Sociology · Oct / Nov 2025 · Paper 11 · Question 2
0495
As printed in the paper
Show the answer and mark scheme
2(a)(i)[2]
Define the term social media. Award one mark for a partial definition, e.g. Facebook. Award two marks for a clear definition, e.g. internet/online based applications for showing content and communicating online such as Instagram and Weibo. Accept any other reasonable answer.
2(a)(ii)[2]
Define the term consumption patterns. Award one mark for a partial definition, e.g. what people buy. Award two marks for a clear definition, e.g. variations in buying things depending on time, place and group. Accept any other reasonable answer.
2(b)[2]
State two traditional female roles. Award one mark for each point correctly identified (up to a maximum of two). Possible answers:
housewife/housekeeper;mother;carer/nurturer;child-carer/nanny;nurse;cook;primary school teacher;secretary;emotional support;any other reasonable answer.2(c)[6]
Describe three examples of cultural defence against globalisation. Award one mark for each point correctly identified (up to a maximum of three). Award one mark for each point that is developed (up to a maximum of three). Possible answers:
wearing and promoting traditional clothing can be a way of expressing cultural identity and resisting the homogenising influence of global fashion trends;promoting local foods and traditional cuisines can be a way of resisting the spread of global fast-food chains and preserving unique culinary traditions;in Bhutan – a small country in the Himalayas – the government has tried to minimise some aspects of the global world e.g. TVs were not allowed until 1999;religious fundamentalists such as the Taliban in Afghanistan and Boko Haram (meaning ‘Western education is sinful’) in Nigeria reject western culture;organising and participating in cultural festivals and national celebrations can help showcase and reinforce local traditions – these events often involve traditional food, music, dance and rituals;some countries try to block access to the internet and censor foreign media e.g. China’s Great Firewall blocks access to selected foreign websites as they are seen as threatening to the autonomy of China and its culture;France limits the amount of English language TV that can be broadcast and English language music that can be played on the radio to protect the French language;any other reasonable answer.2(d)[6]
Explain three postmodernist views of identity. Award one mark for each point correctly identified (up to a maximum of three). Award one mark for each point that is developed (up to a maximum of three). Possible answers:
people now have much greater choice over their identities – in the past identities were ascribed and based on statuses such as gender, or traditional expectations such as marriage, but today people may opt out of traditional gender roles or choose not to marry;today there are now more identities to choose from linked to a person’s lifestyle e.g. vegan/vegetarians, subcultural identities, environmentalists, minimalists etc;changes to identities are linked to consumption rather than production – we live in a consumer society so what someone buys is more important than what job they do as a source of identity e.g. an office worker may now think of themselves as a goth primarily rather than as working class;postmodernism recognises the increasing interconnectedness of cultures and identities due to globalisation – this can lead to the emergence of hybrid identities that blend different cultural elements;postmodernists say we live in a pick-and-mix society – society is like a big supermarket where each consumer can choose their preferred style/lifestyle e.g. their diet, favourite sports teams, music, favourite social media etc and this makes it easier to change identities by simply changing consumption patterns;postmodernism celebrates the diversity of identities and experiences – it encourages acceptance of the diverse ways people express themselves and define who they are;any other reasonable answer.2(e)[8]
Discuss why positive sanctions are an effective method of social control. Your answer should include:
at least three developed points with evidence. Use Table C to mark answers to this question. Possible answers:positive sanctions from parents such as praise or a treat reinforces the norms and values already taught and carry a lot of weight as children have their closest bonds with their parents;positive sanctions in school such as public praise from a teacher or a certificate/letter sent home are part of the hidden curriculum and encourage the repetition of the approved behaviour;positive sanctions such as promotion or a raise in salary at work recognises the hard work and effort that a worker is putting in and acts as a reward for their behaviour, encouraging further efforts;positive sanctions from peers such as compliments and inclusion in the friendship group are often crucial for adolescents who value respect from their peers at a time when they may be struggling with self-esteem;positive sanctions provide individuals with an incentive to conform to social norms and rules – when people see that certain behaviours are rewarded, they are more likely to adopt those behaviours to gain the associated benefits, leading to increased conformity with societal expectations;positive sanctions help reinforce socially desirable behaviour – when individuals receive positive feedback for actions such as following laws, being punctual, or participating in community activities, they are more likely to continue engaging in these behaviours;any other reasonable answer.2(f)[14]
Evaluate whether feminist views on gender socialisation are correct. Your answer should include:
at least three arguments for and three arguments againsta conclusion. Use Table D to mark answers to this question. Possible arguments for:parents manipulate children into stereotyped gender roles – they encourage and praise some activities and discourage others e.g. boys may be praised for taking part in a risky or physically dangerous activity whilst girls might be discouraged from doing this which limits girls and reinforces the idea that girls are physically and mentally weak;canalisation – parents channel children to gender appropriate activities e.g. boys may be encouraged to play football and girls to do dance, or use toys to steer children’s gender e.g. a doll for a girl and a toy weapon for a boy and this reinforces ideas about gendered characteristics and social roles;verbal appellations – parents use language in a way that reinforces gender stereotypes e.g. my brave soldier for a boy and my little princess for a girl;role modelling – parents and significant others act as role models for children to imitate and this often runs along gender lines e.g. a girl will be encouraged to copy her mother when doing household chores or when putting on make-up etc;despite some exceptions the media still show stereotypical representations of gender e.g. males as action heroes and females as the romantic interest which reinforces traditional ideas about gender which pervade society and are damaging to both men and women;peer pressure – Sue Lees showed that girls who deviate from gender norms are often punished by their peers through name-calling and ostracism despite the fact that males engage in the same behaviours and go unpunished;teacher expectations often reinforce traditional gender roles e.g. through guidance into gendered subject choices and choosing boys to help with lifting, moving furniture etc;any other reasonable answer. Possible arguments against:many parents now make efforts to bring up their children in more gender- neutral way e.g. giving boys a man doll and girls a construction set, giving girls the opportunity to play football and do STEM subjects;the media now represents gender in less traditional ways e.g. females as central characters and as action heroines;functionalists argue that gendered socialisation is necessary for a functional society and merely builds on pre-existing biological differences;socio-biologists argue feminists sometimes overemphasise the role of socialisation in shaping gender roles while downplaying potential biological or evolutionary influences on gender differences – there are innate/genetic differences between men and women that should be taken into consideration e.g. a maternal, nurturing instinct that comes with women’s ability to bear children;feminist theories criticising gender role socialisation often focus on Western contexts and may not account for the wide range of cultural and regional variations in gender roles;postmodernists may argue that feminist theories of gender role socialisation overlook the agency and individual choices of men and women – not all gender-related behaviours can be explained by external influences as personal choices, interests, and inclinations play a role as well e.g. women aim for top positions in society, play aggressive sports etc;some feminist theories might advocate a binary understanding of masculinity and femininity, failing to account for the diversity of gender identities and expressions that exist beyond the traditional binary in the contemporary world;any other reasonable answer.
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