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

Prerequisites
SOC20003 Technology, Intimacy and Family Life

Rule for this unit

50 credit points

Teaching periods
Location
Start and end dates
Last self-enrolment date
Census date
Last withdraw without fail date
Results released date
Semester 1
Location
Hawthorn
Start and end dates
03-March-2025
01-June-2025
Last self-enrolment date
16-March-2025
Census date
31-March-2025
Last withdraw without fail date
24-April-2025
Results released date
08-July-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
TOTAL150

Assessment

Type Task Weighting ULO's
EssayIndividual 45% 1,2,3 
Online QuizIndividual 25% 1,3,4 
Oral PresentationIndividual 30% 1,2,3 
AnalysisIndividual 45% 1,2,3 
In-Class PresentationGroup 30% 1,2,3 
Online QuizIndividual 25% 1,3,4 

Content

  • Impact of globalisation on family labour
  • Assisted reproductive technologies and rise of new families
  • Technology, chidlren & parenting
  • Technology facilitated abuse 
  • Online dating and infidelity 
  • Distance love and transnational families 

Study resources

Reading materials

A list of reading materials and/or required textbooks will be available in the Unit Outline on Canvas.