Sociological Perspectives on Work and Family

Recommended Prerequisites

Not applicable.

Teaching Methods

Oral presentations will be complemented by class forums and opinion courts. In the weekly sessions, the group discussions will be focused on the operationalization of theories about the social relations that rule work, employment, unpaid work and care, in contemporary society.

Assessment consists of: students’ class work (oral presentations or problem report) (pro-activity and scientific level will be valued) and 1 written essay (a scientific paper) about a topic related with students concerns.

Learning Outcomes

The curricular unit aims mainly to provide students of the 3rd cycle with conceptual and operational instruments relevant to the approach of the problems of work, family and the balance between these two spheres of life in contemporary societies.
The students attending the course will:
a. demonstrate an understanding of a wide range of sociological accounts of gender relations in the fields of work, family relations, unpaid work and care;
b. become familiar with theories and frameworks for analysing labour markets and family structures;
c. be able to apply a wide range of theories to understand the substantive issues involved in gender relations and social change;
d. become familiar with state and private policies aiming to promote work/family reconciliation;
e. expand transferable skills of verbal and written communication and self-reliant learning.

Work Placement(s)

No

Syllabus

1. Labour and employment – differentiation and hierarquization
1.1. Economic activity: trend analysis
1.2. Economic activity and unpaid work
1.3. The political economy of inequalities of women and men in the labour market: feminization, disqualification, segregation, wage inequalities
1.4. Theoretical Perspectives on the causes of inequalities: human capital; institutionalists; feminists
1.5. The persistence of discrimination in the workplace: glass ceiling and walls; tokenism; sexual harassment

2. Structures and family models – continuities and changes
2.1. The formation of the modern family
2.2. Social and sexual inequalities
2.3. Relations of conjugality and domestic relations
2.4. Fecundity patterns
2.5. Family and social networks

3. Balancing Work and Family
3.1. Policies and practices of work/family reconciliation
3.2. Family relations and relationships of care.

Assessment Methods

Assessment
Synthesis work: 50.0%
Resolution Problems: 50.0%

Bibliography

Almeida, A. N.(2011).História da Vida Privada em Portugal. Os Nossos Dias. Lisboa: Círculo de Leitores

Bawin-Legros, B.(2003).Le nouvel ordre sentimental. À quoi sert la famille aujourd’hui?. Paris: Payot.

Ferreira, V. (2004).“Relações Sociais de Sexo e Segregação do Emprego: Uma Análise da Feminização dos Escritórios em Portugal”. Coimbra: UC.

Ferreira, V. (Org) (2010).A Igualdade de Mulheres e Homens no Trabalho e no Emprego em Portugal: Políticas e Circunstâncias. Lisboa:CITE

Goertz, G. & Mazur, A. G.(ed)(2008).Politics, Gender, and Concepts: theory and methodology. Cambridge: UP

Heras, M. A. D.(2012).Unpaid Work in the Global Economy.Bilbao:Fundación BBVA

Kimmel, M. S. & A. Aronson (ed.)(2007).The Gendered Society Reader.NY:Oxford UP

Portugal, S. (2014),Famílias e Redes Sociais. Coimbra:Almedina

Singly, F. (2004).Sociologie de la famille contemporaine. Paris:A. Colin

Walby, S.(2009).Globalization & Inequalities. London:Sage

Wall, K.(2005). Famílias em Portugal. Lisboa:ICS