THE BEST PLACE TO BE A WOMAN?
Watch the video titled “The Best Place To Be A Woman?” by The Economist.
LET’S WARM UP
Today we are going to explore the topic of equality and women’s rights. Take a couple
of minutes to write the names of six important women in your life. Once you have
decided, work in groups to discuss the questions below.
1. ________________________________
2. ________________________________
3. ________________________________
4. ________________________________
5. ________________________________
6. ________________________________
Questions:
a) What qualities do these six women possess that inspire you?
b) Can you share a memorable experience you've had with any of these women?
c) How have these women influenced your perspective on gender equality and
women's rights?
d) What challenges have these women faced in their lives, and how have they
overcome them?
e) What lessons have you learned from these women that you apply to your own life?
ESL Pals 1 General English
WORK, WORK, WORK
Study the jobs below, then put them into the relevant boxes. Once you have decided on
each job's position. Discuss the questions as a class.
● Teacher ● Nurse
● Engineer ● Construction worker
● Chef ● Childcare worker
● Tennis player ● Police officer
● Firefighter ● Gardener
● Dentist ● Soldier
Place the jobs above into the relevant categories below.
Jobs better suited to women.
Jobs better suited to men.
Jobs they do equally well.
Questions:
1. Why do you think women are underrepresented in some of those jobs?
2. Why do you think some of these jobs are often gendered in our society?
3. How have gender stereotypes affected the ways in which men and women are
perceived in these jobs?
4. How might gender discrimination impact a person's ability to succeed in these jobs?
5. What can be done to help women pursue careers in male-dominated fields?
ESL Pals 2 General English
THE BEST PLACE TO BE A WOMAN
Study the quote below taken from the video, then complete the exercise.
Today, women around the globe have less access to power, wealth, and education than
men. But one tiny island is leading the world in bridging these gaps. Iceland is pioneering
ways to get more mothers back to work, to root out gender stereotypes, and to close the
pay gap. It's a human rights issue, isn't it? Paying the same wage for equally valuable
jobs. Could Iceland inspire the world to solve one of its greatest problems?
1. Do you agree that women have less power, wealth, and education than men?
2. Discuss the meaning of pioneering.
3. Give an example of a gender stereotype and how it negatively affects people’s lives.
4. Is there a gender pay gap in your country? Give an example.
5. What lessons could your country learn from Iceland?
Work in groups. Think of eight countries, then rank them from 1-8 on equality, with 1
being the most equal and 8 being the least equal.
1. ______________________________________.
2. ______________________________________.
3. ______________________________________.
4. ______________________________________.
5. ______________________________________.
6. ______________________________________.
7. ______________________________________.
8. ______________________________________.
ESL Pals 3 General English
GENDER EQUALITY IN SCHOOLS
The video explores how some schools in Iceland work to improve gender equality. Study
the quote and complete the exercise.
“Iceland has topped gender equality rankings for nearly a decade. One of the secrets to
their success: start early. This kindergarten in the capital of Reykjavik focuses on
challenging extreme gender stereotypes before they take root in boys and girls. It's a
mission that's led to the creation of 17 schools across this tiny country. All focused on
developing a healthy balance of characteristics in both sexes. Girls and boys are
separated to allow girls to nurture traits traditionally viewed as masculine, like being
bold, independent, and taking risks. And boys are given time to learn traits traditionally
viewed as feminine. Like being more group oriented, empathetic, and caring. And the
signs are that this is working. Research suggests that in later years, children from this
school have a greater understanding of gender equality when compared to children from
other schools. “
Find synonyms for the following words from the text.
1. self-sufficient.
2. manly.
3. compassionate.
4. courageous.
5. are embedded.
6. prejudices.
Discuss the following questions as a class.
a) How important is it to challenge gender stereotypes from an early age, and why?
b) What are some of the benefits of separating girls and boys in kindergarten, and
allowing them to learn traditionally gendered traits?
c) How effective do you think this approach to teaching gender equality is, and why?
d) What are some other ways that schools and educators can promote gender equality
and challenge stereotypes?
e) Do you think this approach to teaching gender equality would work in other
countries and cultures? Why or why not?
f) What can parents and caregivers do to help promote gender equality and challenge
stereotypes in their own families and communities?
