Sportswear maker accused of sexism

The Reading / Listening - Level 4

An Indonesian sportswear maker apologised for a label on shirts it made for a top football team. People thought it was sexist. The label read: "Washing instructions: Give this shirt to a woman. It's her job." The company apologised on International Women's Day. This day honours and celebrates women's achievements around the world. People complained on social media. They said the label's wording was inappropriate.

The company said it did not mean to undervalue or humiliate women. A spokesperson tweeted: "The message is simply, instead of washing it in the wrong way, you might as well give it to a lady because they are more capable." It added: "We want to tell the men to learn from women on how to take care of clothes." Many people said the apology was also sexist. The Asian Football Confederation is currently promoting the women's game in Asia.

Try the same news story at these levels:

Level 5 or Level 6

Sources

http://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/2015/03/08/football_n_6825654.html
http://uk.reuters.com/article/2015/03/08/uk-soccer-indonesia-sexist-idUKKBN0M405T20150308
http://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-31786562

Make sure you try all of the online activities for this reading and listening - There are dictations, multiple choice, drag and drop activities, crosswords, hangman, flash cards, matching activities and a whole lot more. Please enjoy :-)

The Activities

MATCHING

PARAGRAPH ONE:

1.	sportswear	a.	instructions
2.	a label on	b.	inappropriate
3.	a top	c.	shirts
4.	Washing	d.	achievements
5.	The company apologised on International	e.	maker
6.	celebrates women's	f.	football team
7.	People complained on	g.	Women's Day
8.	the label's wording was	h.	social media

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ESL resource book with copiable worksheets and handouts - 1,000 Ideas and Activities for Language Teachers / English teachers

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PARAGRAPH TWO:

1.	t did not mean to undervalue	a.	of clothes
2.	washing it in the	b.	also sexist
3.	you might as	c.	wrong way
4.	they are more	d.	the women's game
5.	tell the men to	e.	capable
6.	how to take care	f.	or humiliate women
7.	the apology was	g.	learn from women
8.	currently promoting	h.	well

LISTEN AND FILL IN THE GAPS

An Indonesian sportswear maker apologised (1) ___________________ shirts it (2) ___________________ football team. People thought it was sexist. The label read: "(3) ___________________: Give this shirt to a woman. It's her job." The company apologised on International Women's Day. This day (4) ___________________ women's achievements around the world. People complained (5) ___________________. They said the label's wording (6) ___________________.

The company said (7) ___________________ undervalue or humiliate women. A spokesperson tweeted: "The message (8) ___________________ of washing it (9) ___________________, you might as well give it to a lady because they (10) ___________________." It added: "We want to tell the men to learn from women on how (11) ___________________ of clothes." Many people said the apology was also sexist. The Asian Football Confederation is (12) ___________________ the women's game in Asia.

SEXISM SURVEY

Write five GOOD questions about sexism in the table. Do this in pairs. Each student must write the questions on his / her own paper.

When you have finished, interview other students. Write down their answers.

	STUDENT 1 _____________	STUDENT 2 _____________	STUDENT 3 _____________
Q.1.
Q.2.
Q.3.
Q.4.
Q.5.

Now return to your original partner and share and talk about what you found out. Change partners often.

Make mini-presentations to other groups on your findings.

WRITE QUESTIONS & ASK YOUR PARTNER(S)

Student A: Do not show these to your speaking partner(s).

a)	________________________________________________________
b)	________________________________________________________
c)	________________________________________________________
d)	________________________________________________________
e)	________________________________________________________
f)	________________________________________________________
g)	________________________________________________________
h)	________________________________________________________

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------

Student B: Do not show these to your speaking partner(s).

a)	________________________________________________________
b)	________________________________________________________
c)	________________________________________________________
d)	________________________________________________________
e)	________________________________________________________
f)	________________________________________________________
g)	________________________________________________________
h)	________________________________________________________

FREE WRITING

Write about sexism for 10 minutes. Comment on your partner's paper.

_____________________________________________________________________________

Answers

(Please check your answers against the article above.

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