Module SOCI3557: Sociology of Reproduction and Parenthood

Department: Sociology

SOCI3557: Sociology of Reproduction and Parenthood

Prerequisites

• At least 20 credits of level 2 modules from the Department of Sociology.

Corequisites

• None.

Excluded Combination of Modules

• None.

Aims

• To develop students' awareness of key concepts and theoretical frameworks in sociological approaches to reproduction and parenthood.
• To enable students to critically examine normative, taken-for-granted concepts, assumptions and discourses related to contemporary reproduction and parenthood.
• To enable students to link contemporary reproduction and parenthood to wider social, cultural and political changes.
• Through these, the module aims to demonstrate the multiple ways in which "the personal is political" in relation to reproduction and parenthood.

Content

• Introduction: The Shifting Constructions of Children, Childhood and Parenthood
• The Complexity of Conception and Becoming a Parent
• The Ambiguity of the Pregnant Body
• Termination of Pregnancy
• The Politics of Childbirth
• The Moral Minefield of Infant Feeding
• Social Inequality and Early Years of Life
• The (In)visibility of Fathers/hood
• Constructing and Valuing Child-free Lives and Choices
• Conclusion: Review and Assessment Discussion

Learning Outcomes

• Upon successful completion of this module, students will have demonstrated:
• A critical awareness of key concepts, debates and theoretical frameworks related to contemporary reproduction and parenthood;
• An ability to locate contemporary reproduction and parenthood within social and cultural contexts and wider societal shifts;
• An ability to deconstruct normative, taken-for-granted concepts, ideas, assumptions and discourses around reproduction and parenthood;
• An ability to articulate the ways in which reproduction and parenthood straddle and intersect the "personal" and "political".

• Upon successful completion of this module, students will have demonstrated:
• An ability to evaluate sociological arguments related to contemporary reproduction and parenthood;
• An ability to apply key sociological concepts and theoretical approaches to empirical examples concerning reproduction and parenthood;
• An ability to critically engage with policy around reproduction and parenthood;
• An ability to use diverse evidence to make sociologically-informed arguments confidently in both written and verbal forms;
• An ability to organise and present work in a scholarly way.

• Upon successful completion of this module, students will have demonstrated:
• An ability to communicate ideas and arguments in a clear and well-structured way in written work;
• An ability to take effective notes and synthesise information efficiently from diverse sources;
• An ability to work well both independently in self-directed study and collaboratively with colleagues;
• An ability to successful manage workload and time commitments;
• An awareness of their own transferrable skills and personal employability and of future relevant careers.

Modes of Teaching, Learning and Assessment and how these contribute to the learning outcomes of the module

• The module is founded on bricolage pedagogies which are rooted in, and support highly independent learning. A key aspect of this bricolage approach is students exploring their own interests through diverse types of academic and non-academic materials at their own pace.
• To support this independent learning approach, teaching is delivered through a hybrid model comprising:
• Compulsory online academic videos (3-4 per topic) which total ten hours of content across the module (mirroring lecture time commitment). These videos provide students with broad introductions to key concepts, theoretical frameworks and empirical examples related to contemporary reproduction and parenthood. They indicate the main issues that students should consider when undertaking independent learning and when participating in seminar discussions. Academic videos develop students’ skills in note-taking, listening and time-management.
• Optional online 'supplementary material' which accompanies and is interspersed with the compulsory academic videos. This supplementary material provides illustrative examples of the academic video content 'in action' and includes materials such as documentaries, poetry, art, and podcasts. Supplementary material develops students’ skills in making meaningful connections between academic theories and ‘real life’ practices, time-management and material synthesis.
• Compulsory seminars are delivered in-person as ‘anchor points’. Seminars bring together two module topics to support students in pacing their way through the module. Seminars are structured around academic videos and designated readings with input from supplementary material as appropriate. Seminars are structured around one thematic question which cuts across the two module topics being brought together. Seminars encourage students to develop skills in the evaluation and use of sociological theories and concepts and the formulation of theoretically-grounded arguments. Seminars also provide the space for students to engage in critical debates around current policy concerning reproduction and parenthood. Preparation for seminars encourages students to develop workload and time management, literature evaluation and synthesis and independent learning skills. Participation in seminars encourages students to develop key transferable skills such as verbal communication and group work skills.
• A formative assessment requires students to demonstrate their subject-specific knowledge and encourages students to demonstrate their subject-specific skills in the formulation of sociological arguments and the evaluation of sociological materials. Students will also be required to demonstrate key transferable skills in literature and information searching and synthesis and written communication. The formative assessment provides an opportunity for feedback to support the summative assessment.
• A summative assessment requires students to demonstrate more detailed knowledge of module topics and an ability to critically assess contemporary reproduction and parenthood. The summative assessment also provides an opportunity for feedback.

Teaching Methods and Learning Hours

Summative Assessment

Formative Assessment:

An essay plan in which students outline the topic of their assessment, potential titles, and give an indication of structure content and argument (500 words, optional).

■ Attendance at all activities marked with this symbol will be monitored. Students who fail to attend these activities, or to complete the summative or formative assessment specified above, will be subject to the procedures defined in the University's General Regulation V, and may be required to leave the University