| Date | November 2015 | Marks available | 4 | Reference code | 15N.1.bp.1 |
| Level | SL and HL | Paper | 1 | Time zone | |
| Command term | Suggest | Question number | 1 | Adapted from | N/A |
Question
The graphs show how two countries score in the World Economic Forum’s Gender Gap Index 2012, and how each compares to the world average.
The index looks at four aspects of inequality and each ranges from 0.00 (extreme inequality) to 1.00 (total equality).
(i) Identify which country has greater gender equality.
(ii) Using data from the graph, describe how gender equality in country A differs from the world average.
Suggest two possible reasons why women in countries like country B have a high level of political empowerment.
Explain two reasons why the life expectancy in many low-income and middle-income countries is increasing
Markscheme
(i) Country B
(ii) For full marks, responses must comment on at least three of the four indicators and make some reference to data.
Possible statements:
- economic participation and opportunity – country A (0.80) is scoring better than the world average (0.60)
- political empowerment and health and survival – country A is almost the same as the world average at (0.2) and (1.00) respectively
- educational attainment – country A (0.60) falls well below the world average (0.90).
In each case, award [1] for a valid reason, and [1] for further explanation, exemplification and/or detail.
For example: Country B could have a quota system [1] that guarantees a minimum percentage/number of positions in government for women [1].
Other possibilities could include:
- affirmative action policies
- women’s rights advocacy groups
- state encouragement of female education up to tertiary levels
- large percentage of women in the civil service
- a female head of state could encourage more female involvement
- an education system that boosts confidence in girls and women.
Do not accept responses that country B is more developed – this is unfortunately not accurate and also too vague an answer.
In each case, award [1] for a valid reason, and [1] for further explanation, exemplification and/or detail.
For example: Improved water quality [1] reduced cases of water-borne diseases [1].
or
Access to antiretroviral therapies [1] increased life expectancy in many Sub-Saharan nations [1].
Other possibilities could include:
- better access to healthcare
- improved reliability of water supplies
- the work of civil societies and MGOs such as MSF/WHO
- improved food security and access.
