Technology, Intimacy and Family Life
Overview
This unit provides a current and comprehensive look at the effects of technology on couple and family relationships. The unit explores multifaceted ways in which technology impacts our relationships today, and we discuss a wide range of topics pertinent to couple and family life. The unit focuses on topics such as online dating and infidelity, parenting and the Internet, impacts of globalisation on families, assisted reproductive technologies and rise of new family forms, technology facilitated abuse and so forth. The unit begins with an overview of change in the notion of family over time due to technological advancements before moving on to critical engagement with various theoretical, cross-cultural, political and policy viewpoints about families and relationships.
Requisites
01-June-2025
Learning outcomes
Students who successfully complete this unit will be able to:
- Identifying key concepts and theories relevant to modern understanding of families
- Interpret the main trends in family change and continuity in Australia and overseas,in light of relelvant theories and appropriate evidence
- Evaluate the manner in which technological advancements shape personal life in relation to families and sexuality
- Cooperate with and intellectually engage with peers in discussion
Teaching methods
Hawthorn
| Type | Hours per week | Number of weeks | Total (number of hours) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Live Online Class | 1.00 | 12 weeks | 12 |
| On-campus Class | 2.00 | 12 weeks | 24 |
| Unspecified Activities Independent Learning | 9.50 | 12 weeks | 114 |
| TOTAL | 150 |
Assessment
| Type | Task | Weighting | ULO's |
|---|---|---|---|
| Essay | Individual | 45% | 1,2,3 |
| Online Quiz | Individual | 25% | 1,3,4 |
| Oral Presentation | Individual | 30% | 1,2,3 |
| Analysis | Individual | 45% | 1,2,3 |
| In-Class Presentation | Group | 30% | 1,2,3 |
| Online Quiz | Individual | 25% | 1,3,4 |
Content
- Impact of globalisation on family labour
- Assisted reproductive technologies and rise of new families
- Technology, chidlren & parenting
- Technology facilitated abuseÂ
- Online dating and infidelityÂ
- Distance love and transnational familiesÂ
Study resources
Reading materials
A list of reading materials and/or required textbooks will be available in the Unit Outline on Canvas.