gender and work ielts essay

Task 2 Essay: Gender Equality at Work

Question: Nowadays, some workplaces tend to employ equal numbers of men and women workers. Do you think it is a positive or negative development?

Band 8+ Sample Answer:

(Intro) In the 21st century, the roles of women are becoming increasingly crucial with a growing number of females hired by some enterprises. Personally, I feel that this trend is not only beneficial to women and their families, but it also helps lessen the burden on society to support them and narrows the gender gap as well.

(Body 1) Individually, women may have opportunities to excel themselves and improve their living conditions. First, if the domination of men in the workplace is eradicated it may enable females to make use of their talents and pursue their desired occupations. In fact, in some fields like art and design, women are superior to men concerning their attention to detail, while men tend to be more suitable for jobs related to engineering or construction. In addition, a wider selection of careers can better families’ economic conditions, indicating that women can earn a living on their own and become as much the breadwinners as their husbands. Hence, couples can have better living standards and conditions to raise their children.

(Body 2) Socially, the merits of more equal employment are fewer responsibilities for the government and a demonstration of human rights progress. Primarily, more working women means that governments no longer need to provide grants or subsidies to households on low incomes. On the contrary, society could benefit from taxes paid by these female employees to invest in vital infrastructure and essential services As for gender equality, reserving positions for women would definitely be a positive step for the recognition of women’s rights. On a practical level, many females are taking important positions globally and contributing tremendously to the organiSations they commit to. Susan Wojcicki, the CEO of YouTube can exemplify this.

(Conclusion) In conclusion, eliminating discrimination against women at work would bring clear social and economic advantages to both society and individuals. Governments and enterprises need to come to an agreement to remove the fixed quota of the number of women working in organiSations for greater benefits in the future. (330 words)

Words: Student essay, corrected & upgraded by Nick Kemp, former IELTS examiner.

Image: Portraitor / Pixabay.

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Gender Issues

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Ielts essay 1135 - men and women can be equally suited to do any type of work, ielts writing task 2/ ielts essay:, some people think men and women have different natural abilities that make them suitable for different types of work. others, however, believe that both men and women can be equally suited to do any type of work..

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IELTS Gender Differences Essay

Do men and women have different strengths and weaknesses?

Women and men are commonly seen as having different strengths and weaknesses. Is it right to exclude males or females from certain professions because of their gender? The idea that males and females are born with distinct characteristics from each other has been a unanimous consensus for as long as human beings first came into existence. However, in my view, these differences should hold little to no significance when it comes to selecting specific careers for both genders. To start, the exclusion of a gender from particular professions can have a detrimental effect on many groups in society. Clearly, qualifying an applicant based on their gender instead of their abilities will prevent individuals from developing to their full potential. Furthermore, this mode of thinking directly contributes to sexism by reinforcing harmful stereotypes and setting negative examples for younger generations. For example, a young, impressionable girl who witnessed a woman being denied a job simply for being a woman will form biases about which occupation a certain gender can and cannot enter, and will inevitably constrain herself and her potentials inside that false mindset. Advocators of this exclusion present a counter-argument, stating that the unique attributes of males (better physical strength, authoritativeness) and females (sentiment, gentleness) might hinder them from efficiently completing certain tasks at work, but this view is fundamentally flawed. Firstly, these traits are not exclusive to a certain gender. Secondly, individual who receives enough training or possesses adequate qualifications will prove themselves suitable for a job, regardless of their sex. Finally, supposing that this exclusion was implemented, the workplace and job culture would experience a severe lack in diversity, which has been proven to reduce employees’ productivity and negatively impact their attitudes towards work. From the basis of the points mentioned above, it is conclusive to state that leaving out a certain gender from a profession is never a good idea. Companies and employers should always strive for gender equality and offer equivalent work opportunities to all sexes to eliminate harmful, sexist stereotypes and create a welcoming, inclusive work environment for all.

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IELTS and Gender – What You Need to Know

Posted by David S. Wills | May 28, 2020 | IELTS Tips | 0

If you have ever sat the IELTS exam before, there is a good chance that you have had to use the word “gender” or talk about issues relating to men and women. This may come up in the reading or listening test, but it’s more likely that it will occur in speaking or writing.

In this article, I’m going to tell you all about IELTS and gender so that you can be totally prepared for any questions that come your way during the test. Some of the things that I will cover in this lesson are:

• What to expect from the test
• Vocabulary about gender
• Some examples of gender questions
• Some sample answers to questions

Alright, then. Let’s begin!

