Cultural Perspectives on Gender and Families

On the course, beliefs and norms about family and nationality are examined and discussed. An important starting point is how family is given meaning in relation to the construction of nationality. Sweden is at the center, but during the course digressions and comparisons are made with other countries and nation formations historically and today. Some of the themes that are addressed are how family and parenting is constantly transformed, equality norms and queer perspectives on family become important inputs here, as well as how ideas about the Swedish family create ideas about "the Others", those who are not included in the imagined national community. The situation of families with migration experience is highlighted.

On successful completion of the course the student will be able to:

Knowledge and understanding

* Explain different concepts and norms about family in a Swedish and transnational context.

* Account for changes and stabilizations of understanding of parenthood in a Swedish context.

Competence and skills

* Describe and analytically approach the relationship between the creation of nation and norms of family.

* Have an understanding of the importance of theoretical perspectives for how knowledge about family can become visible.

Judgement and approach

* Ethically value norms about the family and its relation to the creation of nation.

* Develop approaches to the knowledge of family as a changing norm formation.

The course is given in the form of lectures, seminars and workshops.

Language of instruction: English

The course will be examined through active participation in seminars, oral presentations and individual written work.

If a student, who has failed the same examined element on two occasions, wishes to change examiner before the next examination session, such a request is to be submitted to the department in writing and granted unless there are special reasons to the contrary (Chapter 6, Section 22 of Higher Education Ordinance).

In the event that a course has ceased or undergone major changes, students are to be guaranteed at least three examination sessions (including the ordinary examination session) over a period of at least one year, though at most two years after the course has ceased/been changed. The same applies to work experience and VFU, although this is restricted to just one additional examination session.

The grading scale comprises: Pass with Distinction (VG), Pass (G) and Fail (U).

The results of and possible changes to the course will be shared with students who participated in the evaluation and students who are starting the course.