Unit 06. Gender Equality. Lesson 3. Reading

WELCOME TO OUR CLASS
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UNIT 6: GENDER EQUALITY IN EMPLOYMENT
Look at the symbols. What do they stand for?
ANSWER:
GENDERS
GENDER
EQUALITY
GENDER
DISCRIMINTION
BRENDA BERKMAN - THE FIRST NEWYORK CITY FEMALE FIREFIGHTER
BRENDA BERKMAN WITH HER MALE CO-WORKERS
As a young girl, Brenda Berkman always dreamt of becoming a firefighter, although she was aware of gender preference in favour of boys. In 1977, she applied for a firefighter`s position at the New York City Fire Department (FDNY).

Even though she was a marathon runner, she failed the physical test. But Brenda didn`t give up. She sued New York City and the FDNY for gender discrimination and won. A new `fairer` test was created, so she and 40 other women passed. Brenda`s dream of becoming a firefighter came true.

However, she and other female firefighters became the targets of laughter and anger from the co-workers and local people. They were unwelcomed at meals, faced loneliness and even violence.

There weren`t any limitations on women`s service at FDNY. The women firefighters had to do exactly the same jobs as their male workers. To pursue a `man`s job` Brenda Berkman and other women had to work very hard. They paid a heavy price to win equality. They were successful and even became the subjects of a documentary called Taking the Heat in 2006.

Brenda Berkman`s story shows that gender differences cannot prevent a person from pursuing a job. Success comes to those who have enough courage and will.
TASK 1: The words on the left appear in the reading passage. Match them with their definitions on the right.
3. pursue (v)



5. limitation (n)


e. bring someone to court because they have done something harmful to you
1. preference (n)
2. sue (v)
4. loneliness (n)
a. follow a course or activity in an effort to gain something
b. the state of feeling sad and alone
c. a greater interest in someone / something than someone / something else
d. the act of controlling something; a restriction
TASK 2: Choose the best title for the text
b. A Woman Who Did a ‘Man’s Job’
Brenda Berkman’s Childhood
c. Gender Equality in Employment
TASK 3: Read the statements. Decide if they are true (T), false (F) or not given (NG). Tick the correct boxes.
TASK 4: Read the text again and fill in the missing information. You must use no more than three words for each blank.
1. Brenda Berkman wanted to became …………………….. as a young girl.
2. She sued ……………………………and the FDNY for ..………………………………….and won.
3. She and other female firefighters were ……….………………………………, faced loneliness and even violence.
4. They had to do ……………the same jobs as other male firefighters.
5. ‘Taking the Heat’ is a ………………………made in 2006 in which Brenda Berkman and other female firefighters were the subjects.
6. Brenda Berkman’s story shows that ………….……………………cannot prevent a person from pursuing a job.
a firefighter
New York City
gender discrimination
unwelcomed at meals
exactly
documentary
gender differences
Although this is the 21st century, a lot of people still believe that certain jobs should only be completed by men. I am a woman who is going to school to be an industrial technology teacher, and who is also involved in the rugby team. People make assumptions about me because of the activities I am involved in some people believe I am either a lesbian or bi. 
Catherine - Holland, Pennsylvania
Should a woman do a ‘man’s job’?’ Why / Why not?
Thanks for your attention!!!