Speaking

1. How does the position of women in the US/UK compare with the position of women in your country?

2. How do you feel about opportunities for women?

3. Make mini-presentations on one of the following topics. Feel free to state your personal opinion.

• The role of women in management.

• Managerial prospects for women.

• The employment of women – past, present and future.

4. How does Sweden's progress towards women's equality compare with that in your own country?

5. Are there certain jobs which are inappropriate for women to do? If so, which are they?

6. When advertising a job vacancy, employers should be allowed by law to state their preference regarding the sex and age of applicants. To what extent do you agree with this view?

7. ‘For many women, the ideas of feminists are profoundly disturbing and even positively harmful.’

8. When advertising a job vacancy, employers should be allowed by law to state their preference regarding the sex and age of applicants. To what extent do you agree with this view?

9. Imagine that in the group with which you are now studying, there are probably people from several countries. In these countries, what changes in company attitudes towards women are taking place?

10. Should it be a legal obligation for each company to reserve one seat on its board for a woman so that the interests of the female employees in the company would be safeguarded?

11. What is the style of male and female managers in companies in your country?

12. Do you think there is a difference in style between men and women or is any difference usually because of personality?

13. Do you know any men who have a ‘female’ style of working? or women who have a ‘male’ style of working?

14. Do you find it easier to work with men or women? Why?

Writing

Express your opinion on the following (150-200 words)

1. The sad truth is that women are still by no means equal in the job market – they may well, in fact, be losing ground.

2. Women, as well as men, have compelling economic reasons for working.

3. A reordering of the economy to provide full and equal employment for women – and for men – will benefit society.

4. For hundreds and thousands of women full employment is not a slogan. It's a passport to dignity and hope.

5. Women have come a country mile, no doubt about it, since the days when the job world was an all-male preserve.

6. The earnings gap between men and women has actually narrowed over the past few years.

7. Women are still concentrated in the traditional fields of clerical and service work.

8. Women need and deserve well-paying and meaningful jobs.

9. Greater availability of day-care centers (nurseries) help women with young children to perform successfully in their jobs.

Key vocabulary

gender stereotypes equal opportunities

gender identity sex discrimination

pay equity sexual harassment

corporate ladder date rape

managing by consensus parenthood

lateral thinking paternity leave

alimony maternity leave

minority women motherhood

female managers flexible hours

female chief executive prejudice

comparable worth freelance consultants

glass ceiling male chovinism

to harass pilot scheme

freelancers traditional masculine job

freelance consultants

male chauvinism

pilot scheme

traditional masculine job

UNIT VIII

BUSINESS LAW

Lead -- in

1. Why is it important to possess a basic understanding of the law?

2. Describe what a world without lawyers would be like.

3. Do you think that our laws represent the collective moral judgments of society? Explain.

4. In what ways does the law serve a positive purpose?

5. Why do we need contract law?

Reading

Text 1

Read the text. Ask 10-12 why-questions about the text. Let the class answer them.