Japan Supports US-Led Girls Education Effort, Faces Gender Gap 

Vocabulary 

Direction: Read each word and let the student repeat it.
initiative
[ɪˈnɪʃətɪv] (noun)
– a new plan for dealing with a particular problem or for achieving a particular purpose
ex.The United Nations has started working on an initiative aimed at combating extreme poverty.

gap
[ɡæp] (noun)
– a space between two things or in the middle of something, especially because there is a part missing
ex.The gap between the rich and the poor is getting larger.

criterion
[kraɪˈtɪriən] (noun)
– a standard or principle by which something is judged, or with the help of which a decision is made (plural – criteria)
ex.What is the main criterion by which students are evaluated?

enrolment
[ɪnˈroʊlmənt] (noun)
– the act of officially joining a course, school, etc.; the number of people who do this
ex.I have finished the enrolment process and I am officially a university student.

discrimination
[dɪˌskrɪmɪˈneɪʃn] (noun)
– the practice of treating somebody or a particular group in society less fairly than others
ex.Discrimination is a real issue even in developed countries.

Article 

Direction: Read each paragraph and let the student repeat it.

Japan Supports US-Led Girls Education Effort, Faces Gender Gap

U.S. First Lady Michelle Obama is in Tokyo to promote a girls education initiative to help the 62 million girls in the developing world who are not in school. Japan does provide girls equal access to education, but the country has one of the worst gender gap ratings in the world when it comes to women in the workplace after they graduate from school.

In Tokyo, Mrs. Obama announced the “Let Girls Learn” initiative while meeting with Japanese first lady Akie Abe.

[…]

According to the World Economic Forum’s Global Gender Gap Report, which evaluates countries on economic, political, education, and health-based criteria, Japan ranked 105th out of 136 countries in 2013.

While there is virtually no gender gap in education enrolment, women in Japan face significant institutional and cultural obstacles in the workplace.

In Japan, raising children is still considered the responsibility of women. Because there is a severe shortage of affordable childcare, over 60 percent of Japanese women who have children end up quitting their jobs.

Economics Professor Machiko Osawa, with the Research Institute for Women and Careers at Japan Women’s University, said this expectation leads to discrimination in the corporate world.

“Once you are hired after you graduate from school, companies spend lots of money to train workers. But women tend to quit due to child bearing or marriage, so that the company does not want to take a risk,” said Osawa.

[…]

Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe has vowed to significantly boost the participation of women in the workforce and improve pay for women who, on average, earn 30 percent less than men.

 Questions 

Direction: Ask the students the questions, and give the answers.

1Why is Michelle Obama visiting Tokyo?

“U.S. First Lady Michelle Obama is in Tokyo to promote a girls education initiative to help the 62 million girls in the developing world who are not in school.”

2What is Japan’s main problem when it comes to women’s opportunities?

Japan “has one of the worst gender gap ratings in the world when it comes to women in the workplace after they graduate from school.”

3What kind of obstacles do Japanese women encounter in the workplace?

“While there is virtually no gender gap in education enrolment, women in Japan face significant institutional and cultural obstacles in the workplace.”

4How many of the Japanese women quit their jobs after having a child?

60%

5Why are women being discriminated in the corporate world?

““Once you are hired after you graduate from school, companies spend lots of money to train workers. But women tend to quit due to child bearing or marriage, so that the company does not want to take a risk,” said Osawa.”

6What is the difference in salary between women and men in Japan?

“Women, on average, earn 30 percent less than men.”

Discussion 

Direction: Discuss the topics.

1Have you ever witnessed gender discrimination in your country? If so, please explain.

Follow-up question1: What do you think is the reason behind gender discrimination?
Follow-up question2: What can be done to stop it?
Follow-up question3: Can you think of some successful leading women?

2What other kinds of discrimination do you know of?

Follow-up question1: Have you ever been the victim of discrimination?
Follow-up question2: What do you think is the most common type of discrimination?
Follow-up question3: Do you think that someday there will be no discrimination?

3Can a country claim to be a democracy if there is discrimination of any kind taking place there? Why or why not?

Follow-up question1: What are some basic rights of humans?
Follow-up question2: What is the most important right to you? Why?
Follow-up question3: If you were required to give up one of your rights, which would you give up and why?

Quoted from

http://www.voanews.com/content/michelle-obama-touts-let-girls-learn-initiative-in-japan/2686535.html