Activities to explore the topic of sexism for the ESL classroom

1. Unit: It´s raining men!

2. Humidity's risin'
barometer's getting _______
according to our sources
the street's the place to go
cos tonight for the first
_______
just about _______ past ten
for the first time in history
it's gonna _______ raining
men
it's raining men hallejulah
it's raining men amen
it's raining men hallejulah
it's raining men amen
ow
humidity's risin'
barometer's getting _______
_______ to our sources
the street's the _______ to go
cos tonight for the first time
just about _______ past ten
for the first time in history
it's gonna _______ raining
men
it's raining men hallejulah
it's raining men amen
I'm gonna go out I'm gonna get
myself get
absolutley soaking wet
it's rainin men hallejulah
it's rainin men every specimen
tall blonde dark and lean
rough and tough and strong and
mean
god bless _______ nature
she's a single woman _______
she took over heaven
and she did what she had to do
she fought _______ angel
to rearrange the sky
so that each and every woman
could find the perfect guy
it's raining men
go get yourself wet girl I know
you want to
I feel stormy where the roof is in
I've got to begin
heaven on earth don't you loose
your _______
rip off the roof and stay in bed
rip off the roof and stay
it's raining men hallejulah
it's raining men amen
it's raining men hallejulah ....
Fill in the gaps with the
following words:
according, every, low,
head, half, start, time,
where, mother, about, too,
place.
What is the meaning of:
Cos? Gonna? Risin?
I’ve?
Underline:
a. Three adjectives
b. Three prepositions
c. A sentence in the
simple present
d. A sentence in the
present continuous
e. A sentence in the
simple past

3. Pre-Listening: It is said that women and men are two worlds apart. Discuss
with a boy from your class whether the following statements can be applied to
women, mer or both.
1.- Women are obsessed about dieting and their weight
2.- Men don't care about being in a relationship. They'd rather spend time
with their friends.
3.- When women turn 30 they are desperate for having a serious
relationship.
4.- Men don't care about their looks.
5.- Football, football and more football...that's all men care about
6.- Women love shopping and make-up
While-listening: You are going to watch a fragment from the movie Brdiget
Jones´ Diary. Bridget is a British woman who is in her 3os and writes a diary
about her feras and wishes concerning her job, her relationships and herself. Say
if the following statements are true or false:
a) Bridget has decided to be on a diet
b) Bridget thinks that her boss is extremely cute
c) Bridget wants to quit smoking
d) Bridget wants to get a better job
Post-listening: In the movie they use the term “spinster”. This word is used to
describe a woman who has not got married. It has negative connotations. When a
man is single, he is called a “bachelor”. This word, however, doesn´t have negative
connotations.

4. Bart Simpson's aunts, Patty and Selma, are also regarded as spinsters. The Spanish equivalent
would be solterona. There are many words in English which have negative connotations when applied
to a female, but positive ones when applied to a male.
Witch/wizard
master/mistress
dog/bitch
governor/governess
fox/vixen
Explain the difference that exists between the aforementioned pairs of words depending on
whether they are applied to a man or a woman. Now think of Spanish and mention at least
three pairs of words in which the same distinction can be seen (eg zorro and zorra).
Vocabulary

5. Speaking: sexist jokes
Marriage:
Why do married men gain weight
while bachelors don't?
Bachelors go to the refrigerator, see
nothing they want, then go to bed.
Married guys go to the bed, see
nothing they want, then go to the
refrigerator.
The perfect couple:
Once upon a time, a perfect man and a perfect woman met. After a
perfect courtship, they had a perfect wedding. Their life together was,
of course, perfect.
One snowy, stormy Christmas Eve, this perfect couple were driving
their perfect car along a winding road, when they noticed someone at
the side of the road in distress.
Being the perfect couple, they stopped to help. There stood Santa
Claus with a huge bundle of toys. Not wanting to disappoint any
children on the Eve of Christmas, the perfect couple loaded Santa and
his toys into their vehicle. Soon they were driving along delivering the
toys.
Unfortunately, the driving conditions deteriorated and the perfect
couple and Santa Claus had an accident. Only one of them survived the
accident. Who was the only survivor?
If there is no perfect man and no Santa Claus, the perfect woman must
have been driving. This explains why there was a car accident.
Talk in pairs about the following jokes and describe the illustrations to your
partner. Do you know any other sexist joke?

