Bette Tallen

Bette Sharon Tallen (1950-2023) was an American scholar and activist. She taught women's studies and political science and led diversity and inclusion training for students and faculty. She taught the first accredited college course in New York on Lesbianism. Tallen was part of the radical lesbian feminist separatist movement and gained recognition for her early academic contributions in the field. Tallen, along with other Second Wave lesbian feminists including Mary Daly, Audre Lorde, Adrienne Rich, and Rita Mae Brown, were rejected by then establishment feminists such as those at National Organization for Women. She compared the need for separate women's spaces to the need for separate, focused movements for other marginalized groups, such as Black Nationalism. Throughout her career she supported efforts to center women, decenter male privilege, and challenge patriarchy.

Her later work focused on diversity programming, affirmative action, and a feminist critique of twelve step programs. She was an active member in the National Women's Studies Association and the Southeastern Women's Studies Association (now called Women's, Gender, and Sexuality Studies South).

Early life and education

Bette Sharon Tallen was born on May 8, 1950, in New York City to Nathaniel and Anne G. Tallen. She grew up in a Jewish household in Washington Heights. Although her parents were nonobservant, Bette was sent to a girl's Jewish sleep away camp for eight weeks when she was nine years old. At her request, the family became more observant attending synagogue in the reform tradition. She attended the same camp for ten years, ending as a camp counselor.

After graduating from Hunter College High School, Tallen received a bachelor's degree from the City College of New York, followed by a Doctor of Philosophy in political science from the University of Michigan.

Tallen was in a long-term relationship with Rosemary Keefe, author of Lesbian Nuns Breaking Silence.

Tallen married Carol Ann Thomas on November 16, 2019.

Tallen died on November 15, 2023. At the time of her death, she lived in Winter Park, Florida.