Feminism

    OCR
    GCSE

    Feminism is a conflict theory that views society as patriarchal, characterized by structural inequalities based on gender. Candidates must analyse the evolution of feminist thought from Liberal (legal/political reform) to Radical (patriarchy as fundamental) and Marxist (capitalism and gender) perspectives, alongside recent Intersectional and Post-feminist critiques. Mastery requires evaluating the impact of feminism on core sociological topics—Family, Education, Crime, and Stratification—and assessing the extent to which 'malestream' sociology has been challenged. Responses must demonstrate AO3 evaluation by contrasting these internal branches.

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    Objectives
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    Exam Tips
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    Pitfalls
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    Key Terms
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    Mark Points

    What You Need to Demonstrate

    Key skills and knowledge for this topic

    • Credit explicit use of sociological terminology such as 'patriarchy', 'glass ceiling', 'double burden', and 'sex-gender distinction'.
    • Award marks for the application of feminist theory to specific social contexts, such as the impact of differential socialisation on gender identity.
    • Responses must evaluate feminist arguments by contrasting them with Functionalist views (e.g., Parsons' instrumental/expressive roles) or Marxist views on class.
    • High-level responses must demonstrate an understanding of how feminism explains contemporary issues like the gender pay gap or domestic division of labour.

    Marking Points

    Key points examiners look for in your answers

    • Credit explicit use of sociological terminology such as 'patriarchy', 'glass ceiling', 'double burden', and 'sex-gender distinction'.
    • Award marks for the application of feminist theory to specific social contexts, such as the impact of differential socialisation on gender identity.
    • Responses must evaluate feminist arguments by contrasting them with Functionalist views (e.g., Parsons' instrumental/expressive roles) or Marxist views on class.
    • High-level responses must demonstrate an understanding of how feminism explains contemporary issues like the gender pay gap or domestic division of labour.

    Examiner Tips

    Expert advice for maximising your marks

    • 💡When answering 12-mark 'Discuss' questions, ensure you provide a counter-argument (e.g., Functionalism or the 'March of Progress' view) to achieve top band evaluation.
    • 💡Use specific sociologist names (e.g., Ann Oakley, Sue Sharpe) to substantiate theoretical points; this signals AO1 depth.
    • 💡In source-based questions, explicitly quote data or text from the source to support your sociological point; do not just describe the source.
    • 💡Allocate approximately 1 minute per mark; spend 12-15 minutes on the 12-mark extended response questions.

    Common Mistakes

    Pitfalls to avoid in your exam answers

    • Confusing 'sex' (biological) with 'gender' (social construct) in explanations of inequality.
    • Presenting feminism as merely 'women wanting equal rights' without referencing the structural power dynamics of patriarchy.
    • Failing to critique feminist theory; students often present feminist views as absolute fact rather than a theoretical perspective open to evaluation.
    • Over-reliance on anecdotal evidence rather than sociological studies (e.g., Oakley, Sharpe).

    Study Guide Available

    Comprehensive revision notes & examples

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    Key Terminology

    Essential terms to know

    Likely Command Words

    How questions on this topic are typically asked

    Identify
    Describe
    Explain
    Compare
    Discuss
    Evaluate

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