Sociology 22-01
Amherst College
Spring 2011
Tuesday/Thursday 2:00–3:20 p.m.
Sociology of the Life Course
Instructor:
Elizabeth H. Souza
Morgan Hall
esouza@amherst.edu
Office hours: Tuesday 12:45-1:45 p.m., Thursday 3:30-4:30 p.m. and by appointment
Course description
Sociology can be studied from a number of vantage points, each shedding light on a different aspect of
human society. Among these are stratification, criminology, family, environmental studies, popular culture,
sexuality, race and ethnicity. Frequently there is overlap among these, as we will discover in our
examination of one of the newer theoretical perspectives: the life course. Scrutiny of the life course draws
upon insights from other disciplines – social psychology, history, demography, gerontology, to name a few –
enabling us to develop a more expansive understanding of the critical roles that time and context exert in the
developments of individuals and societies. Our charge is not only to understand contemporary society, but
also to account for variability in a given period as well as change over time. Sociology of the life course
provides valuable tools in this pursuit.
Readings
Four books, available for purchase at Amherst Books or on reserve at Frost Library:
Gilligan, Carol, In a Different Voice, 1993 (noted in schedule as ‘Gilligan’)
Gladwell, Malcolm, Outliers, 2008 (noted in schedule as ‘Gladwell’)
Mortimer, Jeylan T. and Michael J. Shanahan, Eds. Handbook of the Life Course, 2003 (noted in
schedule as ‘M&S’, and available via Frost Library as an e-book)
New York Times correspondents, Class Matters, 2005 (noted in schedule as ‘CM’)
In addition, there will be articles reserved electronically through Frost Library, noted in the schedule as ‘E.’
There may also be occasional handouts.
While we may not discuss every reading, you will be responsible for having read them by the date indicated
on the reading schedule, and questions about any reading may be included in the mid-term.
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Course requirements
There are no prerequisites for this course. Laptops are not permitted in class, with the exception of when
students conducting their oral presentations may need to use one for power point, etc.
The instructor will communicate with class members via the college’s Blackboard program. All students are
required to acquaint themselves with Blackboard, if they are not already familiar with it. (Contact Amherst
College Information Technology for assistance.) Assignments will be posted on the site, and some
assignments will actually be conducted through this medium.
Talking Points
It goes without saying that active class participation is expected of all class members, and will be factored in
the final grade. Students are required to email the professor brief talking points or questions about each
reading by midnight the night before the readings are to be discussed. We will use the CMS website for our
class (https://www.amherst.edu/academiclife/departments/courses/1011S/SOCI/SOCI-22-1011S), where
you’ll find a link for Talking Points which will take you to a discussion forum for each class.
Attendance is critical and for every two unexcused absences, the final grade will be lowered one increment
(e.g., a B would be lowered to B-.)
This class will draw upon members’ writing and speaking skills. Each student will prepare a twenty minute
oral presentation in which s/he will draw upon supplementary readings to elaborate upon one of the topics
assigned to the class. These presentations must first be prepared in writing (coherent notes or an outline are
acceptable), and such documentation will be submitted following the presentation. Advance practice of the
talk is required in order to assure lucidity, pacing and adherence to time constraints. Precise guidelines will
be distributed well in advance of the first presentation.
There will be two formal written assignments, both involving field research requiring interviews. The first
will be a brief paper of some 4-6 pages. The second will be a longer paper of some 10-12 pages plus
references. Subject matter for the final project must be discussed with and approved by the instructor in
advance. Explicit directions for both papers will be provided.
There will be a mid-term examination which will draw upon material presented in the first half of the course.
It will feature objective and essay questions on lectures, readings, guest presentations and any film shown for
class.
Grading
Grades will be based upon a combination of, written assignments, oral presentations, mid-term examination,
and the aforementioned class participation, including mandatory submission of talking points/questions.
Grade breakdown will be as follows:
Paper #1
Oral presentation
Mid-term examination
Final paper
Class participation & talking points
15%
20%
20%
25%
20%
There will be no extra credit work, nor will there be a make-up test, save in the event of a documented
emergency having precluded attendance on the date of the examination. No exceptions will be made for
spring break travel conflicts.
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Schedule of readings (subject to amendment)
Tuesday, January 25:
Introduction & class overview
I.
What is Sociology of the Life Course?
