AS Sociology Paper II – Family Topical Past Papers (2021-2023) March 2023 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. Describe two features of a nuclear family. [4] a. Explain two ways social policies may influence family life. [8] b. Explain one strength and one limitation of New Right views of the family. [6] ‘Men continue to dominate family life.’ a. Explain this view. [10] b. Using sociological material, give one argument against this view. [6] Evaluate the view that motherhood is different today than in the past. [26] Evaluate the view that the main role of the family is to promote social solidarity. [26] (Functionalist) May 2023 (Variant A) 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. Describe two ways children are protected from adult life. [4] a. Explain two ways family life can be harmful for some members. [8] b. Explain one strength and one limitation of radical feminist views of the family. [6] ‘The nuclear family is the dominant family structure.’ a. Explain this view. [10] b. Using sociological material, give one argument against this view. [6] Evaluate the view that grandparents play a positive role in the family. [26] Evaluate the view that the main role of the family is to serve the needs of capitalism. [26] Calaexism) May 2023 (Variant B) 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. Describe two reasons women are not marrying at a later age. [4] a. Explain two ways capitalism benefits from the role of women in the family. [8] b. Explain two strengths of Marxist feminist views of the family. [6] ‘The family has experienced a loss of functions.’ a. Explain this view. [10] b. Using sociological material, give one argument against this view. [6] Evaluate the view that social class is the main factor affecting the experiences of children in the family. [26] Evaluate the view that increasing family diversity means the nuclear family is no longer dominant. [26] (Family Diversity) May 2023 (Variant C) 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. Describe two reasons people may stay in an unhappy marriage. [4] a. Explain two ways the family prepares children for the workplace. [8] b. Explain two limitations of Marxist views of the family [6] ‘The improved social position of women is the main reason for the increase in divorce.’ a. Explain this view. [10] b. Using sociological material, give one argument against this view. [6] Evaluate the view that gender no longer influences roles within the family. [26] Evaluate the view that childhood is a period of innocence and protection. [26] November 2023 (Variant A and C) 1. 2. 3. Describe two features of the expressive role. [4] a. Explain two reasons why cohabitation has become more popular in some societies. [8] b. Explain two strengths of postmodernist views of the family. [6] ‘Domestic labour is now shared equally between men and women in the family.’ 1 AS Sociology 4. 5. Paper II – Family Topical Past Papers (2021-2023) a. Explain this view. [10] b. Using sociological material, give one argument against this view. [6] Evaluate the view that the role of parents has changed. [26] Evaluate the view that social policies have led to a decline in the nuclear family. [26] November 2023 (Variant B) 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. Describe two functions of the family. [4] a. Explain two reasons for an increase in divorce. [8] b. Explain two limitations of liberal feminist views of the family. [6] ‘The nuclear family has lost its social importance.’ a. Explain this view. [10] b. Using sociological material, give one argument against this view. [6] Evaluate the view that power is shared equally in the family. [26] Evaluate the view that the distinction between childhood and adulthood is becoming less clear. [26] March 2022 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. Describe two ways grandparents may provide benefits for the family. [4] a. Explain two ways that girls experience family life differently to boys, according to feminists. [8] b. Explain two strengths of radical feminist view of the family. [6] ‘The main role of the family is to serve the needs of capitalism.’ a. Explain this view. [10] b. Using sociological material, give one argument against this view. [6] Evaluate the view that conjugal roles are equally shared between men and women today. [26] Evaluate the view that the nuclear family continues to be the dominant family structure. [26] (Family Diversity) May 2022 (Variant A) 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. Describe two ways motherhood has changed. [4] a. Explain two ways the role of women in the family supports capitalism. [8] b. Explain two limitations of Marxist feminist views of the family. [6] ‘Changes in social policy are the main reason for an increase in divorce.’ a. Explain this view. [10] b. Using sociological material, give one argument against this view. [6] Evaluate the view that roles in the family are no longer fixed. [26] Evaluate the view that the family benefits all its members equally. [26] May 2022 (Variant B) 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. Describe two ways the increase in women in paid employment has affected the family. [4] a. Explain two ways the family supports the economy. [8] b. Explain two strengths of Marxist views of the family. [6] ‘The experience of childhood is different today than in the past.’ a. Explain this view. [10] b. Using sociological material, give one argument against this view. [6] Evaluate the view that social policies are the main reason for increased family diversity. [26] Evaluate the view that the family is a patriarchal institution. [26] May 2022 (Variant C) 2 AS Sociology 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. Paper II – Family Topical Past Papers (2021-2023) Describe two functions performed by the family. [4] a. Explain two reasons for an increase in the age of first marriage. [8] b. Explain one strength and one limitation of postmodernist views on family diversity. [6] ‘Men have more power than women in the family.’ a. Explain this view. [10] b. Using sociological material, give one argument against this view. [6] Evaluate the view that increased life expectancy has had a positive impact on family members. [26] Evaluate the view that the nuclear family is no longer the dominant family form. [26] (Family Diversity) November 2022 (Variant A) 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. Describe two household forms that are not based on marriage. [4] a. Explain two reasons why there may still be gender inequality in the family. [8] b. Explain two strengths of liberal feminist views of the family. [6] ‘The family performs functions that benefit the whole of society.’ a. Explain this view. [10] b. Using sociological material, give one argument against this view. [6] Evaluate the view that the social position of children in the family has improved. [26] Evaluate the view that social class is the most important factor influencing family diversity. [26] (Family Diversity) November 2022 (Variant B) 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. Describe two ways that roles in the family have become more equal. [4] a. Explain two ways the family benefits its members, according to functionalists. [8] b. Explain one strength and one limitation of the functionalist view of the family. [6] ‘Ethnicity is the main factor affecting the experiences of children in the family.’ a. Explain this view. [10] b. Using sociological material, give one argument against this view. [6] Evaluate the view that the improved position of women in society is the main reason for a decline in marriage. [26] (Manige) Evaluate the view that fatherhood is different today than in the past. [26] March 2021 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. Describe two social policies that restrict the behaviour of children. [4] a. Explain two ways in which the family benefits society, according to functionalists. [8] b. Explain two limitations of the functionalist view of the family. [6] ‘Marriage has become less important in society’. a. Explain this view. [10] b. Using sociological material, give one argument against this view. [6] Evaluate the view that family life is harmful for some family members. [26] Evaluate the view that cultural differences are the main reason for family diversity. [26] (Family Diversity) May 2021 (Variant A) 1. 2. 3. 4. Describe two reasons for the decline in the number of marriages in some societies. [4] a. Explain two ways the family supports ruling class interests, according to Marxist theory. [8] b. Explain one strength and one limitation of the Marxist view of the family. [6] ‘Conjugal roles have become equal’. a. Explain this view. [10] b. Using sociological material, give one argument against this view. [6] Evaluate the view that the family has lost many of its functions. [26] (Function Family) of 3 AS Sociology 5. Paper II – Family Topical Past Papers (2021-2023) Evaluate the view that in contemporary society the family has become child-centered. [26] May 2021 (Variant B) 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. Describe two ways increased life expectancy has impacted on the family. [4] a. Explain two reasons why there may be greater gender equality in the family today than in the past. [8] b. Explain one strength and one limitation of liberal feminist views of the family. [6] ‘Cohabitation is replacing marriage’. a. Explain this view. [10] b. Using sociological material, give one argument against this view. [6] Evaluate the functionalist perspective on the role of the family. [26] Evaluate the view that social policies have had a positive impact upon the family. [26] May 2021 (Variant C) 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. Describe two ways the state may influence the family. [4] a. Explain two ways the family supports the interests of men, according to feminists. [8] b. Explain two limitations of radical feminist views of the family. [6] ‘Social class is the main influence on family structure’ a. Explain this view. [10] b. Using sociological material, give one argument against this view. [6] Evaluate the view that increased social opportunities for women are the main reason for the rise in divorce rates. [26] (Divorce) Evaluate Marxist explanations of the role of the family. [26] (Marxism) November 2021 (Variant A and C) 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. Describe two way the family benefits society. [4] a. Explain two ways lone-parent families can have a negative impact on society, according to the New Right. [8] b. Explain two limitations of New Right views of the family. [6] ‘Gender is the most important factor affecting the experiences of children in the family.’ a. Explain this view. [10] b. Using sociological material, give one argument against this view. [6] Evaluate feminist perspectives on equality in the family. [26] Evaluate the view that there is no dominant family type today. [26] (Family Diversity) November 2021 (Variant B) 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. Describe two ways fatherhood has changed. [4] a. Explain two reasons for the growth in family diversity. [8] b. Explain two limitations of postmodernist views of the family. [6] ‘The main role of the family is ideological control.’ a. Explain this view. [10] b. Using sociological material, give one argument against this view. [6] Evaluate the view that conjugal roles continue to be unequal. [26] Evaluate the view that the position of grandparents in the family has improved. [26] 4 AS Sociology Paper II – Family Topical Past Papers (2021-2023) Specimen Paper for 2021 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. Describe two functions of the family. [4] a. Explain two ways in which the family supports capitalism, according to Marxist theory. [8] b. Explain two limitations of the Marxist view of the family. [6] ‘Family diversity is positive for society.’ a. Explain this view. [10] b. Using sociological material, give one argument against this view. [6] Evaluate the view that the nuclear family is universal. [26] [Family Evaluate the contribution of different feminist perspectives to our understanding of the family. [26] Dircesily) 26 mackers ① Despective ② Family ③ Marriage 2 Maexism fenchmansm Diversity ④ Divorce ⑤ Loss on 5 Fenchan .
