bit more perspective, overall I remain pretty uninterested in this area of study.

READING, Y/N?: Preferably yes, but you can get away with skimming them. Mostly fluff, but there will usually be one or two very important paragraphs. If the article has a conclusion, just read that and you're good to go.

LECTURE: Will not make up for not reading AT ALL. Can be skipped completely if you do read/ skim. If you already ARE interested in this, then lecture will probably be very entertaining. She likes to show videos and stuff.

TESTS: Based completely on the reading. MC and essay questions, which are given beforehand. I'd recommend making flashcards for all the key terms you find. There will be a hell of a lot to study. Don't fall behind reading/ skimming, and you'll be fine.

PAPERS: Besides the tests, there's one paper based on a documentary series you write outside of class. 4 pages, very manageable, and it was graded pretty leniently, IMO.

SECTIONS: Reading is useful insofar as making you able to participate and do well on the writings/ quizzes or whatever. My TA made us do weekly writings, usually summarizing the readings of the week or giving our opinions on them.

GRADING BREAKDOWN: Midterm (20%), One paper (25%), Midterm (25%), Sections (30%).

RECOMMEND?: Yes. Easy GE, and the professor is a very nice and engaging lady.

Fabulous instructor, awesome human being. Very concerned with student learning. I attended her office hours to ask her for support on the paper, and she was very supportive and kind. She loves to engage students in a thoughtful way about the readings. Her intellectual capacity is astounding. Youll have to work for your grade, but if you put in the time you can have a powerful experience in this class.

i thought she was absolutely DELIGHTFUL. loved her and all the material. but i'd consider this class to be pretty reading-intensive. one midterm, one final and one essay. midterm and final were term id and short essays, and she gave the potential essay prompts beforehand. from what i recall, she provided multiple prompts for the essay. her contemporary examples made the class really entertaining and her bubbly personality was a definitely plus. easy A if you're willing to spend about 5 hours reading/week.

Professor Williams is a very bright woman with a great personality. She has personal teaching skills and presents the material in a very organized and thoughtful manner.

There was a substantial amount of reading for the class and you need to do them for discussion because there are weekly quizzes. I found it helpful to make note cards for the midterm/final with each author of the readings and what their main ideas were.

Williams also loves to show music videos in class(esp. Lady Gaga and Beyonce) so going to lecture is worthwhile. Overall a very enjoyable class and I would recommend it for a GE.

Williams is a clear, no BS professor. Her lectures are very concise and present the information in such an organized way. The discussions for this class were quite interesting but HEAVILY reading-based. If you do not do the readings for this course, you will be able to do well on the tests etc, but you will drown in the discussions because discussions are mainly like a book club for the class. This class is probably pretty easy if you understand the main themes that link each topic (reification of XXXXX)

Professor Williams is well-informed, articulate, and intelligent. The course readings are extremely interesting and eye-opening and if you do them and attend lectures regularly you'll do well. People who complain about having to attend class and do required readings are illogical to me anyway. Williams also gives a clear study guide that helped me do well on the midterm and final.
Williams' lectures explain and expand on the required readings. Williams shows pertinent and entertaining videos (that range from Beyonce music videos to a documentary on young transgendered people) to clarify her points.
In some of the below reviews people have complained about this class making them feel "guilty" because it emphasizes that inequalities exist and some are more privileged than others. If you ask me, there aren't enough classes at this school that highlight the inequalities that still exist today, and this course does so in an eye-opening way.
In short, this class changed the way I see gender relations and societal structures on a larger scale. I took this class my freshman year, and as a senior still look back on it as one of my favorite classes. And I've taken lots of excellent classes! Williams is helpful and knowledgeable. I hope more people (women and men) take this class.

Professor William's is basically the sweetest person ever. The class lectures were usually pretty interesting. She was obsessed with showing Beyonce videos and discussing them, which was... odd. She does make you watch a series about transgender people that was pretty interesting. There are also many articles that make you feel guilty if you are white. The class is fairly easy though. I didn't do much of the reading and got a B+.

This class was great. Not only is Williams the sweetest person ever, but also it's apparent that she really cares about her students. I thought the material was really eye-opening and introduced the general subject of women's studies. There was one midterm, one paper, and one final, and the TAs are all really helpful and clearly passionate. You don't even have to put in a lot of work...everyone I talked to ended up getting an A. It was easy and rewarding--definitely my favorite class this year.

This class is awful. Seriously, her lectures are pointless and boring. The class is based mostly on transgender people, and has hardly any basis in the actual feminist theory. It was confusing, often times disturbing, and a complete waste of time. Don't take this unless you are a feminist and underprivileged, otherwise, she and the TA's will make you feel as though all the oppression in the world is your fault.

Professor Williams is absolutely fabulous! The class is eye opening, fascinating and engaging. It is a bit of work, but don't let that stop you, because the TA's grade easily as long as you show that you are trying. 100% take this class, the things you learn will influence you in all walks of life. It is a class that is truly applicable to everything!