What does gender mean?

This is actually an increasingly complicated and controversial topic, but I will keep it simple and basic for now.

The dictionary says that gender means:

either of the two sexes (male and female), especially when considered with reference to social and cultural differences rather than biological ones. The term is also used more broadly to denote a range of identities that do not correspond to established ideas of male and female.

Basically, it is the issue of men and women (or boys and girls ). As you can see, it is a topic that is truly worldwide and so it is something that anyone can talk about. Therefore, it could (and does) appear in the IELTS test regularly.

(Note: Gender studies is an area of academia that people think about more and more. There are lots of complex issues relating to biology, society, etc., but for IELTS you are not expected to know all of this. You just need to be aware of some basic things that I will explain to you.)

How would gender appear in IELTS?

As it is a common life issue that every human knows about, the topic of gender may appear in IELTS. It is a little abstract and requires some thought, so you would not often find it in easy parts of the test. It is more likely to occur in:

• Speaking part 3
• Writing task 1
• Writing task 2

It may appear in the reading or listening tests, but it’s such a big and complicated topic that I don’t think you would be expected to know that much. Therefore, in this article I will focus on the speaking and writing test.

IELTS speaking test and the topic of gender

In the IELTS speaking test, there are three parts. The first is a short, easy interview sections with basic and often quite personal questions. The second is when you must talk for two minutes about a subject, and the third part is for more abstract, difficult questions.

To be honest, it is unlikely that you will be asked questions about gender for part one or two. If you did encounter a question about gender for part one, it would probably say something like:

Are there more male or female teachers in your country? Why?

This would be part of a series of questions about teachers (or education) and gender would just be one aspect. You might answer it like this:

Oh, there are definitely more female teachers nowadays. I think that fifty or a hundred years ago, there were more men, but now women have come to dominate the profession.

You see, there really isn’t that much to be said here. Even if you wanted to, you don’t need to go on at length. That is something you can save until part three.

IELTS speaking part 3 – questions about gender/sex

It is much more common that you would encounter these questions in part 3 of the test because these are abstract questions about issues such as:

• Changes over time
• The best way to do something
• Environment
• Complex issues

In IELTS, questions are often picked from a set of topics. Common IELTS speaking topics include:

• Computers/technology
• Food/cooking
• and many more

Let’s say we picked one of those topics: education. Then there may be questions that twist the topic of education according to some abstract ideas: education and gender, education and age, education and environment, education and society, etc.

Example questions

Here are a few sample IELTS speaking part 3 questions about gender:

Q: Do you think that women should be able to do the same sorts of jobs that men do?

A: I think that people should have equal opportunities regardless of gender. There are some things that maybe men are better at or women are better at, but ultimately everyone should be given the chance to prove whether or not they can do something, and this should not be limited by gender, race, religion, or any other such factor.

Q: Should more women be encouraged to work in male-dominated fields such as science and technology?

A: Yes, I think it’s important to let young girls know that they can pursue their interests and goals , then make sure that these pathways are open to them. I am against any sort of mandatory quotas for hiring people , but companies should be blind to gender when choosing employees because it is not a good way to predict whether or not someone will be competent or not.

Final note on gender and IELTS speaking

Remember that gender could actually be incorporated into the answer for almost any question. You could be asked about hobbies and then end up talking about gender roles and preferences. This is fine, as long as you are actually answering the question and not going off topic.

Gender in the IELTS writing test

For the writing test, the issue is largely the same. You will be asked a question that relates to an IELTS writing topic and then you will need to write an essay that answers it.

For this, you should be able to use some basic language relating to gender. You do not have to be an expert, but you should be able to master everyday language about men and women. You can find that in the next section (at the bottom of the page).

Here, however, I am going to show you three sample band 9 answers from task 2 of the IELTS writing test. I hope that you can read these in order to figure out some useful ideas and language. I wrote these essays for the students on my writing correction programme . Check it out if you are in need of assistance.

Sample Answer #1

Some people think that men and women have different qualities. Therefore, some certain jobs are suitable for men and some jobs are suitable for women.

To what extent do you agree or disagree?

The subject of gender difference is highly controversial nowadays, particularly in regards abilities that would make a person suitable for different kinds of jobs. However, it seems clear that there are quite notable differences and that people may be more inclined to take different jobs due to their gender. This essay will argue that although equality is important, some people will naturally be more suitable for certain jobs.

