GCSESociologyAQAExam QuestionsSocial StratificationPower & Authority

Power & Authority (AQA GCSE Sociology): Exam Questions

Exam code: 8192

40 mins8 questions
11 mark

What term is commonly used by sociologists to describe a form of government where power is concentrated in the hands of an individual?

  • Democracy

  • Dictatorship

  • Oligarchy

  • Theocracy

Choose your answer

24 marks

Item D

Walby believed that the key to understanding patriarchy was to appreciate how ideas of femininity and masculinity have changed. It was her view that despite some changes over time, masculinity has always been valued more than femininity. This is not just in one area of life, but in a whole range of patriarchal structures:

  • the household

  • paid work

  • the state

  • sexuality

  • male violence towards women

  • cultural institutions

Walby believed these patriarchal structures restricted women and helped to maintain male dominance in society.

Source: Walby, S, Theorizing Patriarchy, (1990)

From Item D, identify and describe one patriarchal structure in society as identified by Walby, including what you know of her perspective of gender inequality.

How did you do?

34 marks

Identify and explain one factor affecting power relationships.

How did you do?

42 marks

Item C

In 2017 the BBC published a breakdown of the gender of Members of Parliament (MPs). The data was provided by the House of Commons Library.

Bar chart showing the increase in female MPs elected to UK Parliament from 1979 to 2017, peaking at over 200 in 2017.

Source: House of Commons Library, BBC (2017)

From Item C, examine one strength of the research.

How did you do?

54 marks

In 2017 the BBC published a breakdown of the gender of Members of Parliament (MPs). The data was provided by the House of Commons Library.

Bar chart showing the increase in female MPs elected to Parliament from 1979 to 2017, with a peak at 2017 with over 200 MPs.

Source: House of Commons Library, BBC (2017)

Identify and explain one factor that may have led to an increase in the number of female MPs being elected, as shown in Item C.

How did you do?

612 marks

Discuss how far sociologists would agree that patriarchy continues to exist in modern British society.

How did you do?

71 mark

What term is commonly used by sociologists to describe a male-dominated society?

  • Matriarchy

  • Matrifocal

  • Oligarchy

  • Patriarchy

Choose your answer

812 marks

Discuss how far sociologists would agree that patriarchy continues to exist in modern British society.

How did you do?