Age and disability identities | AQA A-Level Sociology

For Specification 7192

AQA A-Level Sociology | Free Revision Notes

Estimated study time: 40 minutes

exam questions by topic 👇

Age and disability are two of the social characteristics that AQA requires students to relate to identity in contemporary society. This Age and disability identities A-Level Sociology revision page examines where these relationships fit within Culture and Identity, particularly the requirement to understand identity and difference as socially caused and socially constructed. It builds directly on the self and identity [The self, identity and difference] and prepares you to compare these relationships with ethnic and national identities [Ethnicity and nationality].

Learning Objectives 🎯

By the end of this revision page, you should be able to:

• Explain how age relates to identity within the AQA Culture and Identity specification.

• Explain how disability relates to identity within the specification.

• Connect age and disability identity to the idea that identity and difference are socially caused.

• Connect age and disability identity to the idea that identity and difference are socially constructed.

• Evaluate sociological explanations of age and disability identities at the level supported by the supplied sources.

These objectives follow the supplied revision plan for Lesson 8.

Revision Notes 📚

Age and disability within Culture and Identity

AQA requires students studying Culture and Identity to be familiar with sociological explanations of:

• different conceptions of culture

• the socialisation process and agencies of socialisation

• the self, identity and difference as both socially caused and socially constructed

• the relationship of identity to age, disability, ethnicity, gender, nationality, sexuality and social class in contemporary society

• the relationship of identity to production, consumption and globalisation.

Age and disability are therefore explicitly named as two dimensions through which students need to examine identity.

They should not be treated as isolated definitions. They sit within the wider sociological study of identity developed in the self, identity and difference [The self, identity and difference].

The relationship between age and identity

AQA specifically requires students to examine the relationship between identity and age in contemporary society.

Age identity and the socially caused self

The specification point immediately before age and disability requires students to understand:

the self, identity and difference as both socially caused and socially constructed. 

This provides an important conceptual context for age identity.

Students should therefore be prepared to examine age and identity within the wider social world rather than treating identity as something that can only be understood at an individual level.

Age identity and social construction

Age identity should also be placed within AQA's requirement to examine identity and difference as socially constructed.

Age, socialisation and identity

Age identity also connects backwards to socialisation [The socialisation process].

AQA places the socialisation process and agencies of socialisation immediately before its requirement concerning the self, identity and difference. These concepts all form part of the core theme of socialisation, culture and identity.

This means students should recognise that the Culture and Identity topic is organised around connected sociological processes rather than a series of unrelated labels.

The specification does not, however, state how particular agencies of socialisation influence particular age identities.

Any detailed claim about such influence must come from accurate specification-compatible teaching material.

The relationship between disability and identity

AQA separately requires students to examine the relationship between identity and disability in contemporary society.

This means disability is an explicit element of the Culture and Identity option.

Disability identity as socially caused

As with age, the relationship between disability and identity sits alongside AQA's wider requirement to understand identity and difference as socially caused.

This allows students to place disability identity within a sociological rather than purely individual framework.

Disability identity as socially constructed

AQA also requires identity and difference to be considered as socially constructed. This applies as an important wider framework when studying the relationship between disability and identity.

⚠️ Revision point: Do not confuse the requirement to examine identity and difference as socially constructed with having been given a complete explanation of how disability identity is socially constructed. That substantive explanation still has to be learned from appropriate course material.

Comparing age and disability identities

Age and disability are separately identified by AQA, so students should not collapse them into one general category.

Specification area	What AQA requires
Age	Examine the relationship between identity and age in contemporary society.
Disability	Examine the relationship between identity and disability in contemporary society.
Both	Place them within a topic where identity and difference are studied as socially caused and socially constructed.
Wider context	Relate the topic to the core themes of socialisation, culture and identity, and social differentiation, power and stratification.

The specification does not state that the same sociological explanation applies equally to age and disability.

A strong student should therefore distinguish the two while also recognising their shared position within the study of identity.

Age, disability and difference

The word difference is important in the Culture and Identity specification.

AQA requires the self, identity and difference to be examined as socially caused and socially constructed, before requiring identity to be related to age and disability.

This means age and disability can be placed within a wider sociological interest in difference.

Students should be careful not to treat difference as automatically meaning inequality. AQA's second core theme separately refers to social differentiation, power and stratification, making it important to distinguish the concepts while recognising possible connections.

Age, disability and social differentiation

One of AQA's two core themes is:

social differentiation, power and stratification.

This should be applied across substantive areas of Sociology, including Culture and Identity.

Age and disability are therefore relevant not only to questions of personal or group identity but also to wider sociological questions about differences within society.

If you also study the Stratification and Differentiation option, AQA explicitly requires:

• stratification and differentiation by age

• differences in life chances by age and disability.