Firstly, it is important to establish that men and women should be treated equally in terms of opportunities. Traditionally male jobs, such as fire fighter and doctor, should be open to qualified women, while traditionally female jobs, such as teacher and nurse, should be open to qualified men. It is undeniable that in almost any profession the most talented people can belong to either gender.

However, while a particularly strong woman could make an excellent fire fighter or a particularly sensitive man could be a wonderful kindergarten teacher, in general innate gender differences do mean that there will be more male fire fighters and more female kindergarten teachers. There are some qualities that are far more common in men and some that are far more common in women. These account for the reasons why certain genders prefer certain jobs or are better suited to them.

In conclusion, it is important that all jobs are open to both genders, but it seems hard to deny that there are certain jobs that are better suited to men or to women. It is important that equal opportunities are provided, but an imbalance will continue because of innate gender differences.

Sample Answer #2

Nowadays, as women and men have to work full time, household duties should be equally divided.

Do you agree or disagree?

In the modern era, men and women have similar responsibilities and so it is only reasonable that household chores should also be divided equitably. This essay will argue in favour of equal responsibilities in the home.

In the past, gender roles were very different due to the innate abilities possessed by men and women. Men, who were stronger and faster gender, went out to hunt and work while the women typically stayed at home. After countless technological innovations, humans have developed to the point where strength, speed, and dexterity are no longer pre-requisites for entering the workforce; hence, women can do the same jobs that men can do. With this development, it is only reasonable that men take on some of the work that was previously assigned only to women.

It would be unfair if men were not made to make this change because the equitable division of labour is important. If a man and woman both work for ten hours, then it would be totally unreasonable to expect only one of them to come home and do several more hours of work in the house, so couples should find a way to ensure that they split their chores. If one person works more than the other, then they should agree to compensate for this at home. It is a basic sense of fairness and decency that makes such an arrangement the only logical way to cope with the situation.

In conclusion, men and women should share housework duties so that both people in a relationship are doing an approximately equal amount of work overall.

Sample Answer #3

Universities should accept equal numbers of male and female students in every subject.

These days, the issue of gender equality attracts a lot of attention and people argue over how to deal with perceived inequalities in employment and education. Some think that universities should be required to accept equal numbers of male and female students in each subject, but this is a profoundly ignorant stance.

To begin with, for equality to flourish, people should always be chosen based upon their abilities rather than their identity. In education, as in sports or business, people with talent should be given opportunities. It is extremely unfair that someone is chosen because of their race or gender, despite having lower abilities than someone else. If universities were required to split their classes according to gender, there would almost certainly be a few talented people who were not able to attend because some less talented person of the opposite gender was picked instead. This is unfair for the students and detrimental for society.

The fact is that the two genders do have somewhat different preferences and abilities in terms of academic subjects, and while equality of opportunity should exist, it cannot be forced upon people or else it will come at the expense of some others. In teaching, for example, university classes are usually about eighty percent female. If a university was forced to have fifty percent from each gender, there would be a large number of eager young women who could not attend their desired course. This is true in the STEM courses, too, but the opposite way around. If you forced a university to accept more women, then talented men would be declined.

In conclusion, the idea of forcing educational institutions to accept equal numbers of students from either gender is patently absurd. It may sound fair, but it is actually very unfair on the students, and would have negative ramifications for society as a whole.

Other language practice

I said earlier that it is less likely that gender will be an issue in the listening or reading tests. Well, it still might arise, so you should be prepared. You should also make time to study these issues so that you have the right language to use in speaking and writing.

Here is an interesting TED talk about gender.

Here is an excerpt from 04:50:

Now there’s something else that we’ve discovered about social media that’s actually quite surprising. It turns out that women are really driving the social media revolution. If you look at the statistics — these are worldwide statistics — in every single age category, women actually outnumber men in their use of social networking technologies. And then if you look at the amount of time that they spend on these sites, they truly dominate the social media space, which is a space that’s having a huge impact on old media. The question is: what sort of impact is this going to have on our culture, and what’s it going to mean for women? If the case is that social media is dominating old media and women are dominating social media, then does that mean that women are going to take over global media? Are we suddenly going to see a lot more female characters in cartoons and in games and on TV shows? Will the next big-budget blockbuster movies actually be chick flicks? Could this be possible, that suddenly our media landscape will become a feminist landscape?

She raises some interesting ideas and questions, and you should listen to her talk in order to pick up some of the language that she uses, which may be helpful in your IELTS preparation.

Gender/Sex Vocabulary for IELTS

Finally, let’s look at some language. In that passage above, you can see references to “women” and “female,” which are terms you absolutely must know. However, we are going to go a little further than that here.