6. Speaking: Sexist jokes II
What is the difference between a
"Battery" and a woman?
A battery has a positive side.
How do you know when a woman's
about to say something smart?
When she starts her sentence with "A
man once told me..."
Q: What do you call a man that
lost all of his intelligence?
A: A widow.
In the beginning, God created
theheavens and the earth and rested.
Then God created man and rested.
Then God created woman. Since
then, neither God nor man has
rested.
What does a beer bottle and a
guy have in common?
They´re both empty from the
neck up.

7. Pre-reading: Work with your partner and answer these questions:
a) At home who does usually do the cooking? Mum Dad My siblings I someone else
b) Who is more likely to clean your house? Mum Dad My siblings I someone else
c) Who does the shopping? Mum Dad My siblings I someone else
d) Who does the ironing?Mum Dad My siblings I someone else
e) Was your grandmother a housewife? Yes/No. And your mother? Yes/No
While-reading: You are going to read different fragments showing how the status of
women has changed in the course of time. Read the following fragments and arrange them in
chronological order (ie. from the oldest to the newest)
Post-reading: After reading the passages, do you think women have the same rights as
men today?
Reading: Fighting for women's
rights

8. Reading: Fighting for women's
rights
During World War II, a serious shortage of able-bodied
men ("manpower") occurred, and women were required to
take on many of the traditional male roles. (eg.: worked in
factories, built houses, repair machines, etc). This led to a
new view of what a woman was capable of doing.
Traditionally, women were brought up to be the perfect hoursewives and
perfect mothers. Many of them did not receive education. They just learn to
read and write because their main focus was on ironing, sewing, cleaning, and
cooking. Women had to marry a man, look after him and give him chlldren.
Women had no voice and could not vote.
At the beginning of the 20th
century, several
women in Britain started to fight for their
right to vote in the elections. At first, the
protests were peaceful, but they became
more and more violent. Speeches in
Parliament were interrupted and windows
of public buildings were smashed. These
women were called “suffragettes” because
their goal was to obtain univeral suffragge.
One of the forerunners of the
Suffragette Movement was
Emmeline Pankhurst. She
orgaznied demonstrations to fight for
women´s rights. In 1913 she was
arrested and sentenced to three
years in prison. She started a
hunger strike and was then released.
Emmeline chained herself to the
railings outside Buckingham Palace
to complain about the situation of
women.
In 1918 the vote was given to all men over 21 and to women over the age of 30. A few years
later it was given to all adults over the age of 21.
Even in the 21st
century many women have no rights. In some countries there
are still arranged marriages and women are confined to the domestic world.

9. WRITING:
Imagine that you are a psychologist specialized in family therapy. You have three
couples complaining about their partners. Listen to them and give them some good
advive so that their marriage can work.
Couple no. 1
Husband: I arrive home very tired and I always get
the same horrible food. My wife never cooks for me,
all she does is heat food in the microwave. Besides,
the house is a mess and the children don´t let me
relax in the evening. I am a businessman and make a
lot of money to support my family. All I want when I
get home is good food and silence. She is simply a
housewife. She has nothing to do!
Wife: I´m fed up with my husband. He thinks that
being a housewife, my whole life is devoted to
looking after the house, the kids and him! I have four
kids and since I get up in the morning I don´t stop. I
make breakfast, take the kids to school, clean the
house, do shopping, pick up the kids, help them with
their homework, iron, bathe them...I can´t continue
like this!
Couple no. 2:
Husband: I am a slave. I work long hours in my office and when I arrive
home I have to cook, iron and clean the house. My wife doesn´t work. She
spends the whole day doing shopping, going to the gym and meeting her
friends. What can I do?
Wife: I regard myself as a feminist. Women have suffered a lot. My
granny and mum were housewives. They had to cook, clean the house and
look after the chilren. I don´t want to do that. I don´t want to have children
either. Now it is time for women to live like men did!
Couple no. 3
Wife: Both my husband and I worked in an office but when we arrive home we share the housework. Mike loves cooking, so he is
usually in charge of the meals and while I iron and clean the house, he helps the kids with their homework and plays with them. The
problem is that he is very lenient and when I punish the kids he always lets them get their way. If I tell Mary that her curfew is 9 pm
he tells her that she can arrive later. If Mike Jr. fails Maths and I tell him that he cannot play basketball till he finishes his
homework, my husband tells him that he can play first and then study. I have no authority. What can I do?
Husband: I can´t complain about Meg. She is a great wife and a good mother. Perhaps she is very strict with the kids. She doesn´t
understand they are just kids and need to enjoy themselves.

