The Scandinavian Welfare Model and Gender Relations

Mål og innhald

SOS109 is an in-depth course related to one of the Department of Sociology´s key research areas: Welfare, inequality and life course. The objective of our in-depth courses is to give students the opportunity to explore the theory traditions, research problems and discussions of our key research areas.

Following a general introduction into the studies of different "Welfare State Regimes" and the key characteristics of the Scandinavian Model, this course will focus on analyses of the relationships between state policies and gender. The variations among Scandinavian countries and historical developments in terms of gender policies and ideologies will be illuminated. The main focus will be on work and care-related policies that influence the division of labour between women and men, both in the labour market and in the domestic sphere. The course will particularly concentrate on current challenges for gender equality, parenthood and care policies in Norway.

Læringsutbyte/resultat

Upon completion of the course the student should be able to

• Provide an overview of general characteristics of the Scandinavian Welfare Model and the various ways welfare states influence gender relations.
• Discuss comparative studies of different welfare and gender regimes and on how to compare the gender arrangements in different countries.
• Present information on the gender equality and family policies that prevail in Scandinavia and about the changes in families and family policies that took place since 1970s.
• Apply the concept of care and have the knowledge about the centrality of care work in an analysis of gender relations.
• Discuss the Norwegian society comprehensively with a specific focus on the gendered segregations in the Norwegian labor market.
• Discuss gender equality policies of the European Union, with a focus on the concept of work-family reconciliation.
• Apply the concept of ¿gendered division of paid and unpaid labor¿ in analyzing the gendered patterns in the labor markets and within the families.
• Discuss both the developments and remaining problems in Scandinavian countries regarding gender equality.

Discuss gender and family policies of the Scandinavian countries in comparative perspective.

Undervisningssemester

Alternate - spring/autumn

Eksamenssemester

Alternate - spring/autumn

Undervisningsspråk

English

Tilrådde forkunnskapar

SV100 and SOS100 or equivalent

Undervisning og omfang

Lectures and seminars.

Lectures: 20-24 hours

Seminars: 20-24 hours

Obligatoriske arbeidskrav

Mandatory term paper (3000 words +/- 10 percent).

The essay will be commented and must be approved before the student can take the written exam.

Vurderingsformer

6 hour written exam

Karakterskala

Grading A-F

Emneevaluering

The course will be evaluated by students and lecturer according to an approved evaluation plan for all bachelor and master courses in sociology.

Kontaktinformasjon

E-mail: studieveileder@sos.uib.no