This provides a useful cross-topic connection with age inequality [Age] and life chances [Ethnicity, age, disability and life chances].

⚠️ These are separate specification requirements within Stratification and Differentiation. Do not automatically turn a Culture and Identity answer into an essay about life chances unless the question makes that connection relevant.

Age and disability compared with other identities

AQA does not stop with age and disability. Students must also relate identity to:

• ethnicity

• gender

• nationality

• sexuality

• social class.

The revision plan therefore progresses from this lesson to:

ethnicity and nationality [Ethnicity and nationality]

followed by:

gender and sexuality [Gender and sexuality]

and:

social class and identity [Social class and identity].

This structure is useful when revising because it encourages comparison between different dimensions of identity without assuming that they operate in identical ways.

Identity in contemporary society

AQA specifically states that identity should be related to age, disability and the other named characteristics in contemporary society.

This reflects the wider AQA requirement that the central focus of Sociology should be UK society today, with comparative dimensions considered where relevant.

Students should therefore eventually be able to use contemporary sociological material when explaining age and disability identities.

The specification itself does not supply specific contemporary examples or evidence, so these cannot be invented from the source.

Avoiding biological or individual reduction

The supplied specification does not tell students to treat age or disability identity as simply the result of individual characteristics. Instead, it places both within a topic explicitly concerned with identity and difference being socially caused and socially constructed.

For examination purposes, this means a sociological answer should keep the social dimension visible.

This does not justify adding a particular sociological theory that is absent from the supplied material. It simply reflects the framework established by AQA.

Sociological explanations of age identity

The lesson plan requires students to evaluate sociological explanations of age identities.

AQA also states that students studying Topics in Sociology should examine both evidence and sociological explanations for the listed content.

Sociological explanations of disability identity

The same limitation applies to disability identity.

What evaluation should eventually involve

Once the relevant sociological explanations have been studied, evaluation should go beyond simply naming two different views.

A developed response should be able to:

1. accurately explain a sociological account of age or disability identity

2. show how the explanation relates to identity

3. consider relevant sociological evidence or an alternative explanation

4. analyse strengths or limitations

5. reach a supported judgement.

AQA's assessment objectives require students to analyse and evaluate sociological theories, concepts and evidence in order to present arguments, make judgements and draw conclusions.

The provided source establishes this examination demand, but not the substantive theories needed to complete it.

Key Words 🔑

Key word	Student-friendly definition	How it may be used in an exam
Identity	A central concept in AQA Culture and Identity that must be examined as socially caused and socially constructed and related to several social characteristics.	Use when explaining relationships between individuals, groups and wider society.
Age	One of the characteristics that AQA specifically requires students to relate to identity in contemporary society.	Explain the relationship between age and identity using appropriate sociological material.
Disability	Another characteristic that AQA explicitly requires students to relate to identity.	Explain and evaluate sociological accounts of disability and identity.
Difference	A concept studied alongside the self and identity as both socially caused and socially constructed.	Use when analysing how identities relate to differences within society.
Socially caused	Part of AQA's required approach to the self, identity and difference.	Apply when explaining social influences associated with identity and difference.
Socially constructed	A second required way of examining identity and difference.	Use when analysing sociological explanations that place identity within social processes.
Social differentiation	Part of AQA's second core theme alongside power and stratification.	Connect identity with wider social differences where relevant.
Socialisation	A required process that forms part of the core theme of socialisation, culture and identity.	Make relevant links between socialisation and identity.

Common Mistakes ⚠️

Mistake: Treating age identity as simply a person's chronological age

Why this is incorrect: The specification asks students to examine the relationship between age and identity, within a topic where identity and difference are socially caused and socially constructed.

How to improve: Keep the focus on the sociological relationship between age and identity rather than merely identifying an age.

Mistake: Treating disability identity as purely an individual characteristic

Why this is incorrect: AQA places disability within the sociological study of identity and requires identity and difference to be understood socially.

How to improve: Use accurate sociological explanations that connect disability identity with wider social processes.

Mistake: Assuming age and disability identities are explained in exactly the same way

Why this is incorrect: AQA lists age and disability separately, and the supplied source does not state that one explanation applies equally to both.

How to improve: Learn explanations for each relationship accurately and compare them only where sociological evidence allows.

Mistake: Forgetting the phrase "in contemporary society"

Why this is incorrect: AQA explicitly places identity in relation to age, disability and the other listed characteristics within contemporary society.

How to improve: Use relevant contemporary sociological knowledge rather than treating identity as a completely abstract idea.

Mistake: Confusing social difference with social inequality

Why this is incorrect: Culture and Identity requires students to study identity and difference, while social differentiation, power and stratification form a wider core theme. They are related concepts but not identical terms.

