Directions: You are expected to study this section in class. Don’t preview.

Word Pretest

For each italicized word or expression, choose the best meaning below.

1. Sentimentality is traditionally considered a feminine quality.
A. delicate B. womanly C. cowardly
2. Some people have a bias against foreigners.
A. tolerance B. dislike C. prejudice
3. Boys and girls are segregated in this school.
A. separated B. classified C. united
4. Smoking is prohibited on school grounds.
A. discouraged B. banned C. disliked
5. The police must enforce the law.
A. ignore B. encourage C. carry out
6. It is the Congress that institutes the laws in this country.
A. announces B. establishes C. appoints
7. He turned his back on those against him.
A. criticized B. ignored C. left
8. Thousands of spectators jammed the stand to watch the football match.
A. audience B. specter C. people
9. She has only a superficial understanding of economics.
A. complete B. wrong C. shallow
10. The steel industry was geared toward the needs of war.
A. adapted to B. assigned to C. used to

Key: 1. B 2. C 3. A 4. B 5. C 6. B 7. B 8. A 9. C 10. A

Text A

Background Information
Text: Women in Education, Sports and Media

Education　
　　While the rights of women in the worlds of politics and work and the position of women in the family are the focus of the American women’s movement today, feminists have many other concerns which indicate the widespread effects that the movement has had on contemporary life. One special area of concern is education. Many educators and parents believe that the elimination of sex bias in schools is absolutely necessary in order for women to achieve equality in American life. Until the middle of the 1970’s courses open to only boys or only girls, auto mechanics or cooking, for example, were commonplace in schools. Physical education classes were usually segregated by sex, and more money was spent on sports for boys than for girls. Career advice often encouraged girls to train for such “acceptable” occupations as nurse or secretary or teacher, while boys were programmed for high-level mathematics and science courses and industrial arts classes.
　　Some of this segregation has been eliminated as a result of Congress’ passage of Title IX of the Education Amendments in 1972. Title IX prohibited sex discrimination in educational programs receiving federal assistance. Enforcement of this measure has encouraged progress in moving toward equality in education. Most schools have made some changes in their admission and courses policies, thus encouraging more women to pursue nontraditional careers. Sports participation by females has increased dramatically. Women’s studies programs have been instituted in schools and colleges.
　　Yet, much inequality in the education of women still remains. Feminists point out that many textbooks un use still portray women in stereotyped ways and often texts fail to include any discussion of women’s history at all. They agree that realistic advice about career and educational goals is often unavailable to women. Too few women are in decision-making positions---- administrator, principal, superintendent of schools. Groups have been organized to check on the enforcement of Title IX and to encourage the elimination of sexism in education. One such group, the Project on Equal Rights (PEER) has reported that few complaints filed about sex discrimination are actually investigated. “Hundreds of people have written to [the government] for help under Title IX,” says Holly Knox, director of PEER. “They couldn’t go into classes or couldn’t get jobs; they were denied equal pay of the chance to play sports solely because of their sex. [The government] turned its back on most of them. Citizens who had every right to expect government help were either ignored or offered relief when it no longer mattered.” Enforcement of Title IX is still a continuing problem.

Sports
　　The American devotion to sports of all kinds had, until recently, been a devotion to activities which involved men and boys almost exclusively. Today, however, in part as a result of Title IX, but largely due to the efforts of such women as tennis champion Billie Jean King, women’s participation in sports is growing rapidly. This past decade has seen women’s tennis increased enormously in media attention and in prize money offered, which had always been considerably less than that offered men. College and high schools have increased their support for women’s teams, and the number of spectators at women’s games has expanded greatly. Mothers and fathers now coach daughters as well as sons on Little League teams. Educators and industry leaders point out that in addition to building physical endurance and coordination skills, participation in sports activities teaches perseverance, teamwork, and leadership skills, all of which are important to young people in their future lives. One high school coach said, “Girls can get just as much benefit out of sports as boys can. The days when people thought it wasn’t feminine are gone.”

Media
　　Feminists have also been active in attempting to eliminate sexism in all forms of media. Pointing out that magazines, books, television, radio, and movies have a tremendous influence on Americans, they have accuse the media of portraying men and women in stereotyped ways. In 1900, Susan B. Anthony wrote:
　　　　As long as newspapers and magazines are controlled by men, every women…must write articles which 　　　　are reflections of men’s ideas. As long as that continues, women’s ideas and deepest convictions will 　　　　never get before the public.
　　Her Statement is still significant today when only about 5% of all policy-making positions in the media are held by females and even fewer by minority females. Although women have gained visibility on TV news programs in the past decade, experts point out that little attention is paid to news of women, who appear in less than 10% of the stories defined as “news”. They say that often news about women is segregated into special sections of newspapers or in special features on news programs. Feminists believe that “the reality of the lives most women lead does nto come through on the screen or in the press”.
　　Women’s groups have been particularly active in protesting the image of women presented by most advertisers. Women still are used as decorations or “sex-objects” to sell a product; observers call this kind of advertising “sexploitation”. They say that many advertisements still reinforce stereotypes which say “women’s place is in the home”, “women are dependent”, and “women rarely make important decisions” (they are infrequently heard or seen selling such major products as automobiles). A vice-president of a large adverting firm stated:
　　　　Many ads today have a superficial contemporary look. They feature a woman in jeans rather than with 　　　　bouffant hair. But the implied attitude is still the same ---- they are presented as housewives or sex 　　　　objects rather than serious workers.
　　Men are also portrayed in stereotyped ways ---- aggressive, unemotional, strong.
　　There have been changes, however, as feminists work to overcome this stereotyping. Advertisers are beginning to recognize the existence of millions of women who work outside the home and are gearing ads toward them. A recognition of the buying power of working women is evident in the emergence of several magazines for them ---- Ms., Working Women, Women Who Work, and Working Mother. Feminists are increasing encouraged by such changes because they recognize the power of the media to shape roles and attitudes.

