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GCSE · Thematic Studies

RS.TA6 Gender Equality

AQA 8062 · Calculators not allowed · about 55 minutes

Total Marks

Name: _______________________________ Date: ____ / ____ / ______

Answer ALL questions. Show all your working.

This question checks key vocabulary used when discussing gender equality.

(a)State what is meant by gender equality.(1)

(b)State what is meant by prejudice.(1)

(c)State what is meant by discrimination.(1)

(d)State what is meant by stereotyping.(1)

(e)State what is meant by the Equality Act 2010.(1)

(Total for Question 1 is 5 marks)

Give three facts about the law on gender equality in the UK.

(Total for Question 2 is 3 marks)

Explain two religious teachings that support gender equality. Refer to a source of wisdom and authority in your answer.

(Total for Question 3 is 4 marks)

Explain two contrasting religious beliefs about the roles of men and women within marriage. Refer to a source of wisdom and authority in your answer.

(Total for Question 4 is 5 marks)

This question is about religious and non-religious perspectives on gender equality. It is the AQA-style 24-mark, five-part question.

(a)State one protected characteristic under the Equality Act 2010.(1)

(b)Give two examples of gender-based discrimination that the Equality Act 2010 aims to prevent.(2)

(c)Explain two religious teachings about gender equality. Refer to a source of wisdom and authority in your answer.(4)

(d)Explain two contrasting beliefs about women's leadership within religious communities, religious and/or non-religious. Refer to a source of wisdom and authority or another source in your answer.(5)

(e)Evaluate this statement: 'Religion is the main cause of gender inequality in Britain today.' In your answer you should: refer to religious teaching, refer to different points of view, reach a justified conclusion.(12)

(Total for Question 5 is 24 marks)

Explain two non-religious arguments for full gender equality. Refer to Humanist or other non-religious beliefs in your answer.

(Total for Question 6 is 4 marks)

Give three reasons why gender equality remains a debated issue in religion today.

(Total for Question 7 is 3 marks)

Mark scheme · RS.TA6 Gender Equality

Question 1

(a) B1 the belief that men and women should have the same rights, opportunities and status, oe
(a) Answer: The belief that men and women should have the same rights, opportunities and status.
(b) B1 an unfair or negative opinion about a person or group, formed without good reason, oe
(b) Answer: An unfair or negative opinion about a person or group, formed without good reason.
(c) B1 treating a person or group unfairly because of prejudice against them, oe
(c) Answer: Treating a person or group unfairly because of prejudice against them.
(d) B1 assuming all members of a group share the same fixed characteristics, oe
(d) Answer: Assuming all members of a group share the same fixed characteristics.
(e) B1 a UK law that makes it illegal to discriminate against someone because of protected characteristics, including sex, oe
(e) Answer: A UK law that makes it illegal to discriminate against someone because of protected characteristics, including sex.

Question 2

B1 the Equality Act 2010 makes it illegal to discriminate against someone because of their sex, oe
B1 the law requires equal pay for men and women doing equal work, oe
B1 the Equality Act 2010 protects both men and women from sex discrimination, oe
Answer: Any three: Equality Act 2010 makes sex discrimination illegal; equal pay for equal work is a legal requirement; the law protects both men and women.

Question 3

B1 point 1: many Christians believe men and women are equal in the sight of God, oe
B1 development: Galatians 3:28 teaches that in Christ there is 'neither male nor female', which many Christians use to support gender equality, oe
B1 point 2: many Muslims believe men and women are spiritually equal before Allah, oe
B1 development: Islamic teaching states that believing men and believing women are equally responsible for their faith and actions, and are promised equal reward for righteousness, oe
Answer: E.g. Galatians 3:28's teaching that in Christ there is 'neither male nor female'; Islamic teaching on the spiritual equality of men and women before Allah.

Question 4

B1 belief 1: some Christians believe men and women have distinct but complementary roles within marriage, oe
B1 development: this view is often linked to Ephesians 5:25, which instructs husbands to love their wives, alongside teaching that calls for mutual submission between spouses, oe
B1 belief 2: other Christians believe men and women should have fully equal roles within marriage, with no fixed distinction between what a husband and a wife may do, oe
B1 development: this view emphasises Galatians 3:28's teaching that all believers are equal in Christ, applying it to relationships between husbands and wives, oe
B1 reference to a source of wisdom and authority made accurately, oe
Answer: Contrast: complementarian teaching on distinct roles within marriage (Ephesians 5:25) vs egalitarian teaching on fully equal roles (Galatians 3:28).

