English for Beginners: Gender Equality
Dialogue
Alice: Hey Bob, what are you doing with that screwdriver?
Bob: Oh, hi Alice! I’m trying to fix this wobbly chair. It’s really hard!
Alice: Let me see! My dad taught me how to fix things.
Bob: Really? I thought fixing things was usually a ‘boy’ job.
Alice: Nope! Girls can fix things too. And boys can cook or clean.
Bob: That’s true. My mom always says I should learn to cook. My cooking is… special. (He laughs)
Alice: Haha! My brother thinks cooking is just for girls. He only eats pizza.
Bob: That’s a silly idea! Everyone should learn to cook. It’s an important skill.
Alice: Exactly! And sometimes, I really like to cook. It’s fun!
Bob: So, you can fix chairs AND cook? You’re amazing, Alice!
Alice: And you, Bob, you can learn to fix chairs and cook too! It doesn’t matter if you’re a boy or a girl.
Bob: You’re right. I think my chair needs a girl’s touch… or just someone who knows what they’re doing! (He winks)
Alice: Exactly! It’s about who is good at something, not about their gender.
Bob: So, you fix the chair, and I’ll order pizza. Deal?
Alice: Deal! But next time, we both try to cook something new.
Current Situation
Gender equality means that all people, no matter if they are a boy or a girl, a man or a woman, have the same rights, responsibilities, and opportunities. It means that what you can do, what job you can have, or what you like, should not be decided by your gender. For example, boys can like cooking and girls can be engineers. Everyone should be treated fairly and have the same chances in life.
Key Phrases
- Fix things: To repair something that is broken.
My dad likes to fix things around the house.
- Wobbly chair: A chair that is not stable and moves from side to side.
Be careful, that’s a wobbly chair!
- ‘Boy’ job / ‘Girl’ job: An old idea that certain tasks or careers are only for boys/men or girls/women. (We usually say these ideas are not good now.)
Some people used to think cooking was a ‘girl’ job, but that’s not true.
- Silly idea: An idea that is foolish or not smart.
Thinking you can fly without wings is a silly idea.
- Important skill: An ability to do something well that is useful and necessary.
Learning a new language is an important skill.
- It doesn’t matter: It is not important; it makes no difference.
It doesn’t matter if it rains, we can still play inside.
- Gender: If someone is male or female.
Your gender does not decide your hobbies.
- Deal!: An agreement. Often used to say “I agree!”
“You wash the dishes, I’ll dry.” “Deal!“
Grammar Points
1. Simple Present Tense for General Truths and Habits
We use the Simple Present tense to talk about things that are always true, facts, or habits. This is very useful when talking about gender equality, as it describes general beliefs or facts about roles.
- Subject + Verb (base form or -s/-es)
- Example: “Girls can fix things too.” (General truth)
- Example: “He only eats pizza.” (Habit)
- Example: “It doesn’t matter if you’re a boy or a girl.” (General truth)
2. Using “It’s about…”
This phrase is commonly used to explain the main point or purpose of something. It helps to simplify and clarify what is important.
- Structure: It’s about [noun / verb-ing phrase].
- Example: “It’s about who is good at something.” (The main point is skill.)
- Example: “Gender equality is about fairness.” (The main point is fairness.)
- Example: “The game is about teamwork.”
3. Expressing Possibility and Ability with “Can”
We use “can” to say that someone has the ability to do something or that something is possible.
- Structure: Subject + can + base form of verb.
- Example: “Girls can fix things too.” (Ability)
- Example: “Boys can cook or clean.” (Ability)
- Example: “Everyone can learn new things.” (Possibility/Ability)
Practice Exercises
-
Fill in the blanks with the correct key phrase from the list: fix things, silly idea, important skill, It doesn’t matter, Deal!
a. Learning to swim is an ___________.
b. “I’ll help you, and you help me.” “___________!”
c. My bike is broken. Can you help me ___________ it?
d. Thinking cats can talk is a ___________.
e. ___________ if you start late, just try your best.
Answers:
a. important skill
b. Deal!
c. fix things
d. silly idea
e. It doesn’t matter -
Match the sentence halves.
1. My chair is very…
2. Girls can…
3. Everyone should…
4. Gender equality means…
a. learn to cook.
b. wobbly.
c. have equal opportunities.
d. fix cars.
Answers:
1. My chair is very… b. wobbly.
2. Girls can… d. fix cars.
3. Everyone should… a. learn to cook.
4. Gender equality means… c. have equal opportunities. -
Answer the following questions based on the dialogue (True or False).
a. Bob thinks fixing chairs is usually a ‘girl’ job. (True/False)
b. Alice knows how to cook. (True/False)
c. Alice thinks only boys can fix things. (True/False)
d. Bob thinks cooking is an important skill. (True/False)
Answers:
a. False (He thought it was a ‘boy’ job)
b. True
c. False
d. True -
Rewrite the sentences using “It’s about…” to explain the main idea.
a. Gender equality means everyone is fair.
b. The most important thing in learning is trying hard.
c. This movie talks about friendship.
Answers:
a. It’s about fairness.
b. It’s about trying hard.
c. It’s about friendship.
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