SAMPLE 1 – ASSESSMENT CRITERIA AND LEARNING OUTCOMES
Unit Title: Sociology
2. Understand theories associated with
major social divisions, inequalities,
differences and diversity in contemporary
society
2.1 Explain what is meant by social divisions
within society
2.2 Explain the main theories associated
with Class, Gender, Racial/Ethnic divisions
2.3 Compare two competing theories of
social divisions
SAMPLE 1 – GRADING DESCRIPTORS AND COMPONENTS
GD1 – Understanding of the subject
Merit
Distinction
1c) Demonstrates very good
understanding of the different
perspectives or approaches associated
with the area of study.
1c) Demonstrates excellent
understanding of the different
perspectives or approaches associated
with the area of study.
GD2 – Application of knowledge
Merit
The student, student’s work or
performance:
a) Makes use of relevant
 Ideas
 Facts
 Theories
 Perspectives
 Models
 Concepts
With either
b) Breadth or depth that goes
beyond the minimum required to
Pass
And/or
c) Very good levels of
 Consistency
 Precision
 Accuracy
 Insight
 Analysis
 Synthesis
 Creativity
Distinction
The student, student’s work or
performance:
a) Makes use of relevant
 Ideas
 Facts
 Theories
 Perspectives
 Models
 Concepts
With both
b) Breadth or depth
And/or
c) Excellent levels of
 Consistency
 Precision
 Accuracy
 Insight
 Analysis
 Synthesis
 Creativity
GD7 – Quality
Merit
7b) The student, student’s work or
performance:
Distinction
7b) The student, student’s work or
performance:
Puts forward arguments or ideas which
are generally unambiguous but which
are in a minor way limited or incomplete
Puts forward arguments or ideas which
are consistently unambiguous and
cogent
SAMPLE 1 – STUDENT WORK
Essay Title:
‘Karl Marx suggests social division can be explained by inequalities in social
class, feminists suggest that social division can be explained by patriarchy.
Using these theories compare how effective they are with reference to class,
gender and ethnicity’.
In this essay I will describe and discuss Karl Marx’s theory on social class as well as
the feminist theories on social division, when looking into both theories I will relate
them to three groups, Gender, age and ethnicity. I will compare and evaluate both
theories effectiveness and their contributions to society today.
Social divisions within society are known as the differences between different class
groups. They are also given to people who have similar education, income,
occupations, interests and values (Braham, 2013).
Marx’s theory of social class focuses on the view that since society was formed
thousands of years ago, an element of class division has always existed and
different classes share different interests.
Karl Marx based his theory around his belief that we lived in a capitalism society and
believed relationships between male and females are formed by their positions in the
means of production, resulting in differences in resources and power which resulted
in what he called a class struggle. Society Marx believed was divided between two
class distinctions, Marx called the high class ruling members in society the
‘bourgeoisie’, he called the lower class working members in society the ‘proletariat’.
During the nineteenth century Marx believed that society was financed and the
bourgeoisie were the sole benefactors to the proletariat’s work and efforts, whereas
the proletariat were worse off and living in poverty. This structure serves to support
the functions of society rather than the individuals that make up the society, the
whole basis of the theory is based around economical organisations rather than an
SAMPLE 1 – STUDENT WORK
individual’s behaviour, the reason for this is that Marxism believes that an individual
is the product of the class relationships formed from economic life (Moore, S., Aiken,
D. and Chapman, S. 2001).
Marx’s overall view on society was built around a class structure, focusing on the
struggle between each class group which creates change in the structure of society.
Although struggle was present within society it was not was not seen as a direct
impact in which maintain society.
Marx believed the class groups were divided by the ownership of property, this idea
came as property was viewed by society as power, this was either to use the
property to rent to other members of society or for own personal use. When property
because privatised three class systems were recognised, these were known as ‘the
bourgeoisie’, this group owned property used for production purposes such as
machinery, or owning a factory building, the use of the property was always focused
on creating a profit. There was also the ‘Landowners’, whose property was solely
used to rent out to others again generating a profit. Then the lower spectrum of the
class scale were known as the proletariat whose role was to sell labour, working for
a living and sell it for a wage to survive.