Thursday, January 27: Theory and Perspectives
Mills, “The Promise of Sociology” Sections 1-3 (E)
Elder et al, “The Emergence and Development of Life Course Theory (M&S 3-19)
Skolnick, “The Life Course Revolution” (E)
Tuesday, February 1: Defining Terms
Alwin & McCammon, “Generations, Cohorts, and Social Change” (M&S 23-49)
Gecas, “Self-Agency and the Life Course” (M&S 369-388)
Settersten, “Age Structuring and the Rhythm of the Life Course” (M&S 81-98)
Receive assignment for Paper #1; schedule meeting with Writing Center
II.
Research Methods
Thursday, February 3: The Art…and Science of the Interview
Cohler & Hostetler, “Linking Life Course and Life Story: Social Change and the Narrative Study of
Lives over Time” (M&S 555-576)
George, “Life Course Research: Achievements and Potential” (M&S 671-680)
MEET IN FROST LIBRARY FOR CLASS
III.
Family Through the Lens of Time
Tuesday, February 8: In the Beginning…and before
Price et al, “Families Across Time – A Life Course Perspective” (E)
Uhlenberg & Mueller, “Family Context and Individual Well-Being” (M&S 123-148)
Martin, “The Egg and the Sperm: How Science Has Constructed a Romance Based on Stereotypical
Male-Female Roles” (E)
Mintz, “Beyond Sentimentality: American Childhood as a Social and Cultural Construct” (E)
Thursday, February 10: Childhood
Broder, “Child Care or Child Neglect? Baby Farming in Late-Nineteenth Century Philadelphia” (E)
Entwistle et al, “The First-Grade Transition in Life Course Perspective” (M&S 229-250)
Mintz, “Inventing the Middle-Class Child” (E)
Tuesday, February 15: Adolescence
Eder & Parker, “The Cultural Production and Reproduction of Gender: The Effect of Extracurricular
Activities on Peer-Group Culture” (E)
Mintz, “Youthquake” (E)
Becker, “Becoming a Marihuana User” (E)
Schulenberg et al, “How and Why the Understanding of Developmental Continuity and Discontinuity
is Important” (M&S 413-436)
PAPER #1 DUE BEGINNING OF CLASS
Receive assignment for Oral Presentation
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Thursday, February 17: Adolescence and Early Adulthood
Kariya & Rosenbaum, “Stratified Incentives and Life Course Behaviors” (M&S 51-78)
Aquilino, “From Adolescent to Young Adult: A Prospective Study of Parent-Child Relations during
the Transition to Adulthood” (E)
Leonhardt, “The College Dropout Boom” (CM 87-104)
Price, “From the Bronx to Cornell” (CM 237-240)
Tuesday, February 22: Emergent Adulthood
McLeod & Almazan, “Connections between Childhood and Adulthood” (M&S 391-411)
Kerckhoff, “From Student to Worker” (M&S 251-267)
Peplau & Campbell, “The Balance of Power in Dating” (E)
Sarkisian & Gerstel, “Till Marriage Do Us Part: Adult Children’s Relationships With Their Parents”
(E)
LaRossa, “The Transition to Parenthood and the Social Reality of Time” (E)
Henig, “What Is It About 20-Somethings?” New York Times,
August 22, 2010 (E)
Thursday, February 24: Middle Age
Putney & Bengtson, “Intergenerational Relations in Changing Times” (M&S 149-164)
Egan, “No Degree, and No Way Back to the Middle” (CM 105-110)
Ebaugh, “Defining the Issues” (E)
Souza, “Role Transformation: The Transition from Primary to Secondary Parenting” (E)
Souza, “Whose Empty Nest?” (E)
Tuesday, March 1: Late Life
Moen, “Midcourse: Navigating Retirement and a New Life Stage” (M&S 269-291)
Hughes, Waite, LaPierre, Ye Luo, “All in the Family: The Impact of Caring for Grandchildren on
Grandparents’ Health” (E)
Hansson et al, “Adult Children with Frail Elderly Parents: When to Intervene” (E)
Fuchs, Making an Exit, Chapters 1 (Chevy Chase) and 9 (Home) (E)
Mandatory film attendance at Frost Library, 7:00 p.m.: Iris
Thursday, March 3: The End of Life
Kubler-Ross, On Death and Dying, Chapters 1-2 (ebook via AC library)
Mitford, The American Way of Death Revisited, Chapters 2-3 (E)
Tuesday, March 8: Biology and the Life Course
Pinker, “ My Genome, My Self,” New York Times January 11, 2009 (E)
Gladwell, Outliers, Introduction and Chapter 1
Mid Term review
Thursday, March 10: MID-TERM EXAMINATION: Webster 102
Saturday March 12 – Sunday March 20: SPRING BREAK
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IV.
