PAM 4470 - Families and Social Inequality

(crosslisted) SOC 4470

Fall. 3 credits.

Prerequisite: PAM 2030, PAM 2220, SOC 2208, or equivalent social science course.

K. Musick.

Disparities in family life are widening in the United States, with important implications for the well-being of family members and the reproduction of inequality from one generation to the next. Using tools of demographic analysis, this course explores growing education and income differences in family patterns (e.g., marriage, divorce, childbearing, and parenting), analyzing the forces behind these changes and the potential consequences for children’s life chances.

Outcome 1: Gain a sound understanding of trends in contemporary U.S. families, explanations for changing
patterns, and potential consequences for individuals and society.

Outcome 2: Develop tools to assess the quality of evidence in claims made by researchers, policy-makers, and advocates.

Outcome 3: Use social data to investigate questions about families and social class.