Sociology has a long tradition of shaking up things we take for granted and that’s exactly what you’ll be doing if you take this module. Transformations takes something we might consider ordinary and routine – having and bringing up children – and makes it strange, something to be explained rather than assumed, certainly not natural but embedded in social and cultural values, practices and inequalities.

We start by asking ‘why do we have children?’ (and ‘why do we not?’) and ‘who needs children and how does this matter?’. Then we look at the links between gender identity and parenting, asking ‘to what extent do femininities rely on motherhood?’ and ‘how do the dominant constructions of “good” fathering links to masculinities?’. You’ll be covering the full diversity of parenting today, including step-parents, trans-gender parents, disabled parents, single parents, gay and lesbian parents, teenage parents, adoptive parents, and surrogate mothers, focusing on ideas about who’s ‘fit’ to be a parent in the 21st century and what this tells us about social norms. For example, ‘who should have the right to adopt?’, ‘what does it mean when a trans-man has a baby?’ and ‘why are women with disabilities so often seen as “unfit” mothers?’.

Conceptually, we begin the module by addressing reproductive rights – the idea that we should be able to decide whether, when and how many children to have – and end by shifting to reproductive justice – a concept coined by black feminists to better address intersectionality and recognize the barriers that still prevent some people from accessing the full range of choices about their reproductive lives. Based on feminist perspectives, Transformations has a predominantly UK focus, although we also incorporate some global perspectives.

You will be taught through a weekly 1 hour interactive lecture and weekly 1 hour participatory seminar (activities include mind-mapping, role plays, short debates and group presentations, as well as discussing your core readings).

Key Information

Optional module

15 CATS

Assessment: 3000 word essay (100%)

Teaching: 1 hour lecture and 1 hour seminar per week

Module Convenor: Dr Caroline Wright

Additional Information (Module Handbook - Provisional)

Additional Information (Power Point)