Year 2011-12

Gender and Family (21690)

Qualification: 3391 - Degree in Political Sciences and Administration
Year: 3rd / 4th
Term: 3rd
Number of ECTS credits: 4 credits
Hours of student dedication: 100 (number of ECTS credits x 25)
Teaching language: Catalan
Teachers: Ma José González / Elena Vidal Coso

 

1. Introduction to the course

In the second half of the 20th century Western industrialized countries have experienced what many have identified as a new stage in the development of populations: the Second Demographic Transition. This transition is characterised by a greater control of fertility and a decreased (apparent) desire to procreate. It resulted in the early nineties to low levels of fertility rate, especially in Spain and Italy which reached the point below the feared minimum generational replacement rate. How can this transition across industrialized countries be explained? The reduction of fertility indicators was explained by the fact that couples were deciding to have children later and more recently by an increase in the number of females not wanting to have children.  Behind the scenes of this transition there was a transformation of gender roles that began to question the basis of the patriarchal family and the rigid gender division that this model implied. This transition is still going at the beginning of the 21st century, the incoherence between emerging aspirations for gender equality and individual autonomy and the lack of institutional and cultural support have prevented the full development of this social revolution.

The objectives of this course are to analyse the recent transformation of the family models in western countries from a gender perspective (the change in the basis of family formation through the course of life and the emerging types of families), to understand the implications of these changes on social policy and to allow students to learn about social and demographic methodology in the study of populations.  

 

2. Competences to be achieved

Generic Competences

 

§  Instrumental competences:

. Capacity to analyse and synthesise.

. Basic IT skills.

§  Interpersonal competences:

. Ethical compromise.

 

Specific Competences

. To recognise the historic dimension of political and social processes

. Capacity to plan, implement, assess and analyse public policies.

3. Contents

At the end of the course students should know how to:

*      Interpret recent changes in family models in western countries from different theoretical approaches (sociologic, economic, and feminist theories).

*                  Interpret the concepts of family and gender relations as social constructs changing over time.

 

*      Explain the potential influence of social policies on international differences in family behaviour.

 

*      Use basic analytical methodologies in demography and apply the gender perspective.

*      Identify problems and propose research questions related to families and social and gender inequality.

4. Assessment

A final exam will account for 60% of the final mark, the reminder 40% will be based on continuous assessment of work carried out in the seminars. There will be presentations of the compulsory readings in each lecture (the list of readings will change each year depending on the available publications).  Students who do not present will have half a point deducted from their final mark.

5. Bibliography and other resources

5.1. Basic resources

Alberdi, I. (1999) La nueva familia española. Madrid: Taurus.

Alberdi, I. and P. Escario (2007) Los hombres jóvenes y la paternidad. Bilbao: Fundación BBVA.

Baizán, Pau (2003) "La difícil integración de los jóvenes en la edad adulta", Fundación Alternativas, 33.

Becker, G. (1987) Tratado sobre la Familia. Madrid: Alianza.

Bernardi, F. and Requena, M. (2003) "La caída de fecundidad y el déficit de
la natalidad en España", Revista Española de Sociología, 3.

Bernardi, Fabrizio and Martínez Pastor, Juan Ignacio  (2010): "Female education and marriage dissolution: Is it a selection effect?", European Sociological Review.

Bernardi, Fabrizio and Martínez Pastor, Juan Ignacio (2011) "Divorce risks factors and their variation over time in Spain" (with), Demographic Research, Vol. 24, article 31, pp. 771-800.

Bernhardt, E. and F. Goldscheider (2006) "Gender equality, parenthood attitudes, and first births in Sweden.", Vienna Yearbook of Population Research, 2006: 19-39.

Blossfeld, H.-P. and J. Huinink (1991) "Human capital investments or norms of role transition? How women's schooling and career affect the process of family formation." American Journal of Sociology 97: 143-168.

Brodmann, S.; Esping-Andersen, G. and Güell, M. (2007) "When Fertility is Bargained: Second Births in Denmark and Spain", European Sociological Review, 23(5): 599-613.

Castro Martín, T. (2003) "Matrimonios de hecho, de derecho y en eterno
aplazamiento: la nupcialidad española al inicio del siglo XXI", Sistema,
175-176: 87-111.