Total Words:1140
Total Reading Time: ______
______
The text is based on We, the American Women by Beth Millstein Kava and Jeanne Bodin. Chicago: Science Research Associates, Inc, 1983.

Detailed Study of Text A

◆ Reading Skill ─ Scanning
Read each of the questions first, locate the relevant part of the text, and find the correct answer.

1. Which of the following is the primary concern of the American women’s movement today?
A. The elimination of sexism in schools.
B. The elimination of sexism in all forms of media.
C. Women’s rights in the worlds of politics and work and their position in the family.
2. _______ was open ONLY to boys until the middle of the 1970s.
A. Science course
B. Auto mechanics
C. Cooking
3. Title IX has brought about the following changes EXCEPT _______.
A. equality in education
B. institution of women’s studies programs in colleges
C. more encouraging admission and course policies
4. PEER is a group organized to _______.
A. offer realistic counseling about career and educational goals
B. check on the enforcement of Title IX
C. rewrite history books
5. Most of those who filed complaints about sex discrimination _______.
A. were offered relief in time
B. had their cases heard
C. were ignored
6. Women’s participation in sports is growing rapidly largely as a result of _______.
A. Title IX
B. the efforts of outstanding sportswomen
C. encouragement form parents
7. Which of the following in NOT mentioned in the text as something participation in sports activities teaches?
A. coordination skills B. Teamwork C. Independence
8. According to the text, _______ of all policy-making positions in the media are held by minority women.
A. 5% B. 10% C. Less than 5%
9. Which of the following is stated in the text as a stereotype reinforced by many ads?
A. Women are sentimental.
B. Women are peace-loving.
C. Women are dependent.
10. Today more and more ads presenting _______.
A. women as decorations
B. women as housewives
C. working women

Key: 1. C 2. B 3. C 4. B 5. C 6.B 7.C 8.C 9. C 10. C

Vocabulary Building

I. Give the other parts of speech of each given word.

Key:

II. Fill in the blanks with words that are often confused.

1. career, job
a. He got a part-time ______ as a gardener.
b. After graduation from college she chose an academic ______.
c. Thousands of workers lost their ______ when the factory closed.
d. He is a ______ diplomat, which means he is a professional one.
2.principle, principle
a. The ______ aim of the policy is to bring peace to the area.
b. Discussing all the details will get us nowhere: we must go back to basic ______.
c. The Danube is one of the ______ rivers of Europe.
d. She seems to have no ______ at all when it comes to the question of making money.
3. female, feminine
a. The little boy speaks like a girl. He has a ______ voice.
b. The male voice is usually deeper than the ______.
c. “Lioness” is the ______ form of “lion”.

Key: 1. a. job b. carrer c. jobs d. career
2.a. principal b. principles c. principal d. principles
3. a. feminine b.female c. feminine


Ⅲ. Glossary
feminine gender　　 the fair sex　　 the gentle sex 　　femininity
womanhood 　　　　womanliness　 Feminism 　　　　womanfolk
matronage　　　　 hen party 　　　petticoat　　　　　 maidenly
bachelor girl 　　　　spinster 　　　new woman 　　　career woman
suffragette 　　　woman’s liberation　 matron　　　　 dowager
wench 　　　　　　lass　　　　　　 nymph 　　　　　virago
Amazon　　　　　 matriarch 　　　　matriarchy　　　matricide

4. Cloze
Fill in each blank with one suitable word.
property 　　domestic 　　suit 　　　　　permitted 　　excluded
lacked　　　belonged 　　determined 　husband 　　wages
acceptable 　claims 　　　legal 　　　　　make 　　　divorce

At the beginning of the nineteenth century the only _______ roles for women were _______; there was virtually nothing for them to do except stay at home or hire out as maids, governess, and, before long, teachers. Women were not allowed to own _______ ─ in most cases, not even the clothes they wore. A working wife was not allowed to keep her _______ but was required to turn them over to her _______. In the case of separation or _______, a woman had no legal _______ on her husband and was not allowed to keep the children. She had no _______ status, which meant that she was not permitted to bring _______ or to give testimony in courts. Often, she was not v to inherit property or to _______ a will. She was barred from public office and _______ from public life generally. For the most part, women _______ opportunities for education, vocational training, and professional employment. The national consensus was that women _______ in the home, and _______ efforts were made to see that they stayed there.

Key: 1. acceptable 2. domestic 3. property 4. wages 5. husband
6. divorce 7. claims 8. legal 9. suit 10. permitted
11. make 12. excluded 13. lacked 14. stay 15. aggred