ESL Pals 4 General English
STATUTORY PATERNITY LEAVE
The video explores how Iceland is providing statutory paternity leave to improve gender
equality. Study the quote and complete the exercise.
Iceland is also promoting gender equality by encouraging fathers to share the childcare
burden with mothers. In 2000, it introduced what is known as a Daddy Quota. Three
months Statutory Paternity Leave. It's an allowance that goes much further than most
other countries in the world. Here, over 70 percent of fathers take up the full 3 months
leave. Why? Because the state covers 80 percent of his salary during this period, up to a
cap of $4,600 a month. One beneficiary of this generous system is Igor Bianason, who's
looking after his son Vala. Igor believes the high cost of the Daddy Quota to taxpayers is
justified because it helps get more women into work.
Find words from the text that match the definitions below.
1. to believe and promote equal rights, opportunities, and treatment for all genders.
2. a period of time granted to fathers or other caregivers following the birth or
adoption of a child, during which they are entitled to take time off work.
3. someone who receives something beneficial, such as money or property, from
someone else.
4. To have a good reason for doing something, or something that is reasonable.
5. a policy introduced in Iceland in 2000 that provides three months of statutory
paternity leave for fathers.
Discuss the following questions as a class.
a) How effective do you think the Daddy Quota policy has been in promoting gender
equality in Iceland?
b) What do you think are some of the reasons why other countries have not
implemented similar policies to the Daddy Quota?
c) How does Iceland's Daddy Quota policy impact taxpayers?
d) How might the Daddy Quota policy affect workplace culture and gender roles in
Iceland?
e) What are some of the ways in which fathers can benefit from taking paternity leave,
both personally and for their families?
f) In what ways can policies like the Daddy Quota contribute to a more equitable and
just society?
ESL Pals 5 General English
EQUAL PAY
The video explores how Iceland is closing the pay gap to improve gender equality. Study
the quote and complete the exercise.
In Iceland, men are still paid nearly 6 percent more than women for similar work. This
year, Iceland became the first country in the world to pass legislation, not just to expose,
but to tackle the gender pay gap. Companies with over 25 employees, like Reykjavik
Energy, now have to prove they are paying men and women equally for similar jobs.
Every job at the company must be measured against a set of criteria. This produces a
score. For jobs with the same score, workers must be paid the same. When Reykjavik
Energy used this pay calculator, the inequalities came into sharp and immediate focus.
We noticed that there was a pay gap between the unskilled workers that were outside
and the unskilled workers inside. The outside unskilled workers are mainly men and the
unskilled workers inside, that's the cleaning staff, the staff in the kitchen, are mostly
women.
What's important to keep in mind is the gender pay gap. It's not there because there are
a couple of evil men making decisions to pay women less. It's this unconscious bias that
we all have. We place more value on traditionally male dominated jobs. The company
rectified this by raising the wages of its female employees. Critics of the law point out
there will be significant financial consequences for companies as they rectify their pay
inequalities. But many argue this is a necessary price to pay.
Based on the text, decide if the following statements are true or false:
1. In Iceland, men and women are paid equally for similar jobs.
2. The new legislation in Iceland requires companies to prove they are paying men and
women equally for similar jobs.
3. Every job at Reykjavik Energy must be measured against a set of criteria to
determine equal pay.
4. The pay calculator used by Reykjavik Energy showed inequalities between skilled
and unskilled workers.
5. The gender pay gap exists because of conscious decisions made by individuals to
pay women less.
6. Critics of the new law in Iceland argue that there will be no financial consequences
for companies as they rectify their pay inequalities.
ESL Pals 6 General English
Discuss the following questions as a class.
a) How significant is the gender pay gap in Iceland and what are some of the factors
that contribute to it?
b) What are some of the benefits and potential drawbacks of the new legislation
requiring companies to prove they are paying men and women equally for similar
jobs?
c) How might the pay calculator used by Reykjavik Energy be used by other companies
or organisations to promote gender pay equality?
d) What role do unconscious biases play in creating gender pay gaps, and how can
these biases be identified and stopped?
e) What are some of the challenges faced by companies in fixing pay inequalities, and
how can these challenges be addressed?
f) How might gender pay equality contribute to a more just and equitable society, both
in Iceland and globally?
g) What are some of the potential consequences of not addressing gender pay gaps,
both for individuals and for society as a whole?