10. Reading: Leaflet: Violence against
women
What is domestic Violence?
Any incident of threatening behaviour, violence or abuse
against women, including coercion and loss of freedom, by
means of either physical, sexual or psychological
aggression
Contempt, Humiliation, Physical Abuse,
Rape
You can be a victim of domestic violence if
-does not value your feelings
-ridicules or insults women as a group
-uses his affection as a reward or a punishment
-humiliates you in public or in private
-refuses to maintain social relationships in your presence
-withholds money and makes all the decisions
-prevents you from going to work or makes you financially
support the household
-often threatens to abandon you or to hurt you or your
family
-punishes your children or does not take care of them
-threatens that you will never see the children again if you
leave
What can you do?
Find trustworthy people to talk
to: family, friends, neighbours…
Demand justice and lodge a
complaint against your partner
Leave your home if you fear
for your life: it is not a crime
Dial our 24-hour free women’s
help line: 00-1-910-9910

11. Reading: Barbie
Pre-reading:
a) Have a look at this photograph. Do you know the name of this
doll?
b) As a child, did you ever play with
a Barbie doll?
c) Do you like this doll?
Why/not?
d) Why do you think Barbie is so
popular?
While-reading: You are going to
read a text about the origin of Barbie.
While you read check whether the
following statements are true or false.
1.-The creator of Barbie was Ruth´s
daughter. T/F
2.- Barbie broke with the typical view of the
baby doll. T/F
3.-From the very beginning toy buyers took to
Barbie. T/F
4.-The doll was named after her creator´s
daughter. T/F

12. Reading: Barbie
She began like any other great invention does - as an idea in a
visionary's head. Ruth Handler, co-founder of Mattel Toys, was
watching her daughter Barbara play with paper dolls and imagine
them in grown-up roles when the idea hit her - why not make a
teenage doll that little girls could play and dream about the future
with? Ruth recognized the value of helping children realize their
dreams and goals through play. After researching the current doll
market, Ruth confirmed that while there were plenty of baby dolls
available, there were no three-dimensional teenage dolls. She then
resolved to create such a doll through her own company, which she
co-founded with her husband Elliott Handler.
Ruth and Elliott unveiled Barbie doll, the teenage fashion model, at
New York's annual Toy Fair in 1959. Initially, toy buyers were
skeptical. Never before had anyone seen a doll so small, yet so
sophisticated. As a teenager, Barbie was completely unlike any of the
baby or toddler dolls popular at the time. Critics posed the question -
Would anyone buy her?
Undaunted by skepticism, Mattel stood firmly behind the first Barbie
doll, launching an innovative television ad campaign. Barbie quickly
caught the attention of little girls across the country. She soon became
a worldwide sensation, and remains as popular as ever today.

13. Reading: Barbie
Post-reading: Even though Barbie remains one of the most
popular toys today, many people argue that the doll provides girls
with a negative model because Barbie embodies an unattainable canon
of beauty. On the other hand, others think that Barbie is a great toy
because the doll mirrors what a modern woman should be (eg:
independent, strong, professional and intelligent). Together with your
partner fill in the chart with some negative and positive qualities of
this doll.
.
Barnie is an independent woman Barbie is superficicial
Barbie is a highly qualified professional woman Barbie embodies an unattainable
(astronaut, doctor, vet, teacher) canon of beauty and might promote anorexia
and bulimia
Write a for and against composition about
the negative and positive characteristics of
this doll. Take into account the columns
above!
PROS CONS
Writing

