Sociology of the family
Ulla Svensson
12 points
* 2 hours per week
* First semester
* Clayton
Objectives Students in this subject will develop an understanding of how people's choices about marriage and parenthood are shaped and constrained by social structures and political ideologies; obtain a cross-cultural understanding by comparison with Scandinavian, socialist and pre-industrial societies; learn to apply a gender perspective on research, theorising, and social policies in the field of family studies; develop the practical skills of oral presentation and learn to debate and defend one's ideas and views.
Synopsis This subject examines how social, political and economic forces structure private domestic life. Topics to be discussed include the politicisation of the family and family reform movements, a comparison of family forms and family policies in capitalist and socialist societies, family forms and personality construction, the social construction of parenthood and childhood, the family as a site of gender struggles. The aim is to critically assess different theoretical explanations within the Marxist, feminist, functionalist and psychoanalytic perspectives.
Assessment Long essay (4500 words): 50%
* Short essay (2500 words):
30%
* Seminar presentation (2000 words): 20%
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