ANTHROPOLOGY OF THE FAMILY

This course is designed to survey cultural and historic variation in families. Kinship systems, as understood in anthropology, will be briefly discussed. Ethnographic case studies that bring attention to key concepts that create and maintain family forms, such as socioeconomic position, gender roles, and ethnic variability, will be read in class. Students will have the opportunity to examine topics such as sexuality, parenting, marriage/divorce, and our own values of what it means to be in a "family" in this class. Throughout the course a series of films on "the family" will be viewed, as well as lectures and group discussions of the readings. The course will end with a discussion of "family values" and family-relevant policies.