Dalla Zuanna, G. (2001) "The banquet of Aeolus: A familistic interpretation of Italy'slowest low fertility", Demographic Research 4: 131-162.

Domínguez-Folgueras, Marta and Castro-Martin, Teresa (2008)  "Women's changing socioeconomic position and union formation in Spain and Portugal", Demographic Research 19:1513-1541.

Escobedo, A. (2007) Leave policies and research in Spain (pp.246-259) in: Moss P. & Wall, K. (2007) International Review of Leave Policies and Related Research 2007 (Employment Relations Research Series No.80).

Esping-Andersen, Gøsta (2000) Fundamentos sociales de las economías postindustriales. Barcelona: Ariel.

Flaquer, L. (2000). Les polítiques familiars en una perspectiva comparada. Barcelona: Fundació 'La Caixa'.

Flaquer, L. (2003). '¿Por qué son necesarias las políticas familiares?'. Claves de Razón Práctica, 130: 74-80.

Flaquer, L. (2004). 'Llei catalana de suport a les famílies: Una oportunitat perduda?'. In Dret Working Paper de Dret Català Núm 12. Abril del 2004. Barcelona: Universitat Pompeu Fabra.

Flaquer, L. (2004). 'Polítiques de suport i d'atenció a les famílies'. A: C. Gómez-Granell et al. Informe 2004: Infància, famílies i canvi social a Catalunya. Volum 1. Barcelona: Institut d'Infància i Món Urbà. Observatori de la infancia i les famílies. pp. 121-154.

Flaquer, L. (2007). 'Familia y políticas públicas'. A: A. M. Morales and J. M. Miquel (eds.) Derecho, sociedad y familia: Cambio y continuidad. Madrid: Universidad Autónoma de Madrid. Boletín Oficial del Estado. pp. 229-239.

Flaquer, L. (2007). 'How can we orientate the reform of childhood policies? Challenges, dilemmas and proposals'. Wellchi Working Paper Series No. 8/2007. Barcelona: Children's Well-being International Documentation Centre.

Flaquer, L. and C. Brullet (2006). 'Las políticas familiares en Cataluña'. A: X. Roigé (ed.) Familias de ayer, familias de hoy. Barcelona: Icaria/Institut Català d'Antropologia. pp. 219-234.

Flaquer, L. and E. Oliver (2002). 'Polítiques de suport a les famílies'. A: C. Gómez-Granell, M. García-Milà, A. Ripol-Millet, C. Panchón (eds..) Informe 2002. La infància i les famílies als inicis del segle XXI. Vol. 1. Barcelona: Institut d'Infància i Món Urbà. Observatori de la infància i la família. pp. 299-349.

Flaquer, L., E. Almeda i L. Navarro (2006). Monoparentalidad e infancia. Barcelona: Fundación 'la Caixa'.

Flaquer. L (2007). 'Family change and child poverty in comparative perspective', Wellchi Working Paper Series 1/2007. Barcelona: Children's Well-being International Documentation Centre.

Garrido Medina, L. (1993) Las dos biografías de la mujer en España. Madrid: Instituto de la Mujer.

González, M. J. (2011) "Políticas de familia e infancia, una inversión social para tiempos de bonanza y de crisis económica", EKONOMI GERIZAN, XVIII (El Estado de bienestar en la encrucijada: nuevos retos ante la crisis global). Vitoria-Gasteiz: FCAVN: 250-260.

González, M.J. (2006) "Balancing Employment and Family Responsibilities in Southern Europe Trends and Challenges for Social Policy Reform", Revue française des affaires socials (French edition), 1: 30-34

González, M.J. and Jurado, T. (2006) "Remaining childless in affluent economies: a comparison of France, West Germany, Italy and Spain", European Journal of Population, 22: 317-352

González, M.J. and Jurado, Teresa (2010) "¿Cuándo se implican los hombres en las tareas domésticas? Un análisis de la Encuesta de Empleo del Tiempo", Panorama Social, 10: 65-79. Madrid: FUNCAS.

González, M.J.; Miret, P. and Treviño, R. (2010) "´Just Living Together´ Implications of cohabitation for fathers' participation in child care in Western Europe", Demographic Research, 23(16): 445-478.

Goody, J. (2001) La familia europea. Barcelona: Crítica.