14. GRAMMAR POINT: THE
PASSIVE VOICE
We use the passive
a) When we are more interested in the event
than person who did the action
Violence against women is discussed in the Parliament
b) To talk about events in history
Several suffragettes were sent to prison
c) To describe technical or scientific processes
The gases are released into the atmosphere
d) To be objective, especially in news reports
or scientific experiments
Three policemen have been murdered
e) With certain verbs like believe, feel,
consider, say, think and understand
Some women are thought to be seriously in danger
The preposition BY
is used to say who
or what was
responsible for the
action.
The preposition BY is
used to say who or what
was responsible for the
action.
The suffragette
movement was led by
Emmeline Pankhurst
TO FORM THE PASSIVE: TO BE + PAST PARTICIPLE
Eg: She was punched by her husband

15. GRAMMAR POINT: THE PASSIVE VOICE
Complete the following sentences with the passive voice of the verbs in brackets.
1.- America .......................................(discover) by Columbus in 1492.
2.- Barbie ...............................(design) by Mattel.
3.- The girl ..............................(bite) by a dog.
4.- Chupa-Chups .....................(invent) by a Spanish man.
5.- This library ........................(build) last year.
6.- Don Quixote ....................(write) by Cervantes.
7.- The party ....................(throw) at the Ritz Hotel.
8.- Kennedy .......................(murder) in Dallas.
9.- A treasure ....................(found) in Egypt.
10.- John.................(believe) to have won the lottery.

16. GRAMMAR POINT:THE PASSIVE VOICE
Self-Assessment
• Complete the following sentences with the passive form of the verb in brackets.
a) This fact _________(know).
b) The theatre ________(open) last month.
c) The answers must ______(write) in ink.
d) The man _______(keep) in custody by the police.
e) Much of London _________(destroy) in the 17th century by the fire.
f) Women should __________(respect).
g) Three hundred houses __________(build) nex year in the coast of Spain.
h) Smoking ________(not be allowed) in public places.
i) All the necessary arrangements have already __________(make).

17. Pronunciation
Around youmemorizepeopleheight
importantregularpersonage
unhealthyphysicaldentalweight
nutritiousexercisehandlestressed
nutritionalcoholstressfulstress
x X xX xxX xX

18. Attention to Diversity: Fast-learners
• The media. We are surrounded by
sexist images. Have a look at
these advertisements and say
whether you think they are sexist
or not and why.
• Imagine that you have to carry out
a marketing campaign aimed at
promoting a non-sexist view of
women. Choose an item typically
associated with females (eg:
clothes, make-up, perfumes, etc)
and devise the advertisement. Try
to use leaflets, pictures, etc.

19. Attention to Diversity: Fast-learners
This is an add to sell boots This is an ad to sell a burger
This is an add to sell clothes

20. Attention to Diversity: Fast-learners
Read the following quotations by famous people. Discuss with your partner whether you agree or
disagree with the views expressed.
"Women are not forgiven for aging. Bob Redford's lines of
distinction are my old-age wrinkles.“--- Jane Fonda
“Women have a right to work wherever they want-- as long as
they have dinner ready when you get home” --- John Wayne
Try to gather some information about Jane Fonda and John Wayne and try to see their views in
the light of their life, time, career, etc.

21. Attention to Diversity: Slow-learners
In mixed groups (ie. Boys and girls) have a look at this cartoon. A boy and a girl are
searching the net looking for different stuff. What kind of things is the boy looking for?
And the girl?
If you are a boy, are you interested in any of the things the girl is looking for?
If you are a girl, are you interested in any of the things the boy is looking for?

22. Test: Reversing the roles
Nowadays women have gained more
ground in terms of equality. Women can
vote, have access to the job market, are
independent, etc. Some women,
however, want to reverse the roles, that
is to say, they want to behave like men
used to behave in the past and sometimes
do not accept certain things or gestures
that they consider as “male chauvinistic”.
With your partner, do this test.

