Sociology · Oct / Nov 2025 · Paper 12 · Question 3
0495
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3(a)(i)[2]
Define the term caste system. Award one mark for a partial definition, e.g. closed society. Award two marks for a clear definition, e.g. a closed stratification system in which a person’s status is ascribed at birth and cannot be changed. Accept any other reasonable answer.
3(a)(ii)[2]
Define the term universal education. Award one mark for a partial definition, e.g. education for all. Award two marks for a clear definition, e.g. schooling provided for all children regardless of their background. Accept any other reasonable answer.
3(b)[2]
State two forms of wealth. Award one mark for each point correctly identified (up to a maximum of two). Possible answers:
stocks and shares in companies;land;properties, houses and other buildings;works of art, jewellery and other valuable items;a lot of money/savings;any other reasonable answer.3(c)[6]
Explain three ways people can be affected by a lack of power. 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:
Marxists would argue that the proletariat lack economic power – ruling class/bourgeoisie own the means of production and this means that they can pay subsistence or low wages which keeps them impoverished;poor and disadvantaged people may develop a mindset of fatalism and despair resulting in them being unable to escape their poverty or social situation;Marxists argue the working class are criminalised and treated unfairly in the justice system as the ruling class make up the government and they have the power to create the laws in their own interests;feminists argue that women lack power in patriarchal society e.g. they do the triple shift, may experience domestic violence and are discriminated against in the workplace;those in majority or dominant ethnic groups often have power over ethnic minorities because they tend to hold the economic and political power and this can result in discrimination in areas such as employment, housing and health;people without power often face social exclusion e.g. those in poverty or the underclass may be unable to access the same legal rights, opportunities and levels of education as more powerful groups;the elderly often lose power and status as they enter retirement and may be stereotyped as an economic burden due to their care needs;adults exercise power over children and teenagers in many ways and this can sometimes turn into abuse or neglect;any other reasonable answer.3(d)[6]
Explain three feminist criticisms of equality legislation. 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:
despite legislation, such as the Equal Pay Act, women’s pay is still, on average, significantly less than that of men;there is still a glass ceiling in the workplace – women still struggle to achieve the highest positions in organisations due to prejudice and despite equality laws;women still struggle to gain equal access to areas of work dominated by men despite equal opportunities law e.g. in construction and engineering;equality legislation is often difficult to enforce and hence employers may continue to discriminate against women e.g. it is hard to prove that the reason a woman does not get a job or promotion is because of her sex/gender;some women are still subjected to sexual harassment at work despite equality laws;it can be time-consuming and costly for a woman to use the law and to take an employer to court hence many women do not take this route, preferring to look for another job instead;equality law is often targeted at specific areas e.g. workplace and fails to take into account women’s lives as a whole in patriarchy e.g. their family circumstances;despite equality laws women still suffer from the dual burden and triple shift, showing that legislation cannot fully tackle gender inequalities;any other reasonable answer.3(e)[8]
Discuss the view that societies are becoming more culturally diverse. Your answer should include:
at least three developed points with evidence. Use Table C to mark answers to this question. Possible answers:due to migration countries are becoming more ethnically diverse – the host community finds itself living alongside the cultures of other ethnic groups and society itself becomes more multicultural;the children or grandchildren of immigrants may develop a hybrid identity e.g. British Bangladeshi people who have lived in the UK for a generation or more may continue to retain aspects of Bangladeshi culture such as language and religion whilst adopting many aspects of British culture;other global media bring different cultural influences into a country e.g. social media allows for connectivity and cultural sharing between different social groups both within and between countries;advances in transportation, communication and technology have made it easier for people to travel, communicate and connect with others from different parts of the world – this has led to increased cultural exchange and interaction;nowadays there is more intermarriage between people from different ethnic backgrounds leading to families which incorporate elements from two different ethnic or cultural traditions;globalisation has created a demand for a diverse and skilled workforce – employers often seek talent from different parts of the world, leading to cultural diversity in workplaces;colonisation – some countries imposed their culture, norms and values on others that they invaded and this influence contributes to diversity even after colonisation ends e.g. the preponderance of aspects of British culture and English speaking courses in the education systems of places like Nigeria and India;social acceptance and tolerance – evolving social norms and a growing recognition of the value of diversity have contributed to greater acceptance of people from different cultural backgrounds/sexualities/ gender identities etc encouraging individuals to express their identities more openly;any other reasonable answer.3(f)[14]
Evaluate the view that the welfare state has failed to reduce poverty. 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:New Right sociologists argue that the welfare state is overgenerous and promotes a culture of dependency which acts as a disincentive to finding work and/or finding a way out of a life on benefits;the welfare state has produced an underclass of people whose values are based on a reliance on welfare such that they live in a culture of poverty;the welfare state is open to abuse so instead of helping those in need it encourages fraudsters who claim money they are not entitled to, so some argue in its present state it has failed and needs to be reformed to achieve its original objectives;some argue that the level of welfare benefits is not enough and people remain in a poverty trap e.g. they cannot afford new clothes or transport to get to a job interview;Marxists argue that the most fundamental inequalities are bred by capitalism itself, the welfare state reduces demand for radical change by softening the edges of oppression and inequality rather than promoting full social inequality;the introduction of equal opportunities legislation has failed to remove discrimination against minorities and those who suffer discrimination e.g. some ethnic minorities remain more prone to poverty due to institutional racism;any other reasonable answer. Possible arguments against:through taxation the wealthy contribute some of what they have to provide for the needs of those in poverty thereby alleviating it;old people receive a state pension and this gives financial security allowing them to have sufficient food and shelter etc when they may not otherwise have been able to secure these goods;the introduction of free universal education ensures that poorer people have an opportunity to achieve qualifications which may then allow upward social mobility;a free national health service enables poorer and socially excluded groups to work because they can access the medicines and health care needed to keep them in good working health;unemployment benefits provide a cushion against economic recession for the poorer sections of society;housing benefit in some countries allows those in poverty to access accommodation and shelter;other benefits allow groups such as disabled people, who are more likely to be in poverty, to have more support and equipment which allows them to be more independent and earn for themselves;any other reasonable answer.
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