Gender, Work and Family

The first half of the module looks at how gender shapes the organisation of work and family life. It introduces theoretical explanations for these gender differences, and examines them in areas such as education, work, poverty, housework, childcare and policies. Many examples are from Ireland, where there have been remarkable changes in gender and work in the past 20 years. The module also presents examples from other Western countries.
The second half of the module builds on the first by examining in detail one specific domain where relations between men and women have taken diverse forms across different societies: the family. Has the nuclear family always held the position it currently enjoys as the most dominant family form in Western societies? Or does a more historical perspective reveal different, not-so-nuclear family arrangements in the past? Further, the module examines the so-called ?crisis? now facing the conjugal family unit in contemporary societies due to a proliferation of ?new family forms?. Is the institution of the family as fragile as some would suggest (rising divorce rates are often cited as evidence of this) or is it far more resilient that we give it credit for (the continued popularity of marriage is often cited as evidence of this)? These questions, and more, are pursued by examining change and continuity to families with reference to Ireland, Europe, North America, and Africa.