Cultural Perspectives on Gender and Families

The course is a freestanding course.

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. 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.

After passing the course, students shall 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 been failed twice for the same examination element wishes to change examiner before the next examination session, such a request is to be granted unless there are specific reasons to the contrary (Chapter 6 Section 22 HF).

If a student has received a certificate of disability study support from the University of Gothenburg with a recommendation of adapted examination and/or adapted forms of assessment, an examiner may decide, if this is consistent with the course’s intended learning outcomes and provided that no unreasonable resources would be needed, to grant the student adapted examination and/or adapted forms of assessment.

If a course has been discontinued or undergone major changes, the student must be offered at least two examination sessions in addition to ordinary examination sessions. These sessions are to be spread over a period of at least one year but no more than two years after the course has been discontinued/changed. The same applies to placement and internship (VFU) except that this is restricted to only one further examination session.

If a student has been notified that they fulfil the requirements for being a student at Riksidrottsuniversitetet (RIU student), to combine elite sports activities with studies, the examiner is entitled to decide on adaptation of examinations if this is done in accordance with the Local rules regarding RIU students at the University of Gothenburg.

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.

Aspects of gender equality and equal treatment will be considered in the content, the literature, the teaching, and the evaluations of the course.

This is a translated version of the Swedish original. In case of differences between the Swedish version and the English translation, the Swedish original shall prevail.