23. Test: Reversing the roles
Do you consider the following as polite or male chauninistic?
a) A man opening the door of the car to a woman. Polite Male chauninistic
b) A man paying for a woman´s meal Polite Male chauvinistic
c) A man choosing the meal for a woman in a restaurant Polite Male chauvinistic
d) A man offering his seat ito a woman n a bus or train Polite Male chauvinistic
e) A man always making the final decision Polite Male chauvinistic
f) A man carrying most of the shopping bags Polite Male chauvinistic

24. Speaking: What sex is your brain?
Your school organizes a trip to visit the
London Museum of Science. There you
find a very interesting test. Why don´t
you do it?
Do you think like a male or female?
Generally both sexes are similar to each
other in the way they think but psicologists
have proved there are some differences.

25. 1.A couple are in a restaurant,
looking at the menu
a)Who chooses something
they’ve never eaten before?
b)Who eats what they know
they like?
2. A man and a woman are
sitting next to one another on a
seat with shared armrests
a)Who has their elbows on
both armrests?
b)Who keeps their elbows in by
their sides?
3. A man and a woman are
shopping for new clothes
a)Who looks around at the
selection available first?
b)Who asks the assistant for a
particular style and colour
straight away?
4. A man and a woman each
select one from a box of
chocolates
a)Who takes a bite to see what
is inside?
b)Who eats the whole chocolate
at once?
Have you ever realised that men and women behave
in a different way? Decide with your partner in each
case of this quizz which person is probably a man, a
woman or both?
5. A man and a woman both have several jobs to do in a fixed period of time
a)Who does the jobs one by one, finishing one before beginning another?
b)Who perfers to work on several different jobs at the same time?
6. A couple are driving home. They notice the car is getting rather low on petrol.
a)Who wants to fill up at the next petrol station?
b)Who wants to risk it and get straight home?
7. A man and a woman are in a shop selling a range of home appliances
a)Who heads for the display of new products?
b)Who looks at the familiar items?
8. Driving in a strange town, a couple realise they are lost.
a)Who would stop and ask for directions?
b)Who would keep driving until they found the way?

26. Reading: The gender gap
Pre-reading. Work in small groups and discuss these questions.
a) If you were a member of the opposite sex how would your life be
different?
b) To what extent does our society expect men and women to fulfil
different roles?
c) Do you think men and women think differently or perceive the world
differently?
While-reading. You are going to read an extract from a book that explores
the differences between men and women. Work with a partner. Read
the blurb from the book cover and answer the questions which follow.

27. Once upon a time Martians and Venusians met, fell in love, and had
happy relationships together because they respected and accepted
their differences. Then they came to Earth and amnesia set in: they
forgot they were from different planets.
Using this metaphor to illustrate the commonly occurring conflicts
between men and women, Dr John Gray explains how these
differences can come between the sexes and prohibit mutually
fulfilling loving relationships. Based on years of successful
counselling of couples and individuals, he gives advice on how to
counteract these differences in communication styles, emotional
needs, and modes of behaviour to promote a greater understanding
between individual partners.

28. While-reading:
a) Have you read the book? If you have, did you enjoy it? If you haven´t read it,
have you heard of it? What kind of book is it?
b) The book is based on the premise that men and women are very different. The
author mentions 3 categories of differences: communication styles, emotional
needs and modes of behaviour. What do you think these differences are?
c) Which of the following do you think he associates with men and which with
women?
uniforms sports
self-help books cars
romance clothes
gadgets and gizmos spirituality
communication power
shopping dieting

29. Group work
You are going to read two extracts in which the author highlights the main differences
between the two sexes.
Student A reads about life on Mars
Student B reads about life on Venus
Use your notes to tell your partner about your extract and then discuss these questions:
a) Are men and women really differenet?
b) Do you identify with the description given of your sex?

