Sociology · May / June 2021 · Paper 11 · Question 3
0495
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Sociologists disagree about whether societies are becoming more equal or not. Feminists argue that a gendered division of labour exists. Marxists argue that the upper class have more power and 3 greater economic rewards than others. Some sociologists argue that there is a cycle of poverty, others argue that social classes are changing. In many societies there is now the possibility for more social mobility.
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3(a)[2]
What is meant by the term ‘power’? Acceptable answer:
the ability or authority to influence people’s behaviour One mark for partial definition e.g. ‘force’. Two marks for clear definition e.g. ‘the ability to influence people’s behaviour’.3(b)[4]
Describe two examples of a gendered division of labour. Possible answers:
women do all or the vast majority of the housework – for example cooking and cleaning whilst men do little of this;women are expected to be the caretakers of children – socialising and nurturing children into young adults whereas men take a secondary role, perhaps intervening when firm social control is needed;segregated conjugal roles – men expected to be the breadwinner and to go out to work whilst women have been expected to perform the housewife role;horizontal segregation – in the workplace women have been expected to perform roles in keeping with their gender e.g. domestic work, caring and clerical whilst men have been expected to have more technologically complex jobs like engineer and builder;vertical segregation – in the workplace women have traditionally been located in lower status roles within organisations with limited access to higher status and power, for example as secretaries whilst men have had more access to higher status roles such as being a supervisor, manager or the boss;any other reasonable response. One mark for each example identified (up to a maximum of two). One mark for each example described (up to a maximum of two).3(c)[6]
Explain how privileged groups maintain their power and status in society. Possible answers:
the rich – Marxists argue that the bourgeoisie maintain their power and status by ideologies transmitted via education, religion and the media which justify and reinforce social hierarchy;Marxists argue that the bourgeoisie can ultimately rely on the forces of formal social control, such as the police and armed forces, to support the status quo in times of disorder;feminists argue that men maintain their power and status via sexism which acts as a barrier to female empowerment in all areas of society;radical feminists argue that some men use coercion or the threat of force or violence to keep women in a subordinate position in the family;ethnic minority groups are kept in a subordinate position to the ethnic majority through negative stereotyping and scapegoating, ensuring that such groups are viewed negatively and discriminated against in all areas of society;globally the most powerful developed countries protect their material advantages by exploiting the labour and resources of poor and developing countries;disabled people are often the subject of negative stereotyping and discrimination in the workplace and this can result in individuals not feeling able to challenge the prevailing view or the power structures behind it;any other reasonable answer. 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.3(d)[8]
Explain why a cycle of poverty exists in modern industrial societies. Possible answers:
the factors causing poverty create further poverty e.g. a child born into poverty is unlikely to do well at school and get the skills and qualifications needed to move up the social ladder;lack of resources – the poor often do not have the resources to get them out of poverty e.g. they may not have enough money to pay for childcare to enable them to work or to pay for transport to get to an interview or a paid job;the poor lack social and cultural capital (Bordieu) and so are disadvantaged when applying for jobs or promotion to a higher status position;the poverty trap – it is expensive to be poor and people have to spend a lot just to keep their existing standard of living so being able to help children improve their life chances is difficult;the culture of poverty – some argue that the poor have a distinct set of norms and values that keep them in poverty (for example fatalism and immediate gratification) and that these are then passed down to the next generation thus ensuring a poverty cycle;social exclusion – the poor are unable to take part in the normal activities of society or achieve the expected social goods are thus unable to give their children access to the same and the cycle of poverty continues;any other reasonable answer. 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.3(e)[15]
To what extent have social classes changed in modern industrial societies? Possible answers: Arguments for:
the upper class – is now composed of three distinct groups (aristocracy, jet set and entrepreneurial rich) rather than one unified ruling class;the middle class now covers a wide range of occupations from secretaries to architects and has expanded rapidly in advanced capitalist societies during the twentieth and twenty-first centuries;many sociologists now see the middle class as composed of three distinct groups rather than one – the petty bourgeoisie (old middle class), the upper middle class (professionals and managers) and the lower middle class (clerical and service jobs);Marxists argue that a process of proletarianisation has occurred in which part of the old middle class has fallen into the working class due to the declining skill level and status of their jobs e.g. clerical workers;embourgeoisement – some argue that the higher levels of the working class have now become part of the new middle class as greater prosperity began to break down traditional class barriers after the second world war;postmodernists may argue that classes have become so fractured and there are new sources of social identity which renders class divisions unimportant in modern society;various different measurements of class and social mobility offers evidence of the changing nature of the class landscape in modern industrial societies;any other reasonable answer. Arguments against:Marxists argue that whilst the characteristics of the ruling class may have changed slightly their basic nature and function within capitalism has not – the small percentage at the top wield disproportionate wealth, power and status in comparison to the vast majority of the population;there is only one middle class that is clearly distinguishable from the upper class by the fact that it does not own the means of production and from the working class by the fact that it possesses educational or technical qualifications;the evidence for proletarianisation is limited – jobs that have been ‘de- skilled’ are still advertised as skilled and offer chances of promotion unlike many manual jobs as well as offering more job security and better working conditions;some would argue that there remain distinct class cultures within society e.g. working class values, norms and roles remain distinct from those of the middle and upper classes thus showing that the traditional class divides remain in place;some argue that the underclass is not a new phenomenon and that it has been in existence since the nineteenth century when Marx categorised them as a distinct group so little has changed;any other reasonable answer. 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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