Iglesias de Ussel and Meil Landwerlin, G. (2001) La política familiar en
España. Barcelona: Ariel.

Jurado Guerrero, T. (2001) Youth in Transition. Housing, Employment,
Social Policies And Families in France And Spain. Aldershot: Ashgate.

Jurado Guerrero, T. (2003) "La vivienda como determinante de la formación
familiar en España desde una perspectiva comparada", Revista
Española de Investigaciones Sociológicas, 103: 113-157.

Jurado Guerrero, T. (ed.). 2007. Cambios Familiares y Trabajo Social, Ediciones Académicas.

Kohler, H.-P., Billari, F. C. and Ortega, J. A. (2002) "The emergence of lowest-low fertility in Europe during the 1990s", Popul. Dev. Rev. 28, 641-681.

Lapuerta, I.; Baizán, P. and González, M.J. (2010) "Individual and Institutional Constraints: an Analysis of Parental Leave Use and Duration in Spain", Population Research and Policy Review, 30(2): 185-210.

Lesthaeghe, R. (1995) "The second demographic transition in Western countries: An interpretation.". A K. O. Mason and A. M. Jensen (eds.) Gender and Family Changein Industrialized Countries. Oxford, Clarendon, pp. 17-62.

Martínez Pastor, Juan Ignacio  (2006) "La homogamia educativa de las nuevas mujeres en España" Revista Internacional de Sociología, Vol.  LXIV, n.43, pp. 69-94

Martínez Pastor, Juan Ignacio (2008) "Cada vez menos y más tarde: un análisis de la nupcialidad masculina durante los últimos treinta años en España" Revista Española de Investigaciones Sociológicas, nº 123, pp. 59-86.

Martínez Pastor, Juan Ignacio (2009) Nupcialidad y cambio social en España, Madrid, Centro de Investigaciones Sociológicas, Col. Monografías, nº 266, 317 pp.

Martínez Pastor, Juan Ignacio (2010) "¿Solución familiar o desfamiliarización? Pros y contras de los modos de compatibilizar trabajo y familia en los países de la OCDE", Praxis Sociológica, 14, pp. 37-67.

McDonald, P. (2000): "Gender equality, social institutions and the future of fertility," Journal of Population Research, 17(1): 1-16.

McDonald, Peter (2000) "Gender Equity in Theories of Fertility Transition", Population and Development Review, Vol. 26, No. 3, pp. 427-439

Mills, M., Mencarini, L., Tanturri, M.L., and K. Begall (2008) "Gender equity and fertility intentions in Italy and the Netherlands", Demographic Research, 18(1): 1-26.

Miret, P. (2002) La nupcialitat a Catalunya durant el període 1975-2000. Informe elaborat per a l'Institut d'Estadística de Catalunya.

Miret, P. (2007) "¿Son diferentes las uniones consensuales y los matrimonios? Comparación de los censos españoles de población de 1991 y 2001", Revista Internacional de Sociología, vol. LXV, nº 48: 55-74.

Miret, P. and A. Cabré (2005), "Pautas recientes en la formación familiar en España: Constitución de la pareja y fecundidad", Papeles de Economía Española, 104: 17-36.

Naldini, M. (2003) The Family in the Mediterranean Welfare State, Londres, Frank Cass.

Oppenheimer, Valerie K. (1988) "A Theory of Marriage Timing",  American Journal of Sociology 94:563-591.

Oppenheimer, Valerie K. (1997) "Women's Employment and the Gain to Marriage: The Specialization and Trading Model.", Annual review of sociology, 23: 431-453.

Oppenheimer, Valerie K. (2003) "Cohabiting and Marriage during Young Men's Career-Development Process", Demography, 40:127-149.

Pérez-Díaz, V.; Chuliá, E. and C. Valiente (2000) La familia española en el año 2000. Madrid: Argentaria/Visor.

