UNIVERSITY OF WESTERN ONTARIO DEPARTMENT OF SOCIOLOGY. SOCIOLOGY 2235 Section 001 Sociology of Family

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1 UNIVERSITY OF WESTERN ONTARIO DEPARTMENT OF SOCIOLOGY SOCIOLOGY 2235 Section 001 Sociology of Family Instructor: Professor Gale Cassidy Office: SSC 5405 Telephone: X Lectures: Mondays 6:00 to 9:00 pm Classroom: SSC 2020 Office Hours: After class, Tuesdays 11:30 am to 12:30 pm, or by appointment Learning Outcomes After completing this course, students will be able to understand the intersection between family life and the public sphere. comprehend the various theories used to explain the structure and dynamics of families. understand how families from various cultures are connected, despite their different lifestyles. see how contemporary patterns of work reflect changes in the economy and ideologies of gender. recognize that there is no single institutionalized lifecourse with respect to family development. appreciate the diversity in structure and processes of families in contemporary Canadian society. see how difficulties like poverty, abuse, addictions, etc. negatively impact family members. Course Description This course introduces students to the sociological analysis of families and gives them an understanding of family within the larger social system. The course begins by looking at different conceptual and theoretical issues, which challenge the commonly-held views of the family. We will consider how families are formed and look at the choices that people make regarding marriage and parenting. We will take a closer look at different aspects of family life, including the distribution of paid and unpaid work within families, diverse family forms, and intergenerational issues. We will consider adversities experienced by families, including addictions, violence and divorce. Finally, we will consider policy issues relevant to families and the future prospects for the family in a changing society. Prerequisites Sociology 1020 or 1021E, formerly Sociology 020 or 020E. Unless you have either the requisites for this course or written special permission from your Dean to enroll in it, you will be removed from this course and it will be deleted from your record. This decision may not be appealed. You will receive no adjustment to your fees in the event that you are dropped from a course for failing to have the necessary prerequisites. Antirequisite Former Sociology 139

2 Course Materials 1. Mitchell, Barbara A. (2012). Family Matters: An Introduction to Family Sociology in Canada. 2 nd Canadian Edition. Toronto, ON: Canadian Scholars Press. 2. Mandell, Nancy and Ann Duffy. (2011). Canadian Families: Diversity, Conflict, and Change 4th Edition. Toronto: Nelson 3. Additional readings may also be assigned. Students will be notified in class and on SAKAI. Evaluations Midterm Exam #1 Midterm Exam #2 Final Exam Date October 21 st January 20 th April exam period Worth 30% 30% 40% Class Attendance Good class attendance is critical to getting the most out of this course. There is a direct correlation between attendance in class and marks achieved by students. While readings and class lectures fit together, some material will only be covered in class. You are responsible for everything that occurs during class time including discussions, videos, guest speakers, etc. You are also responsible for any announcements made during class. It is a good idea to buddy up with a classmate, in order to exchange notes if you must miss a class, since lectures notes will not be supplied to students. Some videos shown in class may be available in the library, but others will not available for private viewing. Cell Phones and Laptops in the Classroom The use of cell phones for any reason is not permitted in the classroom. Students accessing their cell phones for any reason will be considered disruptive and may be subject to sanctions under the Student Code of Conduct, including, but not limited to, being asked to leave the class. Also, laptops are to be used only for taking notes in class. Using them for any other purpose could also result in sanctions. Examinations The examinations are NOT cumulative and will cover all course material, including lectures, assigned readings, class discussions, films, guest presenters, etc. They may include multiple choice, short answer questions, definitions, and true/false questions. Computer-marked multiple-choice tests and/or exams WILL be submitted for similarity reviews by software that will check for unusual coincidences in answer patterns that may indicate cheating. No electronic devices are permitted in exams. Grades Due to privacy regulations, I am unable to send marks or discuss issues regarding grades by . Please see me during my office hours. Midterm exam grades will be posted to the OWL site when they become available (within one week of the exam). Final exam grades will not be available until approved by the department. PLEASE NOTE, there will be NO extra work assigned for the purpose of improving grades. It is unfair to other students in the class who are not given the same opportunity. Also, I am unable to increase marks unless warranted. PLEASE DON T ASK! Grade Guidelines Department of Sociology guidelines require a particular course grade distribution, which may require curving or otherwise adjusting your course grade in order to meet this requirement. As much as possible, your earned course grade will be the grade you receive. For 2200 level courses, the course mean is to be between 66 and 70%, and there are to be more Bs than As.