Question 5

(a) B1 e.g. sex / age / disability / religion or belief / sexual orientation / gender reassignment, oe (any one recognised protected characteristic)
(a) Answer: E.g. sex.
(b) B1 paying men and women differently for doing the same or equal work, oe
(b) B1 treating someone unfairly in recruitment or promotion because of their sex, oe
(b) Answer: E.g. unequal pay for equal work; unfair treatment in recruitment/promotion because of sex.
(c) B1 point 1: many Christians believe men and women are equally made in God's image, oe
(c) B1 development: Genesis 1:27 teaches that God created humankind 'male and female' in his own image, which many Christians use to support the equal worth of men and women, oe
(c) B1 point 2: many Muslims believe men and women are spiritually equal before Allah, though may have different responsibilities, oe
(c) B1 development: Islamic teaching promises men and women equal reward for faith and good deeds, while some traditional teaching also describes distinct family roles for husbands and wives, oe
(c) Answer: E.g. Genesis 1:27 on men and women equally made in God's image; Islamic teaching on equal spiritual reward alongside some traditional teaching on distinct family roles.
(d) B1 belief 1: some Christian denominations, including the Church of England, ordain women as priests and bishops, believing women and men are equally called to religious leadership, oe
(d) B1 development: this reflects the belief, drawn from Galatians 3:28, that there is no spiritual distinction between men and women that should limit who can lead, oe
(d) B1 belief 2: other traditions, including the Roman Catholic Church, do not ordain women to the priesthood, teaching that only men may hold this particular religious role, oe
(d) B1 development: this position is based on that tradition's teaching about the nature of the priesthood, rather than on a belief that women are of lesser worth, oe
(d) B1 reference to a source of wisdom and authority or another appropriate source made accurately, oe
(d) Answer: Contrast: denominations that ordain women as priests/bishops (e.g. Church of England, drawing on Galatians 3:28) vs traditions such as the Roman Catholic Church that reserve priesthood for men.
(e) L4 (10-12): A well-argued, balanced answer that considers more than one point of view in a developed way, using accurate and detailed references to religious teaching and/or scripture to support each point, and reaches a clear, justified conclusion.
(e) L3 (7-9): A clear and reasoned answer that considers more than one point of view, supported by relevant references to religious teaching and/or scripture, though the justification of the conclusion may be less developed.
(e) L2 (4-6): A reasoned answer that considers at least one point of view, with some relevant supporting evidence, but with limited or no consideration of an alternative view.
(e) L1 (1-3): One or more relevant points are made, but with little or no supporting evidence and no reasoned conclusion.
(e) L0 (0): No relevant content.
(e) Indicative content:
- Agree: some traditional religious teaching on distinct roles for men and women, for example around leadership or headship within marriage, can be seen as limiting opportunities for women within religious communities.
- Agree: some religious institutions still restrict certain roles, such as ordained priesthood, to men, which critics argue sends a wider message about the status of women.
- Agree: where religious teaching is used to justify unequal treatment outside religious settings too, such as in family or community life, this can be seen as extending inequality into wider society.
- Disagree: most major religions teach that men and women are equal in spiritual worth, for example Galatians 3:28 (Christianity) and Quran 33:35 (Islam), so religion itself does not necessarily cause inequality.
- Disagree: gender inequality (e.g. unequal pay, workplace discrimination, unequal division of caring responsibilities) exists in non-religious as well as religious contexts, suggesting religion is not the main cause.
- Disagree: many religious individuals and organisations actively campaign for gender equality, showing that religious belief can support rather than oppose equality.
- Disagree: UK law, through the Equality Act 2010, already protects against sex discrimination across society, showing that inequality has causes (social, economic, cultural) that go well beyond religion.
- A balanced answer might conclude that religious teaching has contributed to gender inequality in some historical and institutional contexts, but that gender inequality in Britain today has many causes, of which religion is only one, and even within religion views differ widely.

Question 6

B1 point 1: many non-religious people, including Humanists, believe all people deserve equal rights and opportunities regardless of sex, based on shared human worth rather than religious teaching, oe
B1 development: this is often expressed through support for human rights principles and UK equality law, which apply to everyone regardless of religious belief, oe
B1 point 2: some non-religious people argue that fixed gender roles limit individual freedom and potential, oe
B1 development: on this view, people should be free to choose their own path in life, in work and at home, rather than following roles assigned on the basis of their sex, oe
Answer: E.g. equal rights based on shared human worth/human rights principles (Humanist argument); opposition to fixed gender roles limiting individual freedom.

Question 7

B1 religious traditions can be interpreted differently, leading to disagreement about what scripture says about the roles of men and women, oe
B1 some religious roles and institutions still restrict certain positions, such as ordained leadership, to men in some traditions, oe
B1 wider social attitudes to gender equality continue to change, prompting ongoing debate within faith communities about how far to change alongside them, oe
Answer: Any three: differing interpretations of scripture; some traditions restricting leadership roles to men; wider changing social attitudes prompting debate.

Gender Equality - Worksheets, Questions and Revision