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MEN AND WOMEN VOCABULARY

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1. Look at the words and expressions in bold in the following sentences and decide if we
generally consider them to have a positive connotation or a negative connotation.

1. In the power struggle between men and women, neither side will win.

2. Some men believe that women are the weaker sex and should leave real work to men.

3. Our boss is a male chauvinist and believes that women should get less money than men for
the same job.

4. John doesn´t consider women to be very intelligent. To him, they are just sex objects.

5. Our company is male-dominated; all the top positions are occupied by men.

6. Maureen is a versatile worker. She is able to do a number of different jobs, often at the same
time.

7. He holds egalitarian views and believes that everybody should be treated equally.

8. The new management has taken steps to ensure equality in the office; from now on, everyone
will receive the same money regardless of their sex or age.

9. Militant feminists have thrown paint at a well-known television personality in order to stress
their views.

2. Match the words with their definitions.

1. Discrimination (sex/gender discrimination) A. Having the same position in society.

2. Equal opportunities B. An equitable distribution of life's opportunities

and resources between women and men, and/or
the equal representation/participation of women and
men.
3. Equal pay C. The idea that different groups, for example men
and women, should be paid the same amount of
money for doing the same or similar jobs, rather
than one group being paid more than another.
(Opposite: wage gap)
4. Equal status D. Actions based on the belief that the members of
one sex are less intelligent, able, skillful, etc. than
the members of the other sex, especially that
women are less able than men.
5. Female headed households E. The belief that women should be allowed the
same rights, power and opportunities as men and
be treated in the same way, or the set of activities
intended to achieve this state.

6. Feminism F. The act of treating a person or particular group of

people differently, especially in a worse way from
the way in which you treat other people, because of
their skin colour, religion, sex, etc.
7. Gender balance G. The act of keeping one group of people apart
from another and treat them differently, especially
because of race or sex: a segregated school/society
8. Gender-stereotyping H. Female headed households are families taken
care of by a woman.

9. Sexism I. Ascribing certain attributes, characteristics and

roles to people based on their gender.

10. Segregation J. The principle of treating all people the same, and
not being influenced by a person's sex, race,
religion, etc.

3a. For questions 1 – 10 read the text below and decide which answer (A,B,C or D) best fits
each gap.
STAY-AT-HOME DADS
In the past, being a stay-at-home dad was borderline unthinkable, but recent statistics show that in the past
twenty years, the number of stay-at-home dads has doubled in the U.K. and tripled in the U.S. Although
families in 1 _____ the father stays home still represent a very small percentage, the rapid growth may
indicate the early stages of a trend.
Economists have speculated that men who were laid 2______ during the two recent recessions have been
unable to find another job, thus leaving their wives as the sole breadwinners. Also, according to a recent
study in the U.S., 28% of women now earn higher salaries than their husbands; this makes the prospect of
being a stay-at-home dad more financially feasible. Women’s increased earning power is 3 _______to a
higher number of female college graduates – and this trend is bound to 4 ____, as women now outnumber
men in American universities.
Researchers have suggested that having a stay-at-home dad 5 _______ actually be better for the child,
because a father’s parenting style can be more beneficial for the child’s development in the early years.
While mothers usually comfort and reassure kids who are sad or frustrated, fathers tend to 6 ______ a
more proactive approach to 7 _______with the situation. This helps the child become more confident and
emotionally stable.
In addition, studies have shown that mothers who work outside the home frequently engage with their
children 8 ________ having a full-time job. This is not the case for men – when the father works full-time,
he tends to have little influence or connection 9 __________his children. This leads to the conclusion that
having a working mother and a stay-at-home dad is the best way for children to form equally strong bonds
with both parents.
There are 10 _______ cons to reversing the stereotypical gender roles. Stay-at-home dads may face a lack
of social support or even be ridiculed for their role in the family. Stay-at-home dads might also struggle with
their own self-esteem, feeling that they are less manly because they perform the activities traditionally done
by women. Some also worry that they will fall behind in their professional lives, as they are folding laundry
and changing diapers while their peers are climbing the career ladder.

1 a. where b. which c. that d. those

2 a. off b. out c. down d. aside
3 a. by reason b. owe c. through d. thanks
4 a. decrease b. increase c. thrive d. climb
5 a. will b. can c. may d. would
6 a. encourage b. improve c. do d. receive
7 a. deal b. do c. coping d. considering
8 a. in spite b. according c. unlike d. despite
9 a. between b. with c. to d. among
10 a. little b. a little c. few d. a few

b. Write a short summary of the text (60-80 words)

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4. Questions we will discuss in our online English conversation class:

1. Do women in your country earn less than men for doing the same job? What about in other
parts of the world?

2. Why does gender inequality exist in the workplace in developed countries? Is it ever fair?

3. How can gender inequality in the workplace affect families?

4. How can men benefit from gender equality in the workplace?

5. Do women and men have equal education opportunities where you live? What about in other
parts of the world?

6. What can people in developed countries do to support the education of low-income girls in
developing nations?

7. Actress Emma Watson once said that “fighting for women’s rights has too often been
synonymous with man-hating.” Do you agree?

8. How does gender equality compare nowadays to when your grandparents were your age?

Here´s some interesting information on the topic:

https://learnenglishteens.britishcouncil.org/magazine/sport/inequality-sport

https://learnenglishteens.britishcouncil.org/study-break/youtubers/what-gender-tax

https://learnenglishteens.britishcouncil.org/study-break/video-zone/emma-watson-introduces-new-heforsheorg
ANSWER KEY:

Task 1.

1N 2N 3N 4N 5N 6P 7P 8P 9N

Task 2

1F 2J 3C 4A 5H 6E 7B 8I 9D 10G

Task 3

1b 2a 3d 4b 5b 6d 7c 8d 9b 10d