Ateneo - UPO

During the course, we will look at ways of forming families from two perspectives. 1. A micro view of everyday family practices. 2. A macro view of how changes in family roles, family law and family policies are linked to the different stages of transformation of capitalist society. Both of these perspectives will be used to understand the current social construction of parenthood.

1. Fraser N. (2017) La fine della cura, Mimesis. 2. Mercuri E. (2025) Buoni genitori. Come esperti e famiglie costruiscono la genitorialità, Carocci 3. Bertone C. (2024) Il familiare è politico. Attrezzi di ricerca per uno sguardo posizionato, Meltemi (tranne capitoli 3 e 4) 4. Integrating texts, available on the Dir site of the course. 5. One book selected from the following list (or another book to be agreed upon with the teacher): a. Gillies V., Edwards R., Horsley N. (2017) Challenging the politics of early intervention. Who's 'saving' children and why, Policy Press b. Prearo, M., Trastulli, F. (2025) Politica e cittadinanza LGBTQIA+: tra opinione pubblica, diritti e partecipazione. ETS c. Burgio G. (2017) Adolescenza e violenza. Il bullismo omofobico come formazione alla maschilità, Mimesis d. Oddone C. (2020) Uomini normali. Maschilità e violenza nell'intimità, Rosenberg&Sellier e. Segato, R.L. (2023) La guerra contro le donne, Tamu f. f. Braida N. (2025) Sovvertire le intimità. Per una politicizzazione del poliamore, Meltemi g. Acquistapace L. (A.) (2022) Tenetevi il matrimonio e dateci la dote. Il lavoro riproduttivo nelle relazioni di intimità, solidarietà e cura oltre la coppia nell'Italia urbana contemporanea, Mimesis

Developing competences on: understanding changes in family relations and their power dynamics; recognising the different theoretical approaches on the study of families; compare different models of explanation of diversity, change and conflict in family relations. Develping competences on identifying the relations between family models and experiences and their economic, legal and political contexts.

Access to the exam is conditioned upon having passed Sociology

The course comprises a combination of lectures and group exercises, supplemented by a number of in-depth seminars

The course material will be available to students on the Dir site of the course. Students with physical disabilities, Learning Disabilities or Special Education Needs can request specific services and tools via the Staff Sviluppo e Coordinamento Carriere e Servizi alle Studentesse e agli Studenti, consulting the University webpage: https://www.uniupo.it/en/services/servicesstudents-physical-or-learning-disabilities Students with disabilities, learning disabilities or special education needs, once they have contacted the University Staff, can refer to the tutor in charge of the course to define the examination modalities, concerning academic aspects.

Oral exam.

In this course we will look at ways of doing family through two perspectives. From a micro perspective on everyday family practices, we will reconstruct how relations, their meanings and their power dynamics have been changing along the lines of gender, generation, cultural difference and racialization. From a macro perspective, we will look at how family roles and the distribution of care work are linked to the different phases of capitalism, and at how these roles have been codified by law and supported by social policies. We will focus in particular on changes in meanings and social organization of parent-child relations.

Ability to understand changes in family relations and their power dynamics. Ability to recognise the different theoretical approaches on the study of families, and to compare different models of explanation of diversity, change and conflict in family relations. Ability to identify the relations between family models and experiences and their economic, legal and political contexts.