Let’s look into some gender-related words and phrases that might help you prepare for IELTS:

Don’t forget, also, that in English we have some words that change according to gender, like these ones:

If you are talking about people in general, try to use the neutral term, like “sportsperson,” “firefighter,” and so on. There are many instances where language is gendered for animals (think “bull” vs “cow”; “rooster” vs “chicken” etc) but this is not at all important for IELTS.

Finally, the difference between “gender” and “sex.” These words are often used interchangeably, but they do have a subtle difference that some people like to talk about a lot, but which is probably not important for the majority of people.

The word “sex” can also refer to sexual intercourse, but contextually you can tell the difference. Also, in IELTS they would never ask you about sex in that sense. They are culturally sensitive in that respect.

Sex and English Grammar

Gender refers to whether someone is a man or a woman, but it relates more to the social/cultural constructs than actual biology. On the other hand, sex means whether someone is biologically man or woman. A doctor might ask a pregnant mother, “Do you want to know the sex of the baby?” but they cannot ask “Do you want to know the gender of the baby?”

You may have noticed one thing there. I said “doctor” and then “they.”

Is this right or wrong?

It’s right ! We can use “they” for the third-person singular form when we do not know or do not want to say whether someone is male or female. For example, in that sentence, I said “a doctor” but I did not tell you whether this doctor was male or female. It is sexist to assume that they are one or the other. Therefore, I said “they” as a replacement for he/she.

This is becoming more common in English and some people dislike it, but it’s been around for a long time. If you want to speak correct, modern English, then you should pay attention to this sort of change.

About The Author

David S. Wills

David S. Wills is the author of Scientologist! William S. Burroughs and the 'Weird Cult' and the founder/editor of Beatdom literary journal. He lives and works in rural Cambodia and loves to travel. He has worked as an IELTS tutor since 2010, has completed both TEFL and CELTA courses, and has a certificate from Cambridge for Teaching Writing. David has worked in many different countries, and for several years designed a writing course for the University of Worcester. In 2018, he wrote the popular IELTS handbook, Grammar for IELTS Writing and he has since written two other books about IELTS. His other IELTS website is called IELTS Teaching.

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IELTS Essay Task 1: Employment for Men and Women

by Dave | Sample Answers | 10 Comments

This is an IELTS writing task 1 sample answer essay on the topic of employment for men and women in 1970 and 2000 in Belgium, the USA, Japan, and Indonesia in a bar chart from the real IELTS exam.

Find my full IELTS Ebooks here .

The bar charts detail men and women between the ages of 60 and 64 working in Belgium, the USA, Japan, and Indonesia in 1970 and 2000. Looking from an overall perspective, it is readily apparent that men had higher employment figures for all countries in both years with the largest disparity being the difference between men and women in Belgium and the USA in 2000. Proportions of males and females employed decreased across all nations, especially in Belgium.

In the United States in 1970, 88% of men between 60 and 64 were employed compared to just under 80% of women. These proportions were broadly similar to Belgium (79% and 62%) and Indonesia (83% and 63%). The disparity in Japan was slightly larger with 78% of men working and 55% of women.

By 2000, figures for the United States had declined to 79% of men and 41% of women, the second largest drop recorded. Belgium had the largest fall for female employment (down to fewer than 10% working) with a more moderate fall for men to 51%. In Indonesia, employed males fell to 72% as their counterparts slipped by 12% to 50%. Finally, Japan displayed the narrowest gap between genders with 51% of men working and 48% of women.

1. The bar charts detail men and women between the ages of 60 and 64 working in Belgium, the USA, Japan, and Indonesia in 1970 and 2000. 2. Looking from an overall perspective, it is readily apparent that men had higher employment figures for all countries in both years with the largest disparity being the difference between men and women in Belgium and the USA in 2000. 3. Proportions of males and females employed decreased across all nations, especially in Belgium.

• Paraphrase what the bar chart shows.
• Write a clear overview summarising the differences.
• You might need another sentence for your overview.

1. In the United States in 1970, 88% of men between 60 and 64 were employed compared to just under 80% of women. 2. These proportions were broadly similar to Belgium (79% and 62%) and Indonesia (83% and 63%). 3. The disparity in Japan was slightly larger with 78% of men working and 55% of women.

• Begin writing about the data for the first categories.
• Make sure you compare as much as possible.
• Vary long and short sentences.

