Breaking through

We are living in the 21st century and many things have changed the course of history for women around the world. Nowadays, women have important jobs and they are essential for the economy of any country. However, this has not always been like that… In the past, women didn’t have the rights they have now; in fact, they weren’t taken into account to develop other tasks, but the chores and housework at home. Definitely some ideas have changed, there’s another perception about the role of a woman in society, but some other misconceptions are still the same, unfortunately.

Read the conversation between Loly and her grandma Nat. Observe how they are talking about past events and the contrast with the present.

Breaking through
Writing exercise

Now, imagine you are Loly’s grandma, and want to answer your granddaughter’s questions. Use the clues in the chart to continue the conversation in a logical way. Look at the example to have a better idea of what you have to do, then continue on your own with the conversation.

Example | as a secretary | stop working | got pregnant |

Loly: And what about job opportunities? What was your first job?

Nat: I worked as a secretary, but when I got pregnant, I had to stop working.

Loly: Was it usual for women to get pregnant young? Did all stop working?

| while | be pregnant | ver common | not work |

Nat:

Loly: OMG! Nowadays, women can work until they are about to give birth. I can’t believe in the past, you couldn’t do that. So that means that you never came back to work?

| have children | right | stay home | when |

Nat:

Loly: How unfair! My mom came back to work and you raised me, granny.

Nat: I know! Grandmothers were supposed to raise grandchildren.

Now, exchange roles. This time you are Loly. Continue the conversation with your grandmother, use clues in the box to continue the conversation.

| not having kids | mom | not do that |

Loly:

Nat: It’s great that currently, young ladies like you think more about their future alone, not with children.

| have a family | want | none | get married | friends |

Loly: Yes, grandma

| around the world | think | just | traveling |

Loly: , you know.

Nat: Sure! That sounds terrific. Women like me and my mom couldn't even think about that. And now with the advances of technology you can travel and study at the same time.

| study a major | learning English, Italian and French | in Arts |

Loly: Yeah! Like I’m doing now.

Nat: I’m so proud! I didn’t have the chance to study a major, I just studied to be a secretary.

| not matter | not to have a major | intelligent, brave woman |

Loly: I know, grandma. I’m also proud of you!

Now Loly has to organize her information to write about women’s lives in the past and the present. The following are some ideas she has from her investigation, as well as from the interview with her grandmother Nat.

Writing exercise

Help Loly to write short paragraphs for her homework, complete the ideas using the information above.

Paragraph 1

Women have fought for their rights throughout history because they didn’t have any in the past. For instance, , in fact, the first woman . Nowadays, and other politicians.

Paragraph 2

Although constitutions than men. It’s true that , economics, etc. However, while women work as hard as men, they don’t earn the same amount of money.

Paragraph 3

Some years ago, while men were working, , while men were studying, working and growing as professionals.

Paragraph 4

In present times, . They want to . They are just breaking through another perspective in which they are more than child-carers and maids.

Paragraph 5

Sadly, women are still diminished; for example, . Very young women are pushed to have a husband when they are only little girls. What’s more, just for being women.

Paragraph 6

Fortunately, and every March 8th .

For you to know more about March 8th, read the following information about International Women’s Day.

Writing exercise

Read the facts about the history of International Women’s Day. The sentences are not complete, use the verbs in parentheses in the correct tense to complete the sentences. And also, choose a linker from the box and write it on the correct gap.

Women's day

| but | after that | while | so | and | because |

1 | Women oppression, in 1908, 15,000 women in NYC to demand voting rights. (live/march)

2 | , on March 25 1911, a tragic fire the life of 140 immigrant women . (take/work)

3 | , as a result, working conditions and labor legislation drastically. (change)

4 | In 1914, International Women’s Day was marked on March 8 the United Nations this day for the first time in 1975. (celebrate)

5 | Nowadays, when women annually, younger generations action in favor of equality even in the 21 century, women still from discrimination and violence. (march, take, suffer)

Check the following link to listen to a song that invites us to break the idea that women should be a certain way. There are also exercises if you want to practice with vocabulary. Break the bias
Self-evaluation: Writing

Look at the following chart and tick the things you did in this writing section to evaluate your own work.

In my writing… Yes, I did it! Oops! No, I didn’t do it!
I used present and past simple to build a dialogue and to write about important events.
I used present continuous and past continuous to build a dialogue and to write about the process of important events.
I could identify the logical order of ideas to write short paragraphs.
I connected ideas using linking words.