5.2. Other resources

Students should look at the section on "Sociologia de la família" on the special guides section on the UPF library webpage: http://guiesbibtic.upf.edu/cpis

Other sources of information:

-          Asociación de Hombres por la Igualdad de Género (AHIGE)

-          Centro de Investigaciones Sociológicas

-          Critical Research on Men in Europe

-          European Foundation on Improvement of Living and Working Conditions

-          Eurostat

-          Foundation for Child Development: Child International Society for Child Indicators (ISCI)

-          Institut d'Infància i Món Urbà (CIIMU)

-          Instituto Nacional de Estadística

-          International Expert Network on Leave Policies and Research

-          OECD Family database

-          Ministerio de Trabajo y Asuntos Sociales

-          European Foundation for the Improvement of Living and Working Conditions

-          Gender Equality in Europe

-          The EU Mutual Information System on Social Protection (MISSOC)

-          Men's Studies Press

-          OECD Family database

-          Plataforma por permisos iguales e intransferibles de nacimiento y adopción

-          The Men's Bibliography

-          UNICEF Innocenti Research Centre

6. Methodology

The course is divided into lectures and seminars. In the lectures students will present and then guide a discussion on a piece of applied research related to the theoretical content given by the teacher. The seminars will take part in the IT rooms. The objective of the seminars is for students to carry out a piece of research work for which they will need to: know the main sources of statistical information on topics related to family and gender inequality, analyse and present data, and learn how to use different IT programmes (dynamic excel tables, generating content indexes in word and creating bibliographies with zotero). 

7. Programme of activities

week

Ses

Type

Session contents

Student work during the week

Learning activity

Hrs in class

Hrs out of class

In class

Autonomous work

Iª

 

T

Introduction: family, gender and society

Following the theoretical content, participation and presentation of a piece of applied research

Read and prepare the presentation of an article

 

1

5

 

T

Lines and changes in family structures; western family myth

Following the theoretical content, participation and presentation of a piece of applied research

2

IIª

 

T

Individuals, families and homes: what does economic theory tell us?

Following the theoretical content, participation and presentation of a piece of applied research

Read and prepare the presentation of an article

 

Widen the exercise done in class

2

5

 

S

Applied research: computer room - GROUP 1

Creating a content index and a database on bibliographic references

2

IIIª

 

T

Sociological approach to the study of gender roles in the family

Following the theoretical content, participation and presentation of a piece of applied research

Read and prepare the presentation of an article

 

Widen the exercise done in class

2

5

 

S

Applied research: computer room - GROUP 2

Creating a content index and a database on bibliographic references

2

IVª

 

T

Gender differences in time distribution: labour market and family

Following the theoretical content, participation and presentation of a piece of applied research

Read and prepare the presentation of an article

 

Widen the exercise done in class, analyse data and writing a commentary

2

5

 

S

Applied research: computer room - GROUP 1

Analysis and interpretation of European data

2

Vª

 

T

Gender and family emancipation

Following the theoretical content, participation and presentation of a piece of applied research

Read and prepare the presentation of an article

 

 

2

5

 

S

Applied research: computer room - GROUP 2

Analysis and interpretation of European data

2

VIª

 

T

Family education and work-home balances

Following the theoretical content, participation and presentation of a piece of applied research

Read and prepare the presentation of an article

 

Widen the exercise done in class, analyse data and writing a commentary

2

5

 

S

Applied research: computer room - GROUP 1

Analysis and interpretation of Spanish data

2

VIIª

 

T

Gender and unit dissolution

Following the theoretical content, participation and presentation of a piece of applied research

Read and prepare the presentation of an article

 

Widen the exercise done in class, analyse data and writing a commentary

2

5

 

S

Applied research: computer room - GROUP 2

Analysis and interpretation of Spanish data

2

VIIIª

 

T

Men, masculinity and social policies

Following the theoretical content, participation and presentation of a piece of applied research

Read and prepare the presentation of an article

 

Widen the exercise done in class, analyse data and writing a commentary

2

5

 

S

Applied research: computer room - GROUP 1

Analysis and interpretation of micro data (EPA)

2

IXª

 

T

Family changes and infant wellbeing

 

Read and prepare the presentation of an article

 

Widen the exercise done in class, analyse data and writing a commentary

2

5

 

S

Applied research: computer room - GROUP 2

Analysis and interpretation of micro data (EPA)

2

Xª

 

T

Debate on equality plans

 

Revision of different equality plans, critical analysis of these and preparation of a presentation

2

3

 

 

 

 

2

Hours of student dedication: Subtotal

38

48

XIª  XIIª

Hours of student dedication for preparing final exam

10

10

TOTAL HOURS

100

Ses: nº de session ; Type: type of session, T (theory), S (seminar).