1. By 2000, figures for the United States had declined to 79% of men and 41% of women, the second largest drop recorded. 2. Belgium had the largest fall for female employment (down to fewer than 10% working) with a more moderate fall for men to 51%. 3. In Indonesia, employed males fell to 72% as their counterparts slipped by 12% to 50%. Finally, Japan displayed the narrowest gap between genders with 51% of men working and 48% of women.

• Write about the final other parts of the graph – include everything!
• Compare the categories.
• Finish with the rest of the data.

What do the words in bold below mean? Take some notes on a piece of paper to aid your memory:

The bar charts detail men and women between the ages of 60 and 64 working in Belgium, the USA, Japan, and Indonesia in 1970 and 2000. Looking from an overall perspective, it is readily apparent that men had higher employment figures for all countries in both years with the largest disparity being the difference between men and women in Belgium and the USA in 2000. Proportions of males and females employed decreased across all nations , especially in Belgium.

By 2000, figures for the United States had declined to 79% of men and 41% of women, the second largest drop recorded . Belgium had the largest fall for female employment (down to fewer than 10% working) with a more moderate fall for men to 51%. In Indonesia, employed males fell to 72% as their counterparts slipped by 12% to 50%. Finally, Japan displayed the narrowest gap between genders with 51% of men working and 48% of women.

Try to write down or think of an antonym/opposite word for further practice:

detail show

between from … to ….

Looking from an overall perspective, it is readily apparent overall

employment figures numbers of people hired

largest disparity biggest difference

across all nations in all countries

especially in particularly in

compared to relative to

just under a little less than

proportions percentages

broadly similar almost the same as

slightly larger a little bigger

declined decreased

second largest drop recorded not the biggest fall

fewer than less than

moderate fall small drop

counterparts slipped opposites declined

displayed shown

narrowest gap smallest difference

genders male and female

Pronunciation

Practice saying the words below using this tip with Google voice dictation :

ˈdiːteɪl   bɪˈtwiːn   ˈlʊkɪŋ frɒm ən ˈəʊvərɔːl pəˈspɛktɪv ,  ɪt ɪz ˈrɛdɪli əˈpærənt   ɪmˈplɔɪmənt ˈfɪgəz ˈlɑːʤɪst dɪsˈpærɪti   prəˈpɔːʃənz   əˈkrɒs ɔːl ˈneɪʃənz ɪsˈpɛʃəli ɪn   kəmˈpeəd tuː   ʤʌst ˈʌndə   prəˈpɔːʃənz   ˈbrɔːdli ˈsɪmɪlə   ˈslaɪtli ˈlɑːʤə   dɪˈklaɪnd   ˈsɛkənd ˈlɑːʤɪst drɒp rɪˈkɔːdɪd ˈfjuːə ðæn   ˈmɒdərɪt fɔːl   ˈkaʊntəpɑːts slɪpt   dɪsˈpleɪd   ˈnærəʊɪst gæp   ˈʤɛndəz  

Vocabulary Practice

Remember and fill in the blanks . Note it on a piece of paper so you can remember better:

The bar charts d_________l men and women b_________n the ages of 60 and 64 working in Belgium, the USA, Japan, and Indonesia in 1970 and 2000. L__________________________________________t that men had higher e___________________s for all countries in both years with the l____________________y being the difference between men and women in Belgium and the USA in 2000. P________________s of males and females employed decreased a___________________s , e_______________n Belgium.

In the United States in 1970, 88% of men between 60 and 64 were employed c______________o j______________r 80% of women. These p_______________s were b_______________r to Belgium (79% and 62%) and Indonesia (83% and 63%). The disparity in Japan was s_________________r with 78% of men working and 55% of women.

By 2000, figures for the United States had d__________d to 79% of men and 41% of women, the s____________________________d . Belgium had the largest fall for female employment (down to fewer than 10% working) with a more m_____________l for men to 51%. In Indonesia, employed males fell to 72% as their c___________________d by 12% to 50%. Finally, Japan d___________d the n________________p between g_________s with 51% of men working and 48% of women.

Listening Practice

Listen to the related topic below and practice with these activities :

Reading Practice

Read more and use these ideas to practice:

https://www.washingtonpost.com/business/2021/11/17/how-to-quit-job/

Speaking Practice

Practice with the following related questions from the real IELTS speaking exam :

• Where are you working at the moment?
• Do you want to work in another country?
• Do you like your job?

Writing Practice

Practice with the related chart below and then check with my sample answer:

IELTS Task 1: Influencers Bar Chart

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Cambridge IELTS 16 – The Complete Guide!

