School of Sociology and Criminology  
 
 
SOC-30030 Sociology of Parenting and Early Childhood  
Co-ordinator: Dr Emma Head    Room: CBC0.012, Tel:33898  
Teaching Team: Dr Rebecca  Leach, Ms Deborah  Tagg, Dr Andy  Zieleniec, Miss Jo-Anne  Watts, Miss Claire  Lewendon,  Garry  Crawford  
Lecture Time: See Timetable...  
Level: 3 Credits: 15 Study Hours: 150  
School Office:
 
 
 
Programme/Approved Electives for
Sociology Dual Honours (Level 3)
Sociology Major (Level 3)
Sociology Minor (Level 3)
Available as a Free Standing Elective
Yes
Barred Combinations
None

Prerequisites
None

Description

We live in a society which places increasing emphasis on the long-term significance of good parenting and the importance of positive early childhood experiences. This module enables students to focus on these issues by exploring a developing area of British sociology, parenting culture studies.

The module begins with an introduction to recent analyses about the nature of parenthood over the last 20 years, including ideas about the intensive nature of motherhood, the increasing dominance of scientific ideas around childrearing and the 'paranoid' state of parents. Various aspects of childrearing practices will be explored, including nutrition, sleep and discipline. The module then moves on to consider the roles of 'experts', the media and the state in parenting. In conclusion the focus moves to a consideration of the nature of parenting and the implications this has for our understanding of adulthood and childhood in contemporary social life.







Aims
  • To enable students to reflect on the changing nature of parenting culture(s) in British society.
  • To enable students to reflect sociologically on childrearing practices and ideals in contemporary society.
  • For students to be able to critically assess dominant assumptions made about the construction of adulthood, parenthood and childhood.
Intended Learning Outcomes
Locate, review and evaluate sociological literature on parenting will be achieved by assessments: 1
Critically evaluate primary source material of parenting research and construct coherent arguments about parenting culture based on these evaluations will be achieved by assessments: 1, 2
Evaluate competing sociological explanations will be achieved by assessments: 1, 2
Assess the relationship between sociological accounts of parenting and childrearing practices will be achieved by assessments: 1, 2,
Study hours
20 hours contact - 10 lectures / 10 tutorials
40 hours tutorial preparation
30 hours independent study
60 hours assessment preparation
TOTAL 150 HOURS
Description of Module Assessment
01: Essay weighted 50%
Essay
A 2500 word essay, chosen from a set list of questions
02: Exam weighted 50%
An unseen examination
An unseen examination, 2 questions to be answered in 2 hours.
Version: (1.06B) Updated: 03/Mar/2013

This document is the definitive current source of information about this module and supersedes any other information.