Sociology 155/255
“The Changing American Family”
Syllabus
Spring quarter, 2008
Class Meets Mondays and Wednesdays
Hewlett Bldg Room 102
Plus once a week section TBA
Michael J. Rosenfeld
Assistant Professor
Department of Sociology
McClatchy Hall (Building 120) room 124
mrosenfe@stanford.edu
http://www.stanford.edu/~mrosenfe
(NOTE that the website contains reading questions and much additional class information)
Office Hours Mondays
Overview:
The American family has changed a great deal in the past few decades. Extra-marital cohabitation and divorce have risen sharply in the past 30 years. Young adults are marrying later than ever before. Interracial marriage and same-sex cohabitation have increased. Same-sex marriage has emerged as one of the most divisive political issues in the U.S. Women’s roles in the labor force have changed, and women’s place in society and within the home seems to have changed as well. What do all these changes mean? Are recent changes in the American family really as dramatic as they seem? We will examine family change from historical, social, demographic, and legal perspectives.
Required
* Cherlin, Andrew J. 1992. Marriage,
Divorce, Remarriage. Second Edition.
* Wilson, James Q. 2002. The Marriage Problem: How Our
Culture has Weakened Families.
* Friedan, Betty. 2001 [1963]. The Feminine Mystique. WW. Norton.
* Faludi, Susan. 2006. Backlash. 15 Anniversary Edition. Random House
* Rosenfeld, Michael J. 2007. The Age of Independence:
Interracial Unions, Same-Sex Unions, and the Changing American Family.
* Hochschild, Arlie and Anne Machung. 2003 [1989]. The Second Shift. New Updated Edition. Penguin.
* Sullivan, Andrew, and Joseph Landau (Eds.). 2004. Same-
Sex Marriage: Pro and Con.
Further Required Reading, link available from my website:
* Moynihan, Daniel Patrick. 1965. “The Negro Family: The Case for National Action”
Requirements:
For Undergraduates (soc 155):
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* Midterm Exam |
30% |
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* Make one 15 minute presentation to discussion section, and lead (along with the TA) the section discussion for that week. |
20% |
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* Regular section participation |
10% |
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* Final Exam |
40% |
For Graduate Students (soc 255):
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* Midterm Exam |
20% |
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* Make one 15 minute presentation to discussion section, and lead (along with the TA) the section discussion for that week. |
20% |
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* Regular section participation |
10% |
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* One 10 minute presentation to class, presenting a different book from the one you presented to section |
15% |
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* Final Exam |
35% |
Students with Disabilities:
Students with disabilities that may necessitate an academic accommodation must initiate a request with the Disability Resource Center (DRC). See the website http://www.stanford.edu/group/DRC/, or call (650) 723-1066 voice (650) 723-1067 TTY.
NOTE:
Questions are posted on my website for each reading.
See, specifically, http://www.stanford.edu/~mrosenfe/Soc_155_fam_reading_Q.htm
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Week 1: |
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April 2 |
Introduction to the class |
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Week 2: |
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April 7 |
Cherlin, Marriage, Divorce, Remarriage, Chapters 1-3 (Demographic Trends, Explanations, and Consequences) |
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April 9 |
Cherlin, Marriage, Divorce, Remarriage, Chapters 4+5 (Race and Poverty, The State of Our Unions) |
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Week 3: |
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April 14 |
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April 16 |
Moynihan “The Negro Problem” |
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Week 4: |
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April 21 |
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April 23 |
The Feminine Mystique, Chapters 1 and 2, and the first 6 pages of Ch 3 (p 57-127 in the paperback edition) |
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Week 5: |
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April 28 |
The Feminine Mystique, Chapter 4, Chapter 6, chapter 14 and chapter 15 (epilogue). |
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April 30 |
Faludi, Backlash, Chapters 2, 9, and Epilogue |
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Week 6: |
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May 5 |
In-class Midterm |
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May 7 |
Rosenfeld, The Age of |
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Week 7: |
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May 12 |
Rosenfeld, The Age of |
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May 14 |
Rosenfeld, The Age of |
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Week 8: |
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May 19 |
Rosenfeld, The Age of |
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May 21 |
Sullivan, Same Sex Marriage Pro and Con, chapters 4 and 5 |
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Week 9: |
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May 26 |
No class, Memorial Day |
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May 28 |
Sullivan, Same Sex Marriage Pro and Con, chapters 3 and 8 |
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Week 10: |
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June 2 |
Reading from The Second Shift, TBA |
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June 4 |
Final Exam Review |
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Tuesday, June 10 |
In Class final exam, |