Simon Fraser University
Engaging the World

Course Outlines

Fall 2025 - SA 231 D100

Sociology of Families (S) (4)

Class Number: 4889

Delivery Method: In Person

Overview

  • Course Times + Location:

    Sep 3 – Dec 2, 2025: Wed, 2:30–5:20 p.m.
    Burnaby

  • Instructor:

    Barbara Mitchell
    mitchelo@sfu.ca
    Office Hours: Fridays 2:00-3:00 p.m. (via email, CANVAS; ZOOM appointments available)

Description

CALENDAR DESCRIPTION:

An examination of families and households in social, cultural, political and economic context. This course focuses on the diversity of family forms in contemporary societies (particularly Canada) in relation to various social institutions and processes, including demographic trends, ideology, gender inequality, the economy, the state and social policies.

COURSE DETAILS:

This course is designed to introduce students to theory and research on Canadian families within socio-cultural, political, and economic contexts. Attention will be paid to critically analyzing both continuities and diversities in contemporary family life courses in relation to various social processes, institutions, and amidst social change. A variety of substantive areas will be examined such as: diverse meanings, experiences, interpretations, and conceptualizations of ‘family’; Indigenous families, culture, ethnicity and immigration; theories of childhood socialization; midlife parenthood and the `launching` of young adults; LGBTQ2+ identities; parenthood issues, such as childcare, gender and the division of domestic labour; selected family health issues; social inequality, neoliberalism, and globalization;  poverty, stress and violence; partnership formation and dissolution; aging families and caregiving; and some timely community-based and social policy issues (e.g., housing, labour market, health care).

COURSE-LEVEL EDUCATIONAL GOALS:

  1. Assess major trends and issues relevant to contemporary Canadian families from a critical life course perspective.
  2. Critically evaluate and reflect upon how your own personal meanings and experiences of family life relate to a wide range of theoretical, research, and applied findings.
  3. Appreciate the wide diversity of cultural and social contexts within which family relationships can develop and change over time.
  4. Connect the unique circumstances of families and related issues of power, inequality, and (inter)dependency of family members to public and practical issues and their implications.

Grading

  • Small Group Work 20%
  • Tests (2 @ 20% each) 40%
  • Paper Proposal 10%
  • Term Paper 30%

NOTES:

Grading: Where a final exam is scheduled and the student does not write the exam or withdraw from the course before the deadline date, an N grade will be assigned. Unless otherwise specified on the course syllabus, all graded assignments for this course must be completed for a final grade other than N to be assigned. An N is considered as an F for the purposes of scholastic standing.

Grading System: The Undergraduate Course Grading System is as follows:

A+ (95-100) | A (90-94) | A- (85-89) | B+ (80-84) | B (75-79) | B- (70-74) | C+ (65-69) | C (60-64) | C- (55-59) | D (50-54) | F (0-49) | N*
*N standing to indicate the student did not complete course requirements

Academic Honesty and Student Conduct Policies: The Department of Sociology & Anthropology follows SFU policy in relation to grading practices, grade appeals (Policy T20.01), and academic honesty and student conduct procedures (S10‐S10.05). Unless otherwise informed by your instructor in writing, in graded written assignments you must cite the sources you rely on and include a bibliography/list of references, following an instructor-approved citation style. It is the responsibility of students to inform themselves of the content of SFU policies available on the SFU website.

Centre for Accessible Learning: Students with hidden or visible disabilities who believe they may need classroom or exam accommodations are encouraged to register with the SFU Centre for Accessible Learning (1250 Maggie Benston Centre) as soon as possible to ensure that they are eligible and that approved accommodations and services are implemented in a timely fashion.

The Sociology and Anthropology Student Union, SASU, is a governing body of students who are engaged with the department and want to build the SA community. Get involved!  Follow Facebook and Instagram pages or visit our website.

REQUIREMENTS:

Students are required to complete all course requirements. These requirements include: attendance at lectures, leading and/or participating in scheduled small group work meetings (during class time), writing 2 tests, and the completion of a research project (proposal and paper). Specific details will be distributed and discussed in class.

Materials

REQUIRED READING:

  • Mitchell, B.A. 2021. Family Matters: An Introduction to Family Sociology in Canada, 4th ed. Toronto: Canadian Scholar’s Press.
  • A small list of (free) required, supplementary reading links will also be provided on CANVAS.

 


REQUIRED READING NOTES:

Your personalized Course Material list, including digital and physical textbooks, are available through the SFU Bookstore website by simply entering your Computing ID at: shop.sfu.ca/course-materials/my-personalized-course-materials.

Registrar Notes:

ACADEMIC INTEGRITY: YOUR WORK, YOUR SUCCESS

At SFU, you are expected to act honestly and responsibly in all your academic work. Cheating, plagiarism, or any other form of academic dishonesty harms your own learning, undermines the efforts of your classmates who pursue their studies honestly, and goes against the core values of the university.

To learn more about the academic disciplinary process and relevant academic supports, visit: 


RELIGIOUS ACCOMMODATION

Students with a faith background who may need accommodations during the term are encouraged to assess their needs as soon as possible and review the Multifaith religious accommodations website. The page outlines ways they begin working toward an accommodation and ensure solutions can be reached in a timely fashion.