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Content is current and Quite useful

Thanks Nandini – happy to hear that!

The bar charts illustrate the proportion of people of both sexes at the age of 60 to 64 working in Belgium, the U.S, Japan, and Indonesia in two separate years 1970 and 2000. Overall, there were considerably more men than women employed in all four countries in both years with Belgium showing the most noticeable difference. Furthermore, the percentage of working men in all countries witnessed a significant drop in 2000, and a similar downward trend could be seen among women except for Japan whose figure rose marginally over the 30-year period. Nearly 90% of male Americans were employed in 1970, as compared to barely under 80% of their female counterparts. The percentages of working men in Belgium and Japan were relatively similar with approximately 78% each, while the respective figures for women were much lower, at a little above 60% and 55%. The disparity in the employment figures between both genders was also significant in Indonesia with 85% of men and about 64% of women. In 2000, there was a moderate decline of about 10% in the percentage of men employed in America, while the figure for female Americans almost halved to barely over 40%. The difference between the figures for working men and women in Belgium was more pronounced, dropping to slightly above 50% and almost 10%, respectively. However, the percentages of Japanese employees of both genders were comparatively similar with about 50% of men and 48% of women. Finally, a gap of 20% was seen in the figures for Indonesians with precisely half of the women working.  

Great work Mike!

No mistakes that I can spot!

The percentages of working men in Belgium and Japan were relatively similar with approximately 78% each, while the respective figures for women were much lower, at a little above 60% and 55%. 

i really don’t understand fully the use of with and at as I see it somewhere that with has to go with a noun but I see people use it the same way as at often

This is a common usage you will see in a lot of essays – no problem using it like this.

The bar chart compares the percentage of men and women who lie in the age group 60-64 working in four continents, namely Belgium, USA, Japan and Indonesia for the years 1970 and 2000.

Looking from an overall perspective, the number of both men and women working was higher during 1970 in comparison to 2000. Furthermore, the percentage of men employed have been greater than that of women in both years but this difference increased greatly across continents in 2000 with the exception of Japan where the percentage for men and women nearly matched.

During 1970, the share of men employed was more than 70% across all the continents whereas for women it was greater than 50%. There was drastic change in 2000, the employment percentage for men and women both declined. The major decrease was seen in the case of Belgium and Japan where proportion of men employed declined from just below 80% to just above 50%. Here, the major highlight was a huge drop in percentage of women employed in Belgium that came to less than 10% in 2000 from slightly more than 60% in 1970.  Coming to USA, the proportion of male employed dropped from 85% to slightly less than 80% during 30-year period but a significant drop was observed in proportion for women where it declined from just less than 80% to minutely more than 40%. However, in Indonesia the proportion for both the sexes decreased by almost 15 percentage points

A little on the long side but strong writing again, Simmi!

Be sure all data is included – at the end mention the starting and ending points for Indonesia.

what band score is this example?

All my essays are band 9 – since I write all of them, Gautam!

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IELTS writing vocabulary: employment and equal pay

Home  »  IELTS vocabulary  » IELTS writing vocabulary: employment and equal pay

Collocations and examples sentences

Feminist theory : Many women discuss feminist theory and the differences in why women are oppressed the way they are.

Gender equality : Gender equality is an issue we have been struggling with in the world for centuries and has yet to be fixed completely.

Equal pay : Men and women do not always receive equal pay in the workplace even when they are doing the same work.

Balancing responsibilities : Some men believe that women have trouble balancing responsibilities involving the home and the workplace and therefore cannot do both things.

Empower women : We must empower women to achieve their goals no matter how big they are in order to see gender equality succeed.

Affirmative action : Affirmative action involves choosing someone for a job based on their race or gender as opposed to their skills alone.

Male entitlement : Male entitlement is a problem in today’s society because men have been raised to think they are in control of everything.

Patriarchal society : Many countries in the world revolve around the idea of a patriarchal society where the male leads the household and make the decisions.

Equally beneficial : Gender equality proves to be equally beneficial to both men and women in the long run.

5 questions eliciting the collocations:

1. How does Mr. Kimmel explain the difference between gender struggles in white women and women of color?

2. What different views are there on gender equality and what similarities and differences do they have? Explain with specific examples from the TED talk.

3. Why is gender equality good for countries, companies, and men as a whole?

4. What was Mr. Kimmel’s experiment with his 16-year-old son and what were the results of this experiment when it comes to gender equality?

