Sociology · May / June 2020 · Paper 12 · Question 2

0495

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Functionalists believe for society to work well people need to agree on a common set of values, this is known as value consensus. Sanctions and socialisation are ways to ensure that members 2 of a society share the same values. However, socialisation and sanctions differ depending on the age and gender of the individual.

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2(a)[2]
What is meant by the term ‘sanctions’? One mark for partial definition e.g. telling someone off Two marks for clear definition e.g. ways of rewarding or punishing acceptable behaviour, usually used in the sense of punishment (negative sanctions).
2(b)[4]
Describe two examples of values. Possible response:
honesty – being truthful to others at all times;
democracy – the right of citizens to elect their leaders;
human rights – a right which is believed to belong to every person;
the importance of education – most MIS value education and believe all children should be able to get access;
respect for the elderly – is seen as very important in some cultures;
any other reasonable response;
One mark for each value correctly identified (up to maximum of two). One mark for each value developed (up to a maximum of two).
2(c)[6]
Explain how traditional masculinity is changing. Masculinity – the attitudes and behaviour associated with being a man in a particular culture. Possible responses:
men are now more likely to show their emotions publicly than in previous times;
taking care over their appearance, following fashions and using cosmetics occurs more frequently in today’s society e.g. metrosexual man;
talking about their relationships and feelings e.g. new man is now considered a strength whereas before it might have been taken as a weakness;
emotional attachment to children used to be the preserve of mothers only but nowadays fathers are developing close emotional bonds with their babies and infants – intimate fathering;
traditionally men would have been breadwinners but now men are more likely to be stay at home fathers – househusbands;
men particularly working class used to work in manual labour but now are more likely to be in working in the service sector;
nowadays men may demonstrate hyper-masculinity as a response to the recently perceived crisis of masculinity;
a diversity of masculinities are now apparent, as can be seen through the acceptance of homosexuality;
any other reasonable response Band 0 [0 marks] No creditworthy response. Band 1 [1–3 marks] Answers in this band will show only a limited awareness of the question. Responses may be short and un/underdeveloped. At the bottom of the band (1 mark), expect one weak point. Higher in the band (2–3 marks), candidates may offer more than one weak point, but there may be a tendency towards simplistic answers, engaging with sociological ideas without using sociological language. Band 2 [4–6 marks] Answers in this band will have clear and accurate explanation, showing good sociological knowledge and understanding. Sociological terms and concepts should be expected and explained. At the bottom of the band, the range of points covered may be narrow or lack detail. Higher in the band, answers will cover more than one point in a well-developed way or cover several points in less detail.
2(d)[8]
Explain why some sociologists argue that childhood is a social construction. Social construction – the idea that social situations and events are constructed – made – by societies: they do not exist in nature as independent things. Possible answers:
the way childhood was considered in the past has changed compared to the present e.g. child centredness is evidence of social construction;
the way childhood is considered differs from country to country e.g. child soldiers, this suggest childhood is socially constructed;
according to Aries children used to wear the same clothes as adults but nowadays they don’t;
children used to be punished by law in the same way an adult was but now they are not e.g. age of criminal responsibility;
in MIS children are required to go to school whereas in other societies they may be required to go to work and not have a formal education;
Postman argues childhood is changing in the era of modern technologies and that they are no longer seen as innocent and protected from adult issues e.g. the sexualisation of children;
children’s rights have changed hugely over time e.g. employment laws;
any other reasonable response Band 0 [0 marks] No creditworthy response. Band 1 [1–3 marks] Answers in this band will show only a limited awareness of the question. A tendency to description is likely. Responses may be short and undeveloped and points stated without explanation. Sociological terms and concepts are unlikely to be used. At the bottom of the band (1 mark), expect one weak point. Higher in the band (2–3 marks), candidates may offer more than one weak point. Band 2 [4–6 marks] Answers in this band will show basic sociological knowledge and understanding. Responses may be underdeveloped and lacking in range. At the bottom of the band, candidates are unlikely to use sociological terms and concepts accurately. Higher in the band, candidates may be beginning to use sociological terms and concepts with greater accuracy. However, some aspects of the answer may only be partially developed/explained. Band 3 [7–8 marks] Answers in this band will show good sociological knowledge and understanding and will be well-developed and explained. Sociological terms and concepts will be used accurately overall. Answers will be well-focused on the question and there will be a range of points presented. At the top of the band explanations will be clear throughout.