Government and Public Policy
Tuesday, March 22:
Leisering, “Government and the Life Course” (M&S 205-225)
Durfee and Meyers, “Who Gets What From Government? Distributional Consequences of Child-Care
Assistance Policies” (E)
Scott, “Life at the Top in America Isn’t Just Better, It’s Longer” (CM 27-50)
Yee, “Insuring Health and Income Needs of Future Generations” (E)
RECEIVE FINAL PROJECT ASSIGNMENT
V.
Gender and the Life Course
Thursday March 24: Socialization
Gilligan, Letter to Readers; Introduction; Chapters 1- 2
Tuesday, March 29: Socialization
Gilligan, Chapters 3-5
Thursday, March 31: Socialization
Gilligan, Chapter 6
Tannen, “Community and Contest” (E)
Tuesday, April 5: Consequences
Kruger & Baldus, “Work, Gender and the Life Course: Social Construction and Individual
Experience” (E)
Kanter, “Men and Women of the Corporation: The Population” (E)
England, “Gender Inequality in Labor Markets: The Role of Motherhood and Segregation” (E)
VI.
Variations on the theme
Thursday, April 7: Sexuality
Allen & Wilcox, “Gay/Lesbian Families Over the Life Course” (E)
Patterson, “Family Relationships of Lesbians and Gay Men” (E)
Olson et al, “Religion and Public Opinion about Same-Sex Marriage” (E)
Tuesday, April 12: Sexuality
Swidey, “A Family Doctor’s Journey From Man to Woman,” Boston Globe, August 12, 2007 (E)
Swidey, “Freeing Up Deborah,” Boston Globe, August 19, 2007 (E)
Corbett, “Love in the 21st Century: When Debbie Met Christina, Who Then Became Chris,” New
York Times, October 14, 2001 (E)
Gagne et al, “Coming out and Crossing over: Identity Formation and Proclamation in a Transgender
Community” (E)
Mason-Schrock, “Transsexuals’ Narrative Construction of the ‘True Self’” (E)
Thursday, April 14: Race and ethnicity
Weddle-West, “African-American Families: Trends and Issues Over the Life Course” (E)
Wilkerson, “Angela Whitiker’s Climb” (CM 202-233)
Sarkisian et al, “Extended Family Integration Among Euro and Mexican Americans: Ethnicity,
Gender and Class” (E)
Kibria, “Power, Patriarchy, and Gender Conflict in the Vietnamese Immigrant Community” (E)
Gladwell, Outliers, Chapter 8
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Tuesday, April 19: Cohabiting, Divorce, Remarriage
Seltzer, “Cohabitation in the United States and Britain: Demography, kinship and the future” (E)
Edin et al, “A Peek Inside the Black Box: What Marriage Means for Poor Unmarried Parents” (E)
Amato, “The Consequences of Divorce for Adults and Children” (E)
Coleman et al, “Reinvestigating Remarriage: Another Decade of Progress” (E)
V. Same Time, Same Place; Different Options, Different Lives
Thursday, April 21: Social Class and the Life Course
Shipler, “Importing the Third World,” The Working Poor: Invisible in America, Chapt. 3 (E)
Keller, “Introduction” (CM ix-xvii)
Scott & Leonhardt, “Shadowy Lines That Still Divide” (CM 1-26)
Lewin, “A Marriage of Unequals” (CM 51-62)
Lewis, “At the Top of the Bottom in the Segregated South” (CM 240-242)
Tuesday, April 26: Social Class and the Life Course
McGrath, “In Fiction, a Long History of Fixation on the Social Gap” (CM 192-201)
Lewin, “Up from the Holler: Living in Two Worlds, at Home in Neither” (CM 63-72)
DePalma, “Fifteen Years on the Bottom Rung” (CM 111-133)
Steinhauer, “When the Joneses Wear Jeans” (CM 134-145)
Kilborn, “The Five-Bedroom, Six-Figure Rootless Life” (CM 146-165)
Fabrikant, “Old Nantucket Warily Meets the New” (CM 166-181)
Chavez, “We Were Poor, but I Didn’t Know It” (CM 242-243)
Thursday, April 28: The Self-Made Man and Other Myths
Gladwell, Outliers, Chapters 2-4
Tuesday, May 3: Costs and Benefits of Tradition
Gladwell, Outliers, Chapters 5, 6, 7, 9
VII. The Future of the Discipline
Thursday, May 5:
Furstenberg, “Reflections on the Future of the Life Course” (M&S 661-670)
Gladwell, Outliers, Epilogue
Peer review of final paper
Tuesday, May 10: FINAL PAPER DUE IN MY OFFICE (Morgan Hall).