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for a past academic year. Please see the current academic year for up to date information.
| Unit name |
Intimacy, Families and Personal Life |
| Unit code |
SPAI20022 |
| Credit points |
20 |
| Level of study |
I/5
|
| Teaching block(s) |
Teaching Block 2 (weeks 13 - 24)
|
| Unit director |
Professor. Dermott |
| Open unit status |
Not open |
| Pre-requisites |
none |
| Co-requisites |
none |
| School/department |
School of Sociology, Politics and International Studies |
| Faculty |
Faculty of Social Sciences and Law |
Description including Unit Aims
Given current interest around diversity and change in both family form and the
'doing' of personal life, and with the alleged democratisation of interpersonal
relationships, this unit will explore evidence for, and debates about, the nature
of contemporary personal relationships. The unit will cover debates around
parenting and family life, the rituals of intimacy, and rights and responsibilities in personal relationships. It will address questions such as - how can changing rates of marriage and cohabitation be explained? what are the
similarities and differences between fathering and mothering? how does the
state influence the organisation of intimate relationships? why is family
change routinely greeted as a crises? how can we study intimate life?
Aims:
- To introduce and discuss evidence on social change personal relationships
- To discuss sociological studies of intimacy and personal life
- To explore theories of intimacy and family
- To examine the cultural and historical context for the discussions of intimacy
- To introduce students to the main issues and problems involved in studying personal life
Intended Learning Outcomes
On successful completion of this unit students will be able to:
- show knowledge of patterns of household formation, fertility, parenting, and personal relationships
- use appropriate evidence from empirical research to illustrate current debates around intimate relations and family life
- recognise and describe competing theories of intimacy situate discussions of family, intimacy and personal relationships in cultural and historical context
- demonstrate understanding of the range of methods used in researching personal life including their strengths and limitations
Teaching Information
3hr seminar
Assessment Information
Summative: Presentation or equivalent (10%)
This will assess the following learning outcomes:
- use appropriate evidence from empirical research to illustrate current debates around intimate relations and family life
- demonstrate understanding of the range of methods used in researching personal life including their strengths and limitations
Summative: 3000 word essay or equivalent (90%)
This will assess the following learning outcomes:
- use appropriate evidence from empirical research to illustrate current debates around intimate relations and family life
- recognise and describe competing theories of intimacy situate discussions of family, intimacy and personal relationships in cultural and historical context
- show knowledge of patterns of household formation, fertility, parenting, and personal relationships
Reading and References
- Dermott, E. and Seymour, J. (eds) (2011) Displaying Families. London: Palgrave Macmillan.
- Gabb, J. (2008) Researching Intimacy in Families. London: Palgrave Macmillan.
- Jamieson, L. (1998) Intimacy: Personal Relationships in Modern Societies, Cambridge: Polity Press.
- Morgan, D.H.J. (2011) Rethinking Family Practices. London: Palgrave Macmillan.
- Scott, J, Treas, J, and Richards, M. (2004) (eds) The Blackwell Companion to the Sociology of Families. Oxford: Blackwell.
- Smart, C. (2007) Personal Life. Cambridge: Polity.
