Source A Sociologists studying youth culture in a large city found that young people in urban areas often form sub-cultures that express values and norms di...

Part (a): Two features of culture [2 marks]

One mark for each feature correctly identified, up to two marks. Valid features include: norms, values, beliefs, customs or traditions, language, and laws. Culture refers to the whole way of life of a society, including the shared ideas, practices, and material objects that define how people live together.

Part (b): What is meant by the term 'sub-culture' [2 marks]

A sub-culture is a smaller group within a larger culture [1] that has its own distinctive norms, values, and behaviours that set it apart from the mainstream [1]. Examples include youth sub-cultures based on musical taste (punk, grime, hip-hop), religious communities, or occupational groups with their own codes and practices.

Part (c): Two examples of how cultural norms vary between different societies [4 marks]

Two marks for each example described, up to four marks.

• In some societies, it is normal for extended families to live together in one household [1], while in other societies, the norm is for nuclear families to live independently [1].
• Expectations about gender roles differ across cultures [1]. In some societies, women are expected to work outside the home as well as within it, while in others, gender roles are more rigidly defined [1].

These examples demonstrate cultural diversity, which is the idea that different societies develop different ways of organising social life. What is considered 'normal' in one culture may be unusual or unacceptable in another.

Part (d): Using Source A, explain how sub-cultures help to shape the social identity of young people [4 marks]

Up to four marks, drawing on the source.

• The source explains that belonging to a sub-culture gives young people a sense of identity and belonging [1], particularly when they feel excluded from mainstream society, providing them with a group identity that meets their need for recognition [1].
• Sub-cultures are linked to factors such as social class, ethnicity, and musical taste [1], which means they offer young people a way to express aspects of their identity that are important to them and to connect with others who share similar experiences [1].

Part (e): Two reasons why people may adopt a sub-cultural identity [4 marks]

Two marks for each reason described, up to four marks.

• People may feel marginalised or excluded by mainstream culture [1], so joining a sub-culture provides them with a sense of community, status, and identity that they cannot find elsewhere [1].
• Sub-cultures can offer a way to resist or challenge dominant social norms [1], allowing individuals to express dissatisfaction with aspects of mainstream society such as inequality, conformity, or materialism [1].

Part (f): The difference between high culture and popular culture [6 marks]

Up to six marks for a developed explanation.

• High culture refers to cultural products and activities traditionally associated with the upper classes and the well-educated [1], such as opera, classical music, fine art, and literature [1].
• Popular culture (also called mass culture) refers to the cultural products and pastimes enjoyed by the majority of the population [1], such as television, popular music, sport, and social media [1].
• Some sociologists argue that the distinction between high and popular culture reflects social class differences [1], with high culture being used by elites to distinguish themselves from ordinary people and to maintain their social status [1].

Pierre Bourdieu used the concept of cultural capital to explain how knowledge of and participation in high culture gives individuals advantages in education and the workplace. Those who possess cultural capital are rewarded by institutions that value these forms of knowledge.

Part (g): Why sociologists believe that globalisation is affecting cultural identity in modern societies [6 marks]

Up to six marks for a developed explanation.

• Globalisation has increased the flow of cultural products, ideas, and images across national borders [1], exposing people to a wider range of cultures and lifestyles than ever before [1].
• Some sociologists argue that this leads to cultural homogenisation [1], where local and traditional cultures are replaced by a global consumer culture dominated by Western media and brands [1]. This is sometimes called cultural imperialism.
• Others argue that globalisation creates hybrid identities [1], where people combine elements from different cultures to form new, more complex identities that are neither purely local nor purely global [1].

Part (h): The extent to which social class influences a person's cultural identity [7 marks]

Up to seven marks for a balanced discussion.

For the view:

• Social class shapes the cultural experiences and resources available to individuals [1]. People from higher social classes tend to have greater access to cultural capital such as education, travel, and the arts, which influences their tastes and identity [1].
• Socialisation within a particular social class teaches people the norms, values, and behaviours associated with that class [1], which becomes a central part of how they see themselves and how others see them [1].

Against the view:

• In modern societies, other factors such as ethnicity, gender, age, and religion also play a significant role in shaping cultural identity [1], and for many people these may be more important than social class [1].
• The growth of mass media and consumer culture means that people from different social classes often share similar cultural experiences [1], which may reduce the influence of class on cultural identity [1].
• Some sociologists argue that class identities have weakened in recent decades [1], as traditional working-class and middle-class communities have changed and people's identities have become more individualised [1].

Conclusion: Social class remains an important influence on cultural identity, but it operates alongside and interacts with other social factors [1], and its significance may vary between individuals and societies [1].