UCL - Histoire de la famille et de la sexualité

[SEXM2125]

[30h] 4 credits

Teacher(s): Paul Servais

Language: French

Level: Second

Aims
Main themes
Content and teaching methods
Other information (prerequisite, evaluation (assessment methods), course materials recommended readings, ...)

Aims

By the end of the course, students will be able to :
- place elements of family life and the perception and practice of sexuality into their historical context
- analyse a family situation by taking account of the continuities and discontinuities it shows in areas such as values and behaviours

Main themes

By focusing more particularly on the period beginning with the mid 18th century, but without necessarily excluding the approach of earlier periods, the course provides a brief outline of the development of contexts (socio-economic framework, material situation, demographic transition, emergence of individualism etc.)
The following topics are then covered : the development of family structures and their influence on the formation of the couple, the change in the role and functions of families, the profound changes in the way the body and sexuality were treated.

Content and teaching methods

First, we consider the great revolutions which transformed traditional Western society into contemporary society and then the influence of these movements on family structures perceived through customs of transmission and the ways in which couples are formed through religious and legal rules and also social practice. We then move on to the different family circles, with emphasis on the development of the roles of father, mother, grandparents, siblings and the family in the wider sense of the term and establish links with the development in the place of the child. We analyse the economic, educational, protective functions of the family, and how it can generate intimacy, happiness and affection, including
when it fails to achieve these things.
The profound changes in the perception of the body as reflected in the development of hygiene, olfaction, modesty and clothing provide an introduction to marital or extra-marital sexuality.

Other information (prerequisite, evaluation (assessment methods), course materials recommended readings, ...)

Assessment : The methods of assessment will be explained by the lecturer(s) at the beginning of the course.
Support : the lectures are illustrated by transparencies ; there is a manual and a supplementary bibliography.