Courses / Module

This module aims to provide a critical analysis of social policies as they relate to stages in the life cycle including a focus on inequalities experienced. The module develops and applies the perspective of life stages in understanding social policy and related inequalities. It considers the benefits of this approach which includes a specific focus on key life stages such as childhood, youth, working age and old age. This is complimented by a focus on old and new risks and changing life patterns, including for example lone parenthood, changing work patterns and changing household patterns. It also considers critiques of this approach, including the relationship between social class and the life stages approach. The module also applies the life stages approach to cross cutting themes including disability, violence against women and crime.