Introductory description

Students will gain a knowledge of various aspects of relationship and family change in Britain and elsewhere, an understanding of how such change might be explained, and of different approaches to explanation in that context, and an awareness of a range of conceptual and empirical resources that can be used as the basis of such explanations.

Module web page

Module aims

Outline syllabus

This is an indicative module outline only to give an indication of the sort of topics that may be covered. Actual sessions held may differ.

Week 1: Introduction
Week 2: Theoretical and public perspectives on relationship and family change
Week 3: Marriage, the family and population in historical Britain
Week 4: Marital formation I: The rise of later marriage, cohabitation and LAT relationships
Week 5: Marital formation II: Homogamy and heterogamy
Week 6: (Reading week)
Week 7: Contemporary relationships: Problems and interventions
Week 8: Relationship dissolution
Week 9: The formerly married and lone parents
Week 10: Stepfamilies

Learning outcomes

By the end of the module, students should be able to:

• Consider in an informed and analytical way a range of demographic and sociological issues relating to various aspects of relationship and family change in Britain and elsewhere.
• Understand the complementary roles of cultural factors, economic factors and a range of other factors in the explanation of relationship and family change.
• Understand the value and limitations of theoretical contributions, quantitative data and qualitative data as a basis for understanding relationship and family change.
• Interpret published demographic research competently and with an appropriate degree of caution, and recognise the importance of empirically-based journal articles to academic work in the field of relationship and family change.
• Draw appropriately upon relevant substantive, empirical and conceptual material within a coherent and accurate discussion on a topic relating to relationship or family change.

Indicative reading list

Allan, G., Crow, G. and Hawker, S. 2011. Stepfamilies. Basingstoke: Palgrave.
Bauman, Z. 2003. Liquid Love: On the Frailty of Human Bonds. Cambridge: Polity.
Brynin, M. and Ermisch, J. (eds) 2008. Changing Relationships. London: Routledge.
Budgeon, S. 2009. 'Couple Culture and the Production of Singleness', Sexualities 11: 301-25.
Edwards, R., Ribbens McCarthy, J. and Gillies, V. 2002. Making Families: Moral Tales of Parenting and Step-Parenting. Durham: sociologypress.
Goldstone, J. 1986. 'The Demographic Revolution in England: a Re-examination', Population Studies 40.1: 5-33.
Griffin, E. 2012. 'A Conundrum Resolved? Rethinking Courtship, Marriage and Population Growth in Eighteenth-Century England', Past and Present 215: 125-164.
Holdsworth, C., Finney, N., Marshall, A. and Norman, P. 2013. Population and Society. London: Sage.
Jamieson, L. 1997. Intimacy: Personal Relationships in Modern Societies. Cambridge: Polity.
Kalmijn, M. 1998. 'Intermarriage and homogamy: Causes, patterns, trends', Annual Review of Sociology 24: 395-421.
Kiernan, K. 2004. 'Changing European Families: Trends and Issues', in Scott, J., Treas, J. and Richards, M. (eds) The Blackwell Companion to the Sociology of Families. Oxford: Blackwell.
Kiernan, K. and Mueller, G. 1999. 'Who Divorces?' In McRae, S. (ed.) Changing Britain: Families and Households in the 1990s. Oxford: Oxford University Press.
Lampard, R. 2007. 'Couples' Places of Meeting in Late 20th Century Britain: Class, Continuity and Change', European Sociological Review 23.3: 357-371.
Lampard, R. and Peggs, K. 2007. Identity and Repartnering after Separation. Basingstoke: Palgrave.
Lampard, R. 2014. 'Stated Reasons for Relationship Dissolution in Britain: Marriage and Cohabitation Compared', European Sociological Review 30.3: 315-328.
Lesthaeghe, R. 2010. The Unfolding Story of the Second Demographic Transition', Population and Development Review 36.2: 211-251.
Lewis, J. 2001. The End of Marriage? Individualism and Intimate Relations. Cheltenham: Edward Elgar.
Lewis, J., Clark, D. and Morgan, D.H.J. 1992. "Whom God hath Joined Together": the work of marriage guidance. London: Routledge.
Prinz, C. 1995. Cohabiting, married or single: Portraying, analyzing and modeling new living arrangements in the changing societies of Europe. Aldershot: Avebury.
Smart, C. 1997. 'Wishful Thinking and Harmful Tinkering? Sociological Reflections on Family Policy', Journal of Social Policy, 26.3: 301-321.
Smart, C. and Neale, B. 1998. Family Fragments? Cambridge: Polity.

View reading list on Talis Aspire

Interdisciplinary

This module draws upon sociological, demographic and other disciplinary perspectives/material.

International

While the module has a UK focus, much of the reading material and many of the themes are internationally-orientated.

Subject specific skills

Apply sociological and demographic theories and ideas to specific aspects of family and/or relationship change.

Communicate in essay form a description and analysis of a social process or phenomenon, recognising that it may be complex in nature and require a suitably multi-faceted approach to be discussed appropriately.

Transferable skills

Appreciate the use of different types of data to gain a full understanding of a phenomenon or process.

Understand that data and theories paint partial pictures of phenomena, and need to be assessed critically.