How to improve: Explain precisely whether your point concerns identity, difference, power, stratification or inequality.

Mistake: Inventing sociologists or evidence

Why this is incorrect: The supplied specification does not identify named sociologists or studies for age and disability identities.

How to improve: Only use named evidence established through reliable specification-compatible course materials.

Exam-Style Questions ✍️

The supplied specification establishes the relationship of identity to age and disability but does not provide named theories or detailed substantive explanations. The following original questions therefore remain within the material supported by the sources.

Question 1

Identify one characteristic, other than age, that AQA requires students to relate to identity. [1 mark]

Question 2

State the two ways in which AQA requires the self, identity and difference to be understood. [2 marks]

Question 3

Outline two connections between age or disability identity and other parts of the AQA Culture and Identity topic. [4 marks]

Question 4

Item A

A sociologist is studying age identity in contemporary society. Rather than assuming that identity can be explained only by an individual's age, the researcher considers wider social influences and the ways in which differences may be constructed socially.

Using Item A, explain two ways in which the research reflects the AQA Culture and Identity specification. [6 marks]

Question 5

Item B

Two sociologists are studying disability and identity. One examines social influences associated with people's identities. The other examines how identity and difference may be socially constructed.

Using Item B, explain two ways in which these approaches correspond to AQA's requirements for Culture and Identity. [6 marks]

Question 6

Analyse two similarities in how the AQA specification positions age and disability within the study of identity. [8 marks]

Question 7

Analyse the relationship between age and disability identities and the two AQA core themes. [8 marks]

Question 8

Evaluate the view that age and disability identities can be understood without considering wider social influences. [10 marks]

Answers and indicative mark scheme

Question 1

Award 1 mark for any one of:

• disability

• ethnicity

• gender

• nationality

• sexuality

• social class.

Question 2

Award 1 mark each for:

• socially caused

• socially constructed.

Total: 2 marks

Question 3

Award up to 2 marks for each developed connection.

Possible content includes:

• Age and disability are both characteristics to which identity must be related.

• The previous specification point requires identity and difference to be examined as socially caused.

• Identity and difference must also be examined as socially constructed.

• Socialisation, culture and identity form one of the two core themes.

• Social differentiation, power and stratification form the second core theme.

• Age and disability sit alongside ethnicity, gender, nationality, sexuality and social class within the identity requirement.

Total: 4 marks

Question 4

Possible applications include:

• Item A rejects an explanation based only on an individual's age, which can be connected with AQA's requirement to study identity within a wider social framework.

• Its reference to social influences connects with identity and difference being socially caused.

• Its reference to differences being constructed socially directly applies the requirement to study identity and difference as socially constructed.

• Its focus on age identity corresponds with the requirement to examine the relationship of identity to age.

• Its reference to contemporary society directly reflects the wording of the specification.

For higher marks, students should explain the connection rather than simply matching words from Item A to the specification.

Question 5

Possible developed applications include:

• The first sociologist's interest in social influences reflects the requirement to examine identity and difference as socially caused.

• The second sociologist's approach directly reflects the requirement to examine identity and difference as socially constructed.

• Both are studying the relationship between disability and identity, which AQA explicitly requires.

• Their research also connects with the broader theme of socialisation, culture and identity.

Two developed applications are required for full marks.

Question 6

Possible similarities include:

Both are explicit dimensions of identity.

AQA requires students to examine the relationship of identity to both age and disability in contemporary society.

Both sit within the same conceptual framework.

The preceding specification point requires identity and difference to be examined as socially caused and socially constructed.

Both connect with wider course themes.

They can be considered through socialisation, culture and identity and social differentiation, power and stratification.

Higher-level responses should explain these relationships rather than simply state that both appear in the specification.

Question 7

A strong answer could analyse:

Socialisation, culture and identity: Age and disability are studied specifically in relation to identity. The topic also requires the socialisation process and the socially caused and constructed nature of identity and difference.

Social differentiation, power and stratification: Age and disability represent dimensions through which social identity and difference may be considered. If Stratification and Differentiation is studied, AQA additionally specifies age differentiation and differences in life chances by age and disability.

The strongest responses will explain how the two core themes provide different but connected ways of placing age and disability within wider Sociology.

Question 8

Arguments against the view could include:

• AQA requires identity and difference to be examined as socially caused.

• Identity and difference must also be understood as socially constructed.

• Age and disability are explicitly studied as relationships with identity rather than as isolated individual characteristics.

• Identity forms part of the wider core theme of socialisation, culture and identity.

• Social differentiation, power and stratification provide another wider sociological context.

A balanced answer could recognise that age and disability remain distinct characteristics that need focused study. However, the specification consistently places them within a sociological study of identity and wider social processes.

A supported conclusion should therefore recognise that individual characteristics alone would not cover the full AQA requirement.