3 Missed Exams and Late Assignments Make-up exams will be granted with approved documentation only. If you have a conflict with one of the exam dates, it is your responsibility to discuss it with the Academic Counseling office at least one week before the regularly scheduled exam and provide documentation of the conflict. If approved, you will be allowed to schedule a make-up exam. If you miss an exam due to illness or for any other unforeseen reason, you must provide documentation of the reason for missing the exam to your Academic Counselor within 48 hours of the regularly scheduled exam. If your Academic Counselor agrees that your reason for missing the exam is legitimate and is supported by your medical doctor s documentation, you will be allowed to write a makeup exam. Compassionate Grounds Serious Illness of a Family Member: Inform your instructor as soon as possible and submit a medical certificate from the family member's physician to your home faculty s Academic Counselling office. In Case of a Death: Inform your instructor as soon as possible and submit a copy of the newspaper notice, death certificate or documentation provided by the funeral director to your home faculty s Academic Counselling office. Support Services For a complete list of options about how to obtain help, students who are in emotional/mental distress should refer to Mental Health@Western at Statement on Academic Offences Scholastic offences are taken seriously and students are directed to read the appropriate policy, specifically, what constitutes a scholastic offence at Note Plagiarism: Students must write their essays and assignments in their own words. Whenever students take an idea, or a passage, from another author they must acknowledge their debt both by quotation marks and in footnotes. Plagiarism is a major academic offence (see Scholastic Offence Policy in the Western Academic Calendar). ** Plagiarism Checking: The University of Western Ontario uses software for plagiarism checking. Students may be required to submit their written work in electronic form for plagiarism checking. *** The policy of the University is that, when a course instructor wishes to change the evaluation procedure, as outlined in his or her course outline at the beginning of the year, prior approval must be obtained from the dean of the faculty concerned. **** Sociology 1020 or 1021E, formerly 020 or 021E, is a prerequisite for this course. It is the students responsibility to ensure that they have met this prerequisite. WARNING -- UNLESS YOU HAVE EITHER THE PREREQUISITES FOR THIS COURSE OR WRITTEN SPECIAL PERMISSION FROM YOUR DEAN TO ENROLL IN IT, YOU WILL BE REMOVED FROM THIS COURSE AND IT WILL BE DELETED FROM YOUR RECORD. THIS DECISION MAY NOT BE APPEALED. YOU WILL RECEIVE NO ADJUSTMENT TO YOUR FEES IN THE EVENT THAT YOU ARE DROPPED FROM A COURSE FOR FAILING TO HAVE THE NECESSARY PREREQUISITES. Check Department of Sociology website ( for class cancellations or changes.

4 Sept. 9 Sept. 16 Dates Topics Readings Overview to the Study of Family An Introduction to the Sociology of Canadian Families Mitchell, ch. 1 Mandell & Duffy, ch. 1 Sept. 23 Family Theory and Methods Mitchell, ch. 2 Sept. 30 Anthropological, Cross-cultural, and Global Perspective Mitchell, ch. 3 Oct.7 Changing Ethnic Mosaic of Canadian Families OCTOBER 14 th THANKSGIVING HOLIDAY Mitchell, ch. 4 Mandell & Duffy, ch. 4 Oct. 28 & Nov. 4 Nov. 11 & 18 Nov. 25 & Dec. 2 Jan. 6 Jan. 13 OCTOBER 21 st MIDTERM EXAM WORTH 30% More Than A Labour of Love Establishing Partnerships and Starting Families Families and Children in the Early Years HAPPY HOLIDAYS Lesbian, Gay, and Transgendered Families Separation, Divorce, and Remarriage JANURARY 20 th MIDTERM EXAM WORTH 30% Mitchell, ch. 5 Mandell & Duffy, ch. 7 Mitchell, ch. 6 Mandell & Duffy, ch. 2 Mitchell, ch. 7 Mandell & Duffy, ch. 3 Mitchell, ch. 8 Mandell & Duffy, ch. 5 Mitchell, ch. 9 Mandell & Duffy, ch. 8 Jan. 27 Families in the Middle and the Launching of Children Mitchell, ch. 10 Feb. 3 Feb. 10 Aging Families and the Sunset Years Contemporary Issues Facing Families FEBRUARY 17 th READING WEEK Mitchell, ch. 11 Mandell & Duffy, ch.10 Feb. 24 & Mar. 3 Families Facing Health Challenges Mitchell, ch. 12 Mar. 10 Mar. 17 & 24 Trying to Make Ends Meet Families in Crisis Mitchell, ch. 13 Mandell & Duffy, ch. 6 Mitchell, ch. 14 Mandell & Duffy, ch. 9 Mar. 31 Families and the State Mitchell, ch. 15 Apr. 7 Course Wrap Up FINAL EXAM WORTH 40%

5 Social Science Please contact the course instructor if you require material in an alternate format or if you require any other arrangements to make this course more accessible to you. You may also wish to contact Services for Students with Disabilities (SSD) at x for any specific question regarding an accommodation.