6 E XAM PREPARATION AND PRACTICE
Examiner’s comments There are some good ideas and evidence within this answer, particularly the second reason explaining how subjects are taught, which uses the item. There is however a key ‘hook’ in the item about socialisation. The answer does not pick up on this hook, which would naturally lead into one of the reasons for subject choice.
Mark 6/10
A grade response
As mentioned in item A, males and females are likely to choose different subjects both in their options at GCSE and particularly in their choices for A-level. Evidence shows that females are more likely to choose language based subjects such as English and boys more mathematical subjects; reasons for this can be linked to both internal and external factors. One such reason could be connected to primary socialisation which teaches us gender differences from an early age. The feminist Oakley identifies that parents use different verbal appellations on children and give them different toys through a process of canalisation. Boys’ toys are likely to be more practical and active whereas girls’ toys are likely to be domestic related or a book based learning tool. This early form of gender manipulation in socialisation could set the building blocks for the different ways in which boys and girls learn and ultimately the subject choices they make, though it could also be argued that these differences are biological rather than socialised. Inside school the different ways in which subjects are taught could be a reason for the subject choices boys and girls make. Science suggests that boys’ brains are more logical and practical and therefore they may be attracted to maths and also the practical experiments of subjects such as chemistry. Females are more likely to have stronger linguistic and creative skills and they are therefore more attracted to subjects such as English and psychology due to the attention to language, detail, reading and written assessments in the form of essays. Feminists do criticise this idea and believe that these choices are not a result of biology but rather ideological conditioning. Despite these differences, there have been efforts to get more students into certain subjects such as the girls into science and technology (GIST) campaign which seems to have worked in biology in particular and likewise the 2005 breakthrough programme to help the exam performance of teenage boys.
The candidate uses the item and shows sound knowledge of the topic in question. The candidate demonstrates good knowledge and understanding of relevant sociological concepts here.
An opportunity to evaluate is missed here: gender socialisation is changing with some parents choosing gender neutral toys Also some children now challenge the process.
The second point is well made with relevant analysis and evaluation.
Further analysis is displayed in this conclusion.
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245152 A-level Sociology Year 1_CH06.indd 366
08/12/17 8:34 PM