Q21

[secretad22]

So this question is asking us to pick the situation that would be most likely to qualify for refugee status under the social group category.

The social group was described as persons of similar background, habits, or social status.

Is it not the case that race, religion, nationality, and political opinion are exclusive to the idea of social group when determining who is a refugee under this document?

I think that was the key to answering this question.

Answer choices and my thoughts:

A) does not mention that the woman faces persecution, so I tossed it.

B) race is a factor, so it is different than the social group, so I tossed it. Also does not mention that she faces persecution.

C) religion is a factor, so it is different than the social group, so I tossed it. Also, does not mention she faces persecution.

D) this is the correct answer, but I tossed it because perhaps I erroneously lumped this into political opinion? I do not see how that is no a political opinion.

E) this is political opinion I assumed, so I tossed it.

Help would be appreciated on D. Thanks guys, you ARE THE BEST!

[jasonxu89]

I spent long time on this question in my simulated test and finally choose D. I would say it is correct because norm concerning arranged marriage (in my conception) is gender-related. And between D and E, the answer choices with a "persecution" (as the passage it is the linchpin of the definition), D seems better because E is about political opinion.

Hope this helps~

[ManhattanPrepLSAT1]

A) does not mention that the woman faces persecution, so I tossed it.

B) race is a factor, so it is different than the social group, so I tossed it. Also does not mention that she faces persecution.

C) religion is a factor, so it is different than the social group, so I tossed it. Also, does not mention she faces persecution.

D) this is the correct answer, but I tossed it because perhaps I erroneously lumped this into political opinion? I do not see how that is no a political opinion.

E) this is political opinion I assumed, so I tossed it.

Great work here, though you did allow your brain to erroneously assume that a difference in opinion about marriage arrangements would be considered a political issue. Why would marriage arrangements be considered political though?

I would rely on the keywords that were mentioned in answer choices (B), (C), and (E) that specifically meet other categories of asylum. (B) - "racial", (C) - "religious", (E) - "political". Since answer choice (D) clearly has persecution and yet has no indication of another group, try not create more work for yourself by bridging a gap between two things "marriage" and "politics" that has no support in the passage.

And your elimination of answer choice (A) was spot on. There is no persecution for the woman who is simply poor. Also be careful in your assessment of answer choices (B) and (C). Just because the word "persecution" isn't used, does not mean that there is no persecution occurring. Both of those women face discrimination - form of persecution.

Hope that helps!

[LSAT-Chang]

I eliminated A because I categorized that under "nationality"..

A - "nationality"
B - "race"
C - "religion"
E - "political opinion"

Would you agree with my opinion as to why I eliminated A??

[ManhattanPrepLSAT1]

Notice that each of the other answer choices is pretty careful to delineate some sort of persecution. In answer choice (A) being poor doesn't qualify as persecution. So while in answer choices (B), (C), and (E) the person would qualify for asylum - just not under the social group category - in answer choice (A) they wouldn't qualify for asylum at all.

Let me know if you see it differently though!

[zee.brad]

I thought this one should use the principle stated in 3rd paragraph "who face harsh or inhuman treatment due to their having transgressed the social mores of the society in which they live"
A. unable to earn money: neither harsh nor inhuman treatment. Eliminate it
B. discrimination: no "transgressed the social mores", hardly say "harsh or inhuman". Eliminated it
C. unable to obtain an education: neither harsh nor inhuman. Eliminate it
D. rejects the accepted norm: transgressed the social mores. Keep it
E. oppose harsh treatment of political prisoners: not herself been treated inhuman or harshly. She did not transgress the social mores either. Eliminate it.
So D is the correct answer.

Agree?

[ManhattanPrepLSAT1]

I thought this one should use the principle stated in 3rd paragraph "who face harsh or inhuman treatment due to their having transgressed the social mores of the society in which they live"

I think you took that out of context. That's just one instance when the application of the social group category was recommended. There are many other potential situations where someone would qualify for asylum under the category of social group - someone being persecuted who doesn't fall into one of the previously defined categories. So, I'm pretty sure that the definition outlined in the 1st paragraph that says that persecution is the linchpin of the definition of a refugee is the proper criterion for determining eligibility. I think the focus should be kept on two factors: that persecution exists and that the asylum seeker doesn't fall into one of the previously defined categories.

But I'm curious to hear what others think!

[wgutx08]

I actually agree with Zee.brad because the question is asking for the situation of asylum seeker to qualify for refugee status under the social group category( L2-3 of Q21).

And the sentence Zeebrad cited (L48-51) totally gives the relevant criterium (L47-48): to use the social-group category to classify women asylum-seekers ..... that's exactly the criterium Q21 is looking for I feel.

But I think the explanation of Matt et al is perfectly valid too! So this passage sort of talked about this in two different ways. First in P1, as a subcategory of refugee among other categories, so Q21 can be answered with the " persecution yes, other categories no" logic. Then it again gives a precise definition to the very topic women refugee seeker in social group category (P3), which can be used for Q21 as well.