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Lesson 4
Reducing gender disparity
Objectives: By the end of the lesson you will have
• given some examples of gender discrimination
• read a passage about gender discrimination in Bangladesh
• commented on some statements about gender disparity
• written your opinion on a gender issue
A Discuss in pairs what you understand by 'gender disparity' or 'sexual discrimination'. Do you know any family where boys and girls are not treated equally? How are they discriminated against? In pairs give some examples of gender disparity that you see around you.
B Now read this typical ease of gender disparity.
Rokeya is a Bangladeshi girl who is about to finish school but she has no hopes of going on to college. Like millions of other parents, Rokeya's parents think that educating a daughter is a waste of time and money. They have decided that they will now marry her off and use their scarce resources for their son's education. Rokeya used to worry about lessons and tests, but now she worries more about getting married and having children. She used to dream about being a doctor, but now faces a life of household chores and bringing up children. She used to be happy being a girl but now wishes she were a boy. If she had been a boy, she could have gone to college and university.
Now discuss in pairs the following questions.
1 What is Rokeya denied?
2 Do you agree with Rokeya's parents' decisions? Give reasons for your answer.
3 How would you feel if you were in Rokeya's position?
C Now read in pairs the following statements and write down your comments on them.
Gender discrimination is a barrier .to socio-economic development.
Elimination of gender disparity is essential for upholding human rights.
The gender issue is a challenge to social progress.
Gender friendliness is the watchword for success.
There is no contradiction on render issues in Islam.
A society which enslaves its women is sure to lag behind.
D Notice the structure of the following conditional sentence and write at least 5 more sentences.
If she had been a boy. she could have gone to college. (This means that she was not a boy and so she could not go 10 college.)
E Fill in each blank of the following passage with an appropriate word.
Women - almost half of the total - of Bangladesh. Without the- of this bulk of population, no overall social and - development .is possible. If women come - and work- with their male -, the development process will be-.
F Can gender disparity be totally eliminated? If not, write what young people like you can do to change people's traditional attitudes in reducing gender disparity.
Focus:
Skills.
Speaking, reading, writing.
Functions.
Making comments, giving opinions.
Grammar/Structure.
Use of used to', third conditional sentence.
Vocabulary.
disparity, discrimination, elimination, watchword, contradiction, enslave, reduction.
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Lesson 4
Reducing gender disparity
Objectives: By the end of the lesson you will have
• given some examples of gender discrimination
• read a passage about gender discrimination in Bangladesh
• commented on some statements about gender disparity
• written your opinion on a gender issue
A Discuss in pairs what you understand by 'gender disparity' or 'sexual discrimination'. Do you know any family where boys and girls are not treated equally? How are they discriminated against? In pairs give some examples of gender disparity that you see around you.
B Now read this typical ease of gender disparity.
Rokeya is a Bangladeshi girl who is about to finish school but she has no hopes of going on to college. Like millions of other parents, Rokeya's parents think that educating a daughter is a waste of time and money. They have decided that they will now marry her off and use their scarce resources for their son's education. Rokeya used to worry about lessons and tests, but now she worries more about getting married and having children. She used to dream about being a doctor, but now faces a life of household chores and bringing up children. She used to be happy being a girl but now wishes she were a boy. If she had been a boy, she could have gone to college and university.
Now discuss in pairs the following questions.
1 What is Rokeya denied?
2 Do you agree with Rokeya's parents' decisions? Give reasons for your answer.
3 How would you feel if you were in Rokeya's position?
C Now read in pairs the following statements and write down your comments on them.
Gender discrimination is a barrier .to socio-economic development.
Elimination of gender disparity is essential for upholding human rights.
The gender issue is a challenge to social progress.
Gender friendliness is the watchword for success.
There is no contradiction on render issues in Islam.
A society which enslaves its women is sure to lag behind.
D Notice the structure of the following conditional sentence and write at least 5 more sentences.
If she had been a boy. she could have gone to college. (This means that she was not a boy and so she could not go 10 college.)
E Fill in each blank of the following passage with an appropriate word.
Women - almost half of the total - of Bangladesh. Without the- of this bulk of population, no overall social and - development .is possible. If women come - and work- with their male -, the development process will be-.
F Can gender disparity be totally eliminated? If not, write what young people like you can do to change people's traditional attitudes in reducing gender disparity.
Focus:
Skills.
Speaking, reading, writing.
Functions.
Making comments, giving opinions.
Grammar/Structure.
Use of used to', third conditional sentence.
Vocabulary.
disparity, discrimination, elimination, watchword, contradiction, enslave, reduction.