2(e)[15]
To what extent does functionalism offer the best explanation of why individuals join youth sub-cultures? Arguments for:
functionalists argue joining a youth sub-culture can be explained as a way of managing the transition from childhood to adulthood;
functionalists argue youth sub-culture helps detach the individual from their family so they can achieve their own status as an adult developing autonomy and independence;
functionalists argue youth sub-cultures act as a ‘safety valve’ and people join to help them manage going through adolescence;
functionalists claim that youth sub-cultures offer members an alternative opportunity structure where they can gain status and respect;
functionalists argue that young people join sub-cultures to gain status, moving from an ascribed status to an achieved status;
functionalists argue that youth sub-cultures are a way of dealing with stress caused by the transition from childhood to adulthood;
joining a youth sub-culture can be a way of gaining success and status for those young people who find other routes to success (such as education) blocked;
functionalists argue (Eisenstadt) that young people need to find a way to distinguish themselves from their parents and youth sub-cultures are a vehicle for this;
any other reasonable response Arguments against:
Marxists argue that youth sub-cultures are a form of resistance against capitalism e.g. skinheads;
Marxists argue working class youth sub-cultures are formed as other routes to resistance are blocked for such groups who lack power and status;
Marxists argue (P Cohen) the skinhead sub-culture formed as a reaction to the decline of manufacturing and as a means of protecting working-class identity;
other Marxists (Brake) argue working class youth sub-cultures are ‘magical’ they provide each new generation with a chance to prove they are unique;
teddy boys took their style from the upper class Edwardians to show their new affluence;
Marxists see working-class youth sub-cultures as linked to the decline of working-class inner-city communities;
postmodernists argue youth sub-cultures no longer have a clear purpose, young people join for thrills and leave, sub-cultures are transient;
feminists such as McRobbie argued girls created a bedroom sub-culture to create a space away not just away from adults but also from boys;
labelling theory suggests that pupil subcultures are a response to in-school processes such as teacher labelling;
Paul Willis argued counter school sub-cultures were formed because the lads saw school and academic learning as pointless to their future lives as factory workers;
ethnicity and anti-school sub-cultures Sewell claimed that Black Caribbean boys may experience pressure by their peers to adopt the norms of an ‘urban’ or ‘street’ sub-culture;
any other reasonable response Band 0 [0 marks] No creditworthy response. Band 1 [1–4 marks] Answers in this band may be vague and largely based on common sense showing limited knowledge of the debate. Use of sociological terms or concepts is very unlikely. Responses may be short, undeveloped and one- sided. Lower in the band (1–2 marks), expect one or two weak points. Higher in the band (3–4 marks) candidates may offer more than two points and provide a weak definition of key terms in the question. Band 2 [5–8 marks] In this band candidates will show some basic knowledge of the debate. Alternatively, they may offer an answer which is list-like in nature but there will be no real attempt to assess the issues raised by the question. There may be limited/some use of sociological terms or concepts. Responses may be underdeveloped and lack range. Answers may be simplistic and two- sided or only cover one side of the debate. Lower in the band, the response may be rather narrow in the points covered and there may be some development. Higher in the band, more points are likely to be covered with some development. Alternatively, a list-like answer with some development covering both sides of the argument may score up to 8 marks. A one-sided answer cannot score higher than 8 marks. Band 3 [9–12 marks] Answers in this band will show good sociological knowledge and understanding of the debate. Sociological terms and concepts will be used with greater accuracy and/or frequency. For the most part, answers will be well-developed, focused on the questions and there will be a range of points presented. There will be a two-sided response but it may lack range on one side. At the bottom of the band, candidates may provide a narrower range of developed points. At the top of the band, expect a wider range of developed points and clear focus on the question. Band 4 [13–15 marks] Answers in this band will show excellent knowledge and understanding of the debate. There will be a strong grasp of the arguments as well as accurate and frequent use of sociological terms and concepts. Answers will be well- developed, clearly focused on the question and discuss a wide range of points. Responses will be two-sided and have a range of points on each side. At the bottom of the band (13 marks), the answer may lack a specific conclusion. Higher in the band, there will be a clear attempt to offer an assessment of the ‘To what extent.?’ part of the question through a focused conclusion.

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