5. What is the one word Mr. Kimmel suggests for men in order to fix the issue of gender equality?

Video: Listen to the topic vocabulary in use

Task 2 sample essay - with collocations removed (gap fill task).

Women should be given the same opportunities as men in the workplace, because although we live in a ___________ _______, it is about time that we break the mould and let women make their own decisions. While someone does need to take care of the children and the home, a husband and wife should have _________ _______________ and should support each other in both their careers and family lives. There is no reason why the woman should stay at the home as opposed to the man.

Firstly, women should be given the same opportunities in the workplace, because ____ ___________ is unfair and out of date. Men should not be given privileges over women just because of their gender. We need to promote ______ ________ in the workplace as well as give men and women _____ ___.

Studies show that women excel just as quickly if not faster than men do in their careers when given the opportunity. Therefore, we need to _______ _____ and allow them to grow with no boundaries.

Secondly, women should not be hindered in their careers, because a working woman can be _______ __________ to the man as well. If the woman in the home is working alongside the man, the family can bring in more income and support their family more efficiently.

________ ______ studies how women are discriminated against in their jobs and how this can be a disadvantage to the family as a whole. Scientists have proved that couples who are equal when it comes to gender are happier overall.

In conclusion, we must allow women to thrive in the workplace and use ___________ ______ initiatives in order to ensure that women get the same opportunities as men. It is better for the world as a whole if we see both men and women in the home and leading successful careers.

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IELTS Essay Topic #16 Gender

• Post category: Essay Topic

Gender and Education

• Men and women should have access to the same educational opportunities
• Males and females should be accepted onto courses according to their abilities
• It is wrong to discriminate against students because of their gender
• Gender should be irrelevant in education
• Student’s achievements should depend on hard work and individual merit
• In the UK, there are similar numbers of male and female students in higher education

Gender and Work

• Men and women should have access to the same professional opportunities
• Both man and women should be able to pursue a career
• They should earn equal salaries
• They should be employed according to their abilities, qualifications and experience
• Traditionally women have been restricted to certain roles
• They were often employed as secretaries or receptionists
• Nowadays, a range of occupations is available to both sexes
• Career success depends on individual merit

Women’s and Men’s Roles in the Family

• Some people argue that a mother should not work
• She should stay at home and bring up her children
• The father should be the breadwinner of the family
• Others believe that both parents should share these responsibilities
• Working women can take maternity leave during and after pregnancy
• Many mothers continue to work after this period
• Many fathers and mothers share their parenting and domestic responsibilities
• They contribute equally to childcare, cooking and cleaning
• Some women may have better career prospects than their husbands
• Paternity leave and ‘househusbands’ are becoming more common
• Traditional gender roles are gradually changing
• Families can divide roles and responsibilities in the most convenient way

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IELTS Writing Task 2 Sample Essays: Promoting Gender Equality in Leadership Positions

Gender equality in leadership positions has become a crucial topic in recent IELTS Writing Task 2 exams. This subject reflects the growing global awareness of the importance of equal representation in decision-making roles. Based on recent trends, it’s likely that this theme will continue to appear in future IELTS tests. Let’s explore a sample question and analyze how to approach it effectively.

Analyzing the Task

Some people think that governments should focus on reducing the pay gap between men and women in leadership positions. Others believe that governments should take other actions to promote gender equality in top jobs. Discuss both these views and give your own opinion.

This question presents two perspectives on how governments can promote gender equality in leadership roles:

• Reducing the pay gap
• Taking other actions

The task requires you to discuss both views and provide your personal opinion. Let’s break down the key elements:

• Topic: Gender equality in leadership positions
• Focus: Government actions
• Views to discuss: Pay gap reduction vs. other measures
• Your task: Discuss both views and give your opinion

Sample Essays

Band 8-9 essay.

In the ongoing debate about gender equality in leadership positions, some argue that governments should prioritize closing the wage gap between male and female executives, while others contend that alternative measures are more effective. This essay will examine both perspectives before presenting my own viewpoint on this critical issue.

Those who advocate for focusing on the pay gap argue that financial disparity is a key factor perpetuating gender inequality in top jobs. By mandating equal pay for equal work at the highest levels, governments could effectively eliminate one of the most tangible barriers to women’s advancement. This approach would not only ensure fairness but also send a powerful message about the value society places on female leadership. Moreover, closing the pay gap could incentivize more women to pursue leadership roles, knowing they will be compensated fairly for their efforts.