ESL Pals 7 General English
DEBATE
Study the arguments, then choose which side you agree with, explaining why. Use the
language from the table to expand your argument . Have fun!
1. Women are better leaders than men.
2. Men have more advantages in society than women.
3. Women are more affected by gender stereotypes than men.
4. Women experience more workplace discrimination than men.
5. Men are more responsible for the gender pay gap than women.
6. Women face more societal pressure to conform to traditional gender roles than men.
7. Men and women are equally capable of performing physically demanding tasks.
8. Men face greater challenges in achieving work-life balance than women.
Express an opinion Express disagreement
It seems to me that… I don’t agree with you about…
I feel that… I can’t accept your view that…
I’m absolutely convinced that… I have a different opinion…
In my opinion,… I’m not sure if…
I believe / suppose / feel (that)… I’m not convinced that…
Express pro’s and con’s Summarise
There are two sides to this point... So, in conclusion…
On the one hand…,on the other hand… To summarise..
An argument for / against is… Overall, it is clear that…
Some people think that…,others say that… As a result..
The advantages / disadvantages are... The bottom line is...
ESL Pals 8 General English
QUOTES
Discuss the following quotes, related to gender equality and women’s rights, as a class.
Use the prompts (a-d) to help guide your discussion.
a) Discuss the meaning of each quote.
b) How could you apply the meaning of each quote to your life?
c) To what extent do you agree/disagree with each quote?
d) Can you think of any real-life example where you have seen the meaning of each
quote in practice?
Quotes
1. "The vote is the emblem of your equality, women of America."
2. "I have the right to be treated equally, with dignity and respect, and you do too."
3. "Women belong in all places where decisions are being made. It shouldn't be that
women are the exception."
4. "International Women's Day is a day to celebrate women's achievements, but also
to recognize the work that remains to be done to achieve gender equality."
5. "Gender equality is not a women's issue, it's a human rights issue. It affects us all."
WOULD YOU RATHER
Let’s finish the class with a fun game. The questions are not based on the lesson topic.
Read each scenario, then choose which one you most agree with. This is your chance to
practise speaking and improve your English, so say as much as you can and have fun!
1. Would you rather have the ability to teleport anywhere in the world or have the
ability to time travel?
2. Would you rather have the power to control the elements (fire, water, earth, air) or
have the power to control other people's emotions?
3. Would you rather be able to speak and understand every language in the world or
be able to communicate with animals?
4. Would you rather live in a world without the internet or live in a world without air
conditioning and heating?
ESL Pals 9 General English
HOMEWORK
Read the article then complete the writing exercise on the following page.
ARTICLE
Gender equality, the concept that all norms and behaviours. For example, in India,
individuals should have equal access to women are often expected to prioritise their
opportunities regardless of their gender, is a domestic duties and marriage over their
fundamental human right. However, the careers, they face significant discrimination
degree to which gender equality is achieved and harassment in the workplace.
varies greatly from country to country,
Legal frameworks also play a critical role in
depending on various factors, such as cultural
promoting or hindering gender equality. In
norms, historical factors, legal frameworks,
some countries, laws and policies explicitly
and socio-economic conditions.
discriminate against women, while in others,
In some countries, gender equality has made laws may appear gender-neutral but are
significant strides, with women occupying applied in ways that disadvantage women.
high positions in politics, business, and other For instance, in Iran, women are required to
sectors. For instance, in Iceland, which cover their heads and bodies in public and are
consistently tops global gender equality subject to discriminatory laws that limit their
rankings, women occupy nearly half of freedom of movement, marriage, and divorce.
parliamentary seats and hold key positions in
Socio-economic factors also impact gender
government and business. The country has
equality. In many countries, women face
also implemented progressive policies such as
economic marginalisation, with limited access
paid parental leave for both mothers and
to education, training, and formal employment
fathers, gender quotas, and equal pay
opportunities. This can lead to a cycle of
legislation.
