Examine the view that gender inequalities are a major obstacle to development.

There are many possible approaches to this question.

Responses could explain what development is and successfully link the concept to increased gender equality.

Responses are likely to identify and discuss the relative importance of all the MDGs that in some way relate to gender empowerment (goals 1, 3, and 5 especially).

The answer should examine either how not addressing gender issues will hinder development or explain how addressing them will help nations and communities develop. Allow for broad interpretations of development. Candidates could also identify other factors (other than gender inequality) which are also obstacles to development – this would be a valid approach as long as gender inequality is examined and their reasoning is justified.

Responses that arrive at a clear conclusion either agreeing or disagreeing with the viewpoint, after a sound discussion, are likely to be awarded band E or above.

Marks should be allocated according to the markbands.

This question was popular and produced some quite excellent discussions on how gender issues hinder development. Some candidates also identified other factors as obstacles to development. In many of the good answers, examples and case studies were well chosen but occasionally generalized. There was plenty of evidence that the best candidates had very sound knowledge and understanding of gender inequalities in culture, status, education, employment, politics, legal rights and land tenure. Many responses had specific geographical examples to support their ideas/evaluations/analysis. In weaker answers the "obstacle to development" was often ignored. Most looked mainly at the causes of gender inequality and in some cases how it could be addressed.