ASRC 4606

The Family and Society in Africa

Course Description

Course information provided by the Courses of Study 2014-2015.

"The family, as a social institution, is structured according to historical, socio-economic, political, and cultural factors. Course topics include the concepts of the nuclear and extended family, the roles, rights and obligations of different age groups and generations; and marriage and its related issues, including parenthood, childrearing, and gender roles. Other issues examined are reproductive health, family planning, sexuality and fertility (particularly during adolescence), family codes, and legal implications. The course deals also with structural change and continuity, the impact of westernization, urbanization, formal education, and the contemporary economy on the structure and challenges of the family in Africa. Finally, the legacy of African family values and traditions in the African Diaspora, with a focus on the African-American experience, is discussed."

When Offered Fall, summer.

Breadth Requirement (GB)
Distribution Category (SBA-AS)

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