Requirements:
- Length: at least 2 pages, no more than 3 pages excluding title page and reference list (double-spaced, 12pt Times New Roman)
- Quality: well-thought-out ideas, clear expression, correct grammar and spelling
- Sources: at least 2 scholarly citations (APA 7th edition)
- Referencing: cite sources in-text and provide a full reference list at the end
Measurement Procedure:
TWAs will be graded on:
- Demonstrated engagement with the assigned readings
- Critical and thoughtful response to the chosen topic
- Writing quality and adherence to APA format
Choose ONE of the following topics from EACH chapter to write about (3 discussion topics in total):
Chapter 10: Work & Families
Choose ONE of the following topics to write about:
- How does the balance (or imbalance) between work and family responsibilities affect individual well-being and family relationships? Provide examples from research or contemporary society.
- What work-family conflicts do you see around you? What solutions or policies (e.g., flexible schedules, childcare support, parental leave) might help resolve the issue? Support your response with at least one scholarly research source.
- How do gender, class, and race/ethnicity shape people’s experiences of combining paid work and family life?
- What policies (e.g., parental leave, childcare support, flexible work schedules) could better support working families in the U.S.? Compare these with another country’s policies if possible.
- Discuss research-based reasons why, in general, women do more household labor than men do.
Chapter 11: Communication in Relationships, Marriages & Families
Choose ONE of the following topics to write about:
- We often hear that communication is important to maintaining family relationships. Can you discuss specific reasons why this is true?
- Gottman identifies four destructive communication patterns in relationships—criticism, defensiveness, contempt, and stonewalling. Which of these patterns do you recognize most often in yourself, or in people around you? How has it affected your relationships? What strategies (based on Gottman’s ‘antidotes’ or other scholarly research) could help you respond more constructively in the future? Be sure to include at least one scholarly citation in your response.
- What strategies do healthy families use to manage conflict? (refer to textbook) What conflict resolution approaches have you observed in your family (or close relationships), and how have they shaped your view of healthy conflict management? Support your answer with at least one scholarly research source
Chapter 12: Power & Violence in Families
Choose ONE of the following topics to write about:
- How do different forms of power (coercive, referent, legitimate, expert, informational, financial) operate in family relationships? Provide an example of how these dynamics can be positive or negative.
- What social and cultural factors contribute to the perpetuation of intimate partner violence and child abuse? How might interventions address these root causes?
- How does the concept of intersectionality help us understand which groups are most vulnerable to family violence, and why?