Families: Diversity and Change in Society

Catalog description

In this course, we are going to look at families as a form of social institution, which means how families work as a set of structured social arrangements that help meet certain human needs. This class will be looking at families within the context of the United States. To begin, we will explore the ways in which families are defined and consider the main elements that describe family relationships. Then, we will address families through history, taking note of the ways they have responded and adapted to larger social changes. Several modules will explore the ways in which families absorb and respond to the larger social inequalities of society. We will also explore family experiences as they relate love and romance, marriage and cohabitation, children, the workplace, divorce and remarriage, and family violence. Throughout the course, we will read and discuss scholarly research and data on families, taking note of how social scientists use research methods to scientifically study this social institution.