Class was purely defined and determined not by status or income, only by property,
by defining the class section in this way it assigns the role of the class groups, the
bourgeoisies property is a result of the social conditions of the bourgeoisie property,
the main focus of difference which the Marxist theory recognises is the wage in
different class groups. (Harrington, 2005).
The other perspective being covered is the feminism perspective, the main focus
behind feminist theories is gender inequality and how it can be reduced within
society. Although there is a generalised goal feminists strive to achieve there are
various different types of feminists, the main five are recognised as, Radical
SAMPLE 1 – STUDENT WORK
feminism, Marxist and socialist feminism, liberal feminism, black feminism and postmodern feminism.
Radical feminists claim that woman are exploited by men in society and believe that
the subordination of woman benefited the male rather than the females.
(Haralambos, M. and Holborn, M, 2009). The radicals theory supports the idea that
men male a more dominant powerful role than the woman, this is set in place by
socialisation, men being the main financial provider and the woman playing the role
of mother and house-wife, this occurs through sexual divisions of labour and is
considered quite natural in society, making problems such as domestic violence
against woman not a serious issue. Feminists also highlight their belief in the
patriarchal ideology, claiming woman accept their responsibilities for childcare and
home making without any objections and that this role is secondary to the husbands
role, this patriarchal ideology lead the expectations placed on woman to take on
careers which fit in and around there family commitments and place no restrictions
upon men.
Black feminism focuses on the idea of class oppression, racism and sexism are all
connected together, and this is known as intersectionality. Black feminism focuses
on what other feminists fail to consider, race and how woman are discriminated
against on racial grounds. Alice Walker a prominent black feminist created a theory
known as ‘Womanism’ which outlined how black woman experience a harsher
oppression than white woman. They state that feminist movements ignored fights
against oppression regarding black woman. The black feminist theory claims that a
black woman’s power was a lot less in relation to that of a white woman.
Marxist feminism is another theory which falls under the overall feminists theories,
although the Marxist feminist theory concentrates on capitalism and the privatisation
of property in relation to oppression and gender inequality. Marxist feminists claim
that the privatisation of property lead to the domestic struggle between genders
resulting economic inequality, dependence, and the social oppression of woman
SAMPLE 1 – STUDENT WORK
within society. Friedrich Engels the originator of Marxist feminism states that the
subordination of woman is not a result of biological differences but of social relations
in society and the men’s role has become institutionalized within society. Marxist
feminists believe class and gender oppression can be similar to the relations
between the proletariat and bourgeoisie. They refer to the subordination of woman
as a function of class oppression this is due to the fact that it benefits the ruling class
which leads to the division of men and woman, by providing men with greater
working privileges and woman are expected to fulfil an unpaid domestic role as wife
and mother (Haralambos, M. and Holborn, M, 2009).
The Marxism theory of social division has often been criticised for being biased
claiming that the economics within society control and determine behaviours and
relationships among individuals in society, not considering other influences which
may influence peoples behaviours, only focusing on the financials. Marxist’s also
fail to consider other societies only focusing on society’s which are structured by
means of class.
Feminists in particular the radical feminists have claimed that Marxists did not focus
on stratification in relation to gender known as the ‘sex-class’, which distinguishes
the differences between male and females interests, this claim supports the fact
Marxists purely surround their focus on economic relationships (Livesey, C,
Unknown).
This assignment has discussed the differences between the Marx’s theory of social
class and the feminist theory of social division, in relation to both theories, class,
gender and ethnicity have been discussed. It has displayed the differences in
opinions between the two main theories in sociology.
SAMPLE 1 – STUDENT WORK
Braham, P (2013). Key concepts in sociology. London: Sage.
Haralambos, M. and Holborn, M. (2009) Sociology themes and perspectives 7th edn.
London: HarperCollinsPubslishers.
Harrington, A (2005). Modern social theory. Oxford: Oxford University Press.
Livesey, C. (Unknown). Social Inequality: Therories: Marxism. A-Level Sociology
teaching notes. 1.
Moore, S., Aiken, D. and Chapman, S (2001). Sociology for AS level. London:
Collins Educational.