Sociology · Oct / Nov 2025 · Paper 11 · Question 3
0495
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3(a)(i)[2]
Define the term emigration. Award one mark for a partial definition, e.g. leaving your country. Award two marks for a clear definition, e.g. moving away from your home country and settling in another. Accept any other reasonable answer.
3(a)(ii)[2]
Define the term unemployment benefits. Award one mark for a partial definition, e.g. money given by the government. Award two marks for a clear definition, e.g. money paid by the government to support those without a job. Accept any other reasonable answer.
3(b)[2]
State two features of modern slavery. Award one mark for each point correctly identified (up to a maximum of two). Possible answers:
being treated as property e.g. being forced to work without pay, denied their human rights and being kept against their will;debt bondage – people in poverty may have to borrow money to survive and may be forced to work to pay off the debt but as interest is high and the wages low this debt may take a long time to pay off;human trafficking – some people are forced to do certain work that they do not want to do to pay off people smugglers e.g. prostitution, low grade manual work or criminal activities;forced marriage – in some cases young girls are forced to marry someone and then made to do domestic tasks for the family they have entered into, being treated as an unpaid servant and sometimes subjected to coercive control;children are often targeted for exploitation due to their vulnerability – they may be forced to work in hazardous conditions, denied education, and subjected to physical and emotional abuse;victims of modern slavery are often isolated from their families, communities, and support networks – their movement is restricted, making it difficult for them to escape or seek help;any other reasonable answer.3(c)[6]
Describe three ways transnational companies (TNCs) damage the environment. 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:
some TNCs manufacture or use plastics in their products which depletes natural resources and creates water pollution which can affect the livelihoods of those who rely on fishing;TNCs might engage in practices that harm the environment in some countries, such as disregarding pollution controls and overexploiting natural resources – this can lead to ecological damage, habitat destruction, and contribute to climate change e.g. chemical pollution from mining, oil pollution from oil exploration and production;fossil fuels – the continued use of oil, coal and gas by TNCs in the production of their products is causing global warming;oil – spills and leaks damage the ocean, land and water;mining by TNCs often leads to chemical pollution, acid in water, soil erosion and exposure to hazardous materials;deforestation – logging for timber and land clearance for construction reduces forests which negatively affects wildlife and contributes to global warming;overfishing by TNCs leads to the reduction of diversity in the oceans;any other reasonable answer.3(d)[6]
Explain three ways patriarchy creates global inequalities. 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:
the global spread of capitalism requires the exploitation of women in some countries as cheap labour e.g. many young women are employed in sweatshop factories in Southeast Asia making cheap clothing for the developed world;women in many countries across the world are still expected to hand over their wages to their husband or father because they are seen as the head of the household – this prevents women from becoming economically independent;in many societies women are often restricted to lower-paying jobs, their access to education and career opportunities are limited and gender- based occupational segregation is practiced – this results in significant economic inequality between genders on a global scale;in patriarchal societies women and girls are sometimes denied equal access to education or discouraged from pursuing certain fields of study– this limits their potential for personal and professional development, contributing to long-term social inequalities in many cultures;patriarchal cultural norms in many societies often uphold gender roles and expectations that reinforce inequality e.g. housewife and mother – these norms can restrict personal freedom, limit opportunities for personal growth and perpetuate harmful stereotypes;domestic violence is a global phenomenon – the threat or reality of physical, sexual and emotional abuse is used as a tool to reinforce the dominance of men and the subordination of women;in many societies the pressure of the male breadwinner expectation causes men to have to take on risky or dangerous jobs to support their families and this may negatively affect their health and even life expectancy;any other reasonable response.3(e)[8]
Discuss how non-governmental organisations (NGOs) reduce inequalities. Your answer should include:
at least three developed points with evidence. Use Table C to mark answers to this question. Possible answers:NGOs try to reduce poverty by helping people to help themselves e.g. giving money for seeds and livestock to a farmer so they can support themselves, avoiding a dependency culture;some NGOs provide medical assistance in places where there are few health centres or medical staff – they may send volunteer doctors or nurses and/or help to train health workers and provide equipment and medicine e.g. Doctors without Borders;some NGOs promote enterprise by providing loans with no or low interest to people who want to start their own business e.g. Oxfam and BRAC;many NGOs work to improve education by building schools and providing staff and equipment e.g. Room to Read and Teach For All – this allows people to improve their literacy and gain qualifications which may be a pathway to social mobility;NGOs like CARE and Equality Now focus on empowering women, advocating for gender equality, and addressing issues like domestic violence, human trafficking and women’s economic empowerment;NGOs such as Save the Children and UNICEF work to protect children’s rights, provide access to education and healthcare and address issues like child labour and child trafficking;any other reasonable answer.3(f)[14]
Evaluate the functionalist view that societies are meritocratic. Your answer should include:
at least three arguments and three arguments againsta conclusion. Use Table D to mark answers to this question. Possible arguments for:functionalists argue that equal opportunities legislation has created the chance for all social groups to rise in the social hierarchy through merit and hard work e.g. women can now enter formerly male professions and get to the top;free state education allows girls and members of minority groups to achieve qualifications which then give access to higher education and higher status and better paid employment;social mobility is possible due to changing social attitudes – there is now more respect for people who get to the top via their talent and work ethic and they are held up as role models e.g. Elon Musk;achieved status is now more important ascribed status – the old ruling class and aristocracy has fallen in prominence in favour of those who have made, rather than inherited, their money;anti-discrimination laws have allowed minority groups to achieve higher positions in society e.g. ethnic minorities cannot legally be denied jobs or promotions on the basis of skin colour/ethnicity;any other reasonable answer. Possible arguments against:feminists argue that women continue to experience prejudice and discrimination in the workplace through the gender pay gap, vertical and horizontal segregation, the glass ceiling etc;Marxists argue that meritocracy is a myth because social class inequalities continue to exist due to the nature of capitalism – the bourgeoisie oppress and exploit the proletariat in order to maximise their profits and to maintain their power and status in society;racism continues to be a barrier to higher status in society for ethnic minority groups e.g. some ethnic groups are more likely to be in poverty and experience lower life chances in education, health, housing etc;ageism still exists and thus there is no meritocracy e.g. older workers are forced to retire or are denied jobs or promotion purely due to prejudice about their age and capabilities;the underclass experiences poverty and social exclusion so they become trapped in poverty and the poverty cycle so meritocracy does not exist;any other reasonable answer.
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