Sociology of Gender and Family
Course code
RAS6038.YK
old course code
Course title in Estonian
Soo- ja perekonnasotsioloogia
Course title in English
Sociology of Gender and Family
ECTS credits
6.0
Assessment form
Examination
lecturer of 2025/2026 Spring semester
Not opened for teaching. Click the study programme link below to see the nominal division schedule.
lecturer of 2026/2027 Autumn semester
Not opened for teaching. Click the study programme link below to see the nominal division schedule.
Course aims
The course aims to familiarise students with some key concepts, debates and theoretical perspectives in the fields of contemporary sociology of gender and sociology of family. Additionally, the aim is to provide opportunities for thinking and discussing the practical manifestation of some central research problems related to gender and family in everyday settings.
Brief description of the course
The course focuses on and links two major areas of research in contemporary social sciences. On the one hand, the course examines gender as a socially constructed category and its pervasiveness in various spheres of social life and social structures. On the other hand, the course deals with family as a basic social institution in the Estonian and global context. Through studying family as a gendered institution, gender is analysed in the private and public spheres and the boundary between these spheres is challenged. During the course, an intersectional approach is taken, paying attention to ways in which the categories of gender and family intersect with other socially constructed categories, such as race, age, ethnicity, sexuality etc.
The course gives an overview of the following topics and areas of study, amongst others:
-The basics of sociology of gender and family: key concepts and approaches
-Intersectionality
-Gender, family and the work of production and reproduction
-Gender, family and state: different forms of family, the relationship between state and family
-Demographic and life-course view on gender and family
-Gender-based intimate partner and family violence
-Men and masculinities in the context of family and private sphere
-Gender and family in a postcolonial, transnational and global settings
-Methodological questions: how to study gender and family sociologically?
The course consists of seminars on the mentioned research areas and approaches, for which students must read the mandatory text(s) or other materials prescribed for the respective seminar. Also, three written reflections must be prepared based on the mandatory materials of the three seminars, and one oral presentation must be made during the course, as well as the preparation and management of a discussion based on this presentation from the mandatory texts of one of the seminars. Students should actively and meaningfully participate in the seminars.
The course gives an overview of the following topics and areas of study, amongst others:
-The basics of sociology of gender and family: key concepts and approaches
-Intersectionality
-Gender, family and the work of production and reproduction
-Gender, family and state: different forms of family, the relationship between state and family
-Demographic and life-course view on gender and family
-Gender-based intimate partner and family violence
-Men and masculinities in the context of family and private sphere
-Gender and family in a postcolonial, transnational and global settings
-Methodological questions: how to study gender and family sociologically?
The course consists of seminars on the mentioned research areas and approaches, for which students must read the mandatory text(s) or other materials prescribed for the respective seminar. Also, three written reflections must be prepared based on the mandatory materials of the three seminars, and one oral presentation must be made during the course, as well as the preparation and management of a discussion based on this presentation from the mandatory texts of one of the seminars. Students should actively and meaningfully participate in the seminars.
Learning outcomes in the course
Upon completing the course the student:
- familiar with the central concepts and theoretical-methodological approaches used in contemporary sociology of gender and family;
- able to assess various gendered processes of transformation taking place in the society and inside the family and the interrelatedness of these processes;
- able to compare the processes taking place in the institution of family and in gender structures in Estonia with respective international trends;
- able to formulate research questions concerning family and gender and prepare a research plan to carry out respective research in this area.
- familiar with the central concepts and theoretical-methodological approaches used in contemporary sociology of gender and family;
- able to assess various gendered processes of transformation taking place in the society and inside the family and the interrelatedness of these processes;
- able to compare the processes taking place in the institution of family and in gender structures in Estonia with respective international trends;
- able to formulate research questions concerning family and gender and prepare a research plan to carry out respective research in this area.
Teacher
Kadri Aavik, Kadri Täht
Study programmes containing that course