30. Student A. LIFE ON MARS
Make notes on the following:
a) What Martians value b) How they experience fulfilment
c) How their clothes reflect their value system d) What they are interested in
e) What they take pride in f) What most annoys them
Student B. LIFE ON VENUS
Make notes on the following:
a) What Venusians value b) How they experience fulfilment
c) How their clothes reflect their value system d) What they are interested in
e) What they take pride in f) What most annoys them

31. LIFE ON MARS. Martians value power, competency, efficiency and achievement. They are always doing things to
prove themselves and develop their power and skills. Their sense of self is defined through their ability to achieve results.
They experience fulfilment through success and accomplishment.
Everything on Mars is a reflection of these values. Even their dress is designed to reflect their skills and competence.
Police officers, soldiers, businessmen and scientists....all wear uniforms to reflect their competence and power.
They don´t read magazines such as Self or People. They are more concerned with outdoor activities, like hunting,
fishing and racing cars. They are interested in the news, weather and sports, and couldn´t care less about romance novels
and self-help books.
They are more interested in objects and things rather than people or feelings. Even today on Earth, while women
fantasize about romance, men fantasize about cars, computers, gadgets, gizmos and new technology.
Achieving goals is very important to a Martian because it is the way to prove his competence and thus feel good about
himself. He must achieve these goals by himself. Martians pride themselves in doing things all by themselves. Autonomy is
a symbol of power and competence.
Men resist being corrected or told what to do. To offer a man unsolicited advice is to presume he doesn´t know what to
do. This is very touchy for him. Martians keep their problems to themselves.

32. LIFE ON VENUS. Venusians value love, communication, beauty and relationships. They spend a lot of time
supporting, helping, and nurturing one another. Their sense of self is defined through their feelings and the quality of their
relationships. They experience fulfilment through sharing and realting.
Everything on Venus reflect these values. Rather than building highways and tall buildings, the Venusians are more
concerned with living in harmony, community, and loving co-operation. Relationships are more important than work
and technology.
They do not wear uniforms. On the contrary, they enjoy wearing a different outfit every day, according to how they are
feeling. Personal expression, above all, feelings, is very important. They may evern change outfits several times a day as
their mood changes.
Communication is of primary importance. To share their personal feelings is more important than achieving success.
Talking and relating to one another is a source of tremendous fulfilment.
Women are relationhip oriented: they are concerned with expressing their goodness, love and caring.
On Venus, everyone studies psychology and has at least a master´s degree in counseling. They are very involved in
personal growth, spirituality and everything that can nurture life, healing and growth.
Venusians are very intuitive. They pride themselves in being considerate of the needs and feelings of others. A sign of
great love is to offer help and assistance to another Venusian without being asked.

33. Post-reading: Do these sentences refer to man (M) or woman (W)?
a) M/W value power and achievement.
b) The issue of competence is very important
to M/W.
c) M/W value love and communication.
d) M/W experience fulfilment through sharing
and relating.
e) M/W feel satisfaction when they achieve a
goal.
f) M/W take pride in being considerate of the
needs and feelings of others.
g) M/W are always doing things to prove
themselves and develop their power and
skills.

34. Vocabulary
Attitudes & Relationships: Read through the text below to check on some of the language we
use to describe our feelings for other people—from adoring them to tolerating them to hating
them.
Mark and Megan can´t stand each other. They
loathe each other, hate the sight of each
other. Mark seems to envy Megan´s new
car.
All men have great respect for their mothers.
They admire them, that is, they look up to
them.
Some men frighten their partners or wives. They
have a violent attitude towards them.
These women must keep out of their way.
Women who are battered are petrified,
terrified of their husbands.
My grandparents are very close. They seem to
enjoy each other´s company and get on
very well together. They have a lot in
common, same hobbies and interests.
Some couples have a love-hate relationship.
When they are together they argue all the
time, but when they are apart, they miss
each other terribly.
She is very fond of her boyfriend, but he seems
quite indifferent to her. I get the feeling
that he´s only in love with himself. It´s
difficult to get through to him.
Men are bored stiff by going shopping all day.
Men are fed up with spending hours in
fitting rooms and they are sick to death of
the spending habits of their wives.
Women detest men who behave like pigs!
We feel sorry for all those couples who are
getting divorced.

35. Vocabulary
Use some of the aforementioned expressions to
describe the kinds of relationships you have
with....
Your siblings
Your father
Your mother
Your cousins
Your grandfather
Your grandmother
Your neighbours
Your friends
Your classmates
Your English teacher