Study-Unit Description

Study-Unit Description


CODE PPL4211

 
TITLE Family Policy in Contemporary Societies

 
UM LEVEL 04 - Years 4, 5 in Modular UG or PG Cert Course

 
MQF LEVEL 6

 
ECTS CREDITS 6

 
DEPARTMENT Public Policy

 
DESCRIPTION The unit addresses problems that families experience in contemporary industrial, and post-industrial, societies which are changing rapidly. Family Policy constitutes a collection of separate but interrelated policy choices that aim to address these problems Various crucial questions are being raised currently in the sociological debate regarding the origin of the family, the future of the family as a social institution, the sexual division of roles, the indissolubility of marriage, and divorce. This calls for a systematic and scientific analysis in the light of sociological research.

Description of study-unit tutorials:
Furthermore, the study-unit incorporates a set of tutorials that deal with the direct and indirect implications of the European Union on domestic family policies. Meeting in small groups, students will become aware of European perceptions on Family Law, and how EU legislation on civil matters affects divorce, maintenance, child responsibility and property. They will reflect on the changes in European demographics and the challenges of managing an ageing population. Finally, the role of domestic and European interest groups in promoting family life is also brought in for discussion.

Study-unit Aims:

The aim of this study-unit is to help students to familiarise themselves with the variables that play a leading or a secondary role in devising family policies at the national level. Furthermore, this study-unit aims to present family policies as flexible and dynamic political organisms in order to take account of the continuous homegrown and/or imported changes in today’s society. The supranational element also forms an integral part of the programme as students have the opportunity to reflect on the repercussions of EU accession on domestic family policies.

Learning Outcomes:

1. Knowledge & Understanding:

By the end of the study-unit the student will be able to:
• Discuss the link between national and supranational orbits of power in managing family policies;
• Identify the principal issues which constitute ‘family policy’;
• Recognise the legal implications of Brussels and Brussels 2 Regulations on family matters at the domestic level;
• Explore the draft European legislation including Rome III and the Green Papers on the Conflict of Laws in Matters Concerning Matrimonial Property Regimes (2006) and the Rights of the Child (2008);
• Illustrate the challenges in European demographics;
• Explain the input of interest groups towards policy-making both at the national and European levels.

2. Skills:

By the end of the study-unit the student will be able to:
• Undertake research concerning family-oriented policies;
• Interpret the technological, cultural, political and societal changes in terms of their effects on the family and family policies.

Main Text/s and any supplementary readings:

- Abela, A. and Tabone, C., 2008, Family Poverty and Social Exclusion with a Special Emphasis on Children, Kummissjoni Nazzjonali Familja, Malta.
- Benokraitis, N. V., 2007, Marriages and Families: Changes, Choices and Constraints, 6th edition, Prentice Hall.
- Bogenschneider, K., 2009, Family Policy Matters: How Policy Making Affects Families and What Professionals Can Do, Sage.
- Bradshaw, J. and Hatland, A., 2009, Social Policy Employment and Family Change in Comparative Perspective (Globalisation and Welfare), Edward Elgar Publications.
- Butterfield, A.K., Rocha, C.J., and Butterfield, W.H., 2010, The Dynamics of Family Policy, Sage.
- Cheal, D. 2002, Sociology of the Family, Palgrave.
- Cherlin, A. J., 2005, Private and Public Families: An Introduction, 4th edition, McGraw Hill.
- Crane, R.D. and Heaton, T.B. (eds), 2008, Handbook of Families and Poverty, Sage.
- Di Canio, M. B., 2000, The Encyclopaedia of Marriage, Divorce and the Family, Macmillan.
- Erera, P.I., 2002, Family Diversity: Continuity and Change in the Contemporary Family, Sage.
- Eshelman, J.R., Bulefort, R.A., 2009, The Family, 12th edition, Sage.
- Hantaris, L., 2004, Family Policy Matters. Responding to Family Change in Europe, The Policy Press.
- Heinrick, C. J. and Scholz, J.K., 2009, Making the Work-Based Safety Net Work Better: Forward Looking Policies to Help Low-Income Families, Sage.
- Joseph, A. L. and Broussard, C.A., 2008, Family Poverty in Diverse Contexts, Routledge.
- Kaufmann, F.X., et al. (eds), 2002, Family Life and Family Policies in Europe: Problems and Issues in Comparative Perspective, Oxford University Press.
- Morgan, P., 2006, Family Policy, Family Changes: Sweden, Italy and Britain Compared, Civitas Inst.
- Newman, D. M. & Grauerholz, E., 2003, Sociology of Families, Sage.
- Scott, J., Treas, J., Richards, M. (eds), 2007, The Blackwell Companion to the Sociology of Families, Wiley-Blackwell.
- Tabone, C., 1995, Maltese Families in Transition: A Sociological Investigation, Ministry For Social Development, Malta.
- Weiss, H. and Jacobs, F., 2008, Evaluating Family Programs: Current Issues in Theory and Policy, Aldine.
- Zimmerman, C. C., 2008, Families and Civilisation, 2nd abridged edition, Intercollegiate Studies Inst.
- Zimmerman, S. L., 2002, Understanding Family Policy: Theories and Applications, 3rd edition, Sage.
- Zimmerman, S. L., 2002, Family Policy: Constructed Solutions to Family Problems, Sage.

Reading list for tutorials:

- The EU and Family Law, Relate, Vol.32, No.8, 2005.
- Confronting demographic change: a new solidarity between generations, Comm Green Paper, 2005.
- The Evolution of the Family in Europe 2007, IFP.
- A Family Strategy for the EU – An encouragement to make the family an EU priority, COMECE, 2004.
- The Lisbon Agenda and Europe 2020 Vision Documents.
- Polish Government unveils draft family programme for 2007-2014.
- Family Policy in Ireland.
- Family Policy in Italy.
- Sweden and the Failure of European Family Policy, Allan Carlson, 2004.
- Changing Family and Family Policy, Raluca Popescu, Institute for Quality of Life, 2002.
- L-Abort Madwar L-Ewropa, Illum, 2008.
- Divorzju la Maltija, Illum, 2008.

 
STUDY-UNIT TYPE Lecture and Tutorial

 
METHOD OF ASSESSMENT
Assessment Component/s Sept. Asst Session Weighting
Examination (3 Hours) Yes 100%

 
LECTURER/S Carmel Tabone (Co-ord.)
Mario Thomas Vassallo

 

 
The University makes every effort to ensure that the published Courses Plans, Programmes of Study and Study-Unit information are complete and up-to-date at the time of publication. The University reserves the right to make changes in case errors are detected after publication.
The availability of optional units may be subject to timetabling constraints.
Units not attracting a sufficient number of registrations may be withdrawn without notice.
It should be noted that all the information in the description above applies to study-units available during the academic year 2023/4. It may be subject to change in subsequent years.

https://www.um.edu.mt/course/studyunit