On the other hand, proponents of alternative actions argue that the issue of gender inequality in leadership is multifaceted and requires a more comprehensive approach. They suggest that governments should implement policies such as mandatory quotas for women on corporate boards, invest in leadership training programs specifically for women, and promote flexible work arrangements to accommodate family responsibilities. These measures aim to address the root causes of gender disparity, including unconscious bias, lack of mentorship opportunities, and the challenges of balancing career and family life.

In my opinion, while reducing the pay gap is undoubtedly important, a more holistic approach is necessary to truly promote gender equality in leadership positions. I believe that governments should adopt a combination of strategies, including both pay equity measures and broader initiatives. For instance, implementing transparent salary reporting requirements alongside leadership development programs for women could create a more level playing field. Additionally, policies that encourage shared parental leave and affordable childcare options could help alleviate the disproportionate burden of family responsibilities that often hinders women’s career advancement.

In conclusion, addressing gender inequality in top jobs requires a multifaceted approach. While closing the pay gap is crucial, it should be part of a broader strategy that includes targeted training, mentorship programs, and policies that support work-life balance. By combining these efforts, governments can create a more inclusive environment that empowers women to reach and thrive in leadership positions.

(Word count: 368)

Band 6-7 Essay

The issue of gender equality in leadership roles has become a hot topic in recent years. Some people think governments should focus on reducing the pay difference between men and women in top positions, while others believe other actions are more important. This essay will discuss both views and give my opinion.

Those who support focusing on the pay gap argue that it’s not fair for women to earn less than men for doing the same job. They believe that if the government makes sure women are paid the same as men in leadership positions, it will encourage more women to aim for these roles. This could lead to more women in top jobs over time. Also, equal pay shows that society values women’s contributions as much as men’s.

On the other hand, people who think other actions are more important say that the problem is more complicated. They suggest that governments should do things like setting quotas for women on company boards, providing special training for women leaders, and making it easier for women to balance work and family life. These actions could help address other issues that stop women from reaching top positions, such as lack of opportunities and family responsibilities.

In my opinion, both approaches are important, but I think a mix of strategies would work best. Governments should work on reducing the pay gap, but also implement other policies to support women in leadership. For example, they could require companies to report on gender pay differences and also offer mentorship programs for women. Providing better childcare options and encouraging men to take parental leave could also help women advance in their careers.

To conclude, promoting gender equality in leadership positions requires more than just one solution. While closing the pay gap is important, it should be combined with other actions to create real change. By using a variety of approaches, governments can help create a fairer workplace where both men and women have equal opportunities to become leaders.

(Word count: 329)

Band 5-6 Essay

Gender equality in top jobs is an important topic today. Some people think governments should make men and women get paid the same in leadership jobs. Other people think governments should do different things to help women become leaders. I will talk about both ideas and give my opinion.

People who want to focus on equal pay think it’s not fair that women get paid less than men for the same work. They say if women get paid the same as men in big jobs, more women will want these jobs. This could help more women become leaders. It also shows that women are as important as men at work.

But other people think there are more problems than just pay. They think governments should do things like make rules about how many women should be in top jobs, give special training to women, and help women with family and work balance. These ideas could help with other things that make it hard for women to be leaders, like not having enough chances or having to take care of family more.

I think both ideas are good, but we need to do many things to help women be leaders. Governments should try to make pay equal, but also do other things to help women. For example, they could make companies tell everyone how much they pay men and women. They could also help women learn to be good leaders and make it easier for women to have both a job and a family.

In the end, we need to do many things to help women become leaders. Making pay equal is important, but we need to do other things too. If governments do many different things, they can help make work fairer for both men and women.

(Word count: 293)

Explanation of Band Scores

This essay demonstrates excellent writing skills and a sophisticated approach to the topic:

Task Achievement: The essay fully addresses all parts of the task, discussing both views and providing a clear personal opinion with well-developed ideas.

Coherence and Cohesion: The essay is well-organized with clear paragraphing and effective use of cohesive devices. Ideas flow logically from one paragraph to the next.

Lexical Resource: It uses a wide range of vocabulary accurately and appropriately, with some less common words and phrases (e.g., “perpetuating,” “multifaceted,” “holistic approach”).

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: The essay demonstrates a wide range of complex structures used accurately, with only minor errors that do not impede communication.

This essay shows good writing skills with some areas for improvement:

Task Achievement: The essay addresses all parts of the task and presents a clear position, but some ideas could be more fully developed.

Coherence and Cohesion: The essay is generally well-organized, but some