poverty and exclusion, making it difficult for
In contrast, in many other countries, gender women to achieve their full potential. For
inequality remains pervasive, with women example, in sub-Saharan Africa, women make
facing significant barriers to accessing up the majority of the agricultural workforce
education, employment, and political power. but have limited access to land ownership and
For example, in Saudi Arabia, women were credit, which creates more poverty.
only granted the right to drive in 2018, and
In conclusion, while gender equality is a
their movement and behaviour is still tightly
universal human right, the degree to which it
restricted by a male guardianship system. In
is achieved varies significantly from country to
Afghanistan, women have long been denied
country. Factors such as cultural norms, legal
basic rights such as education and
frameworks, and socio-economic conditions
employment, and their situation has worsened
all play a role in shaping the level of gender
following the Taliban's takeover in 2021.
equality in a society. Achieving gender
In many countries, cultural norms and equality requires a sustained effort to
attitudes towards gender roles play a dismantle discriminatory attitudes and
significant role in perpetuating gender practices and implement policies and
inequality. In some societies, traditional programs that promote equal opportunities
gender roles are deeply ingrained, with men and rights for all individuals, regardless of
and women expected to adhere to strict social their gender
ESL Pals 10 General English
ARTICLE COMPREHENSION QUESTIONS
Check your understanding of the article by answering the following questions:
1. What is gender equality?
2. Does the level of gender equality vary from country to country?
3. What are some factors that contribute to differences in gender equality across
countries?
4. Which country is considered to have the highest level of gender equality?
5. What are some policies that have been implemented in Iceland to promote gender
equality?
6. Which country recently granted women the right to drive, and what other
restrictions do women still face there?
7. What challenges do women face in India in terms of gender equality?
8. How do laws and policies impact gender equality?
9. How do socio-economic factors affect gender equality?
10. What is the majority of the agricultural workforce in sub-Saharan Africa, and what
challenges do they face?
11. Is achieving gender equality a universal human right?
12. What steps can be taken to promote gender equality in different countries?
ESL Pals 11 General English
VOCABULARY EXERCISE
Match the words from the text to their definitions.
1. Pervasive 6. Harassment
2. Ingrained 7. Socio-economic
3. Marginalisation 8. Dismantle
4. Quotas 9. Exclusion
5. Discrimination 10. Land ownership
Definitions
a) A system of allocating a certain number of positions or opportunities to a specific
group of people, typically a minority.
b) The systematic mistreatment of an individual or group based on their characteristics
such as race, sex, or age.
c) The action of harassing someone, typically with repeated unpleasant behavior such
as threats or insults.
d) The state of being deprived of opportunities or being made to feel unwelcome or
isolated.
e) The process of taking apart a system, institution or practice.
f) The condition of having limited social, economic, and political power or access to
resources.
g) Widely spread or present in a particular area or group.
h) A sense of belonging that is so deeply rooted it is almost impossible to change.
i) The legal right to own land or property.
j) Relating to the interaction of social and economic factors in a community or society.
k) The act of pushing a person or group to the edge or periphery of society.
l) The process of treating something as insignificant or peripheral, often to the point of
ignoring it altogether.
ESL Pals 12 General English
WRITING TASK
Use the blank sheet on the following page to write detailed answers to the questions.
Use the language and ideas presented throughout the lessons wherever possible.
1. How do cultural norms and attitudes towards gender roles affect gender equality in
different countries?
2. What role do legal frameworks play in promoting or hindering gender equality in
different countries?
3. What are some specific policies that countries with high levels of gender equality
have implemented to achieve this?
4. What are some examples of gender discrimination and inequality faced by women
in countries with low levels of gender equality?
5. How do socio-economic factors impact gender equality in different countries?
6. Can gender equality be achieved without addressing cultural attitudes towards
gender roles?
7. What are some challenges that countries face when implementing gender equality
policies?
8. How do global gender equality rankings measure and compare different countries'
progress towards gender equality?
9. How do historical factors and past events affect gender equality in different
countries?
10. What role does education play in promoting gender equality in different countries?
11. What are some examples of gender-based violence and harassment faced by
women in different countries?
12. How can individuals and communities contribute to promoting gender equality in
their own countries and globally?
ESL Pals 13 General English
Blank sheet for writing answers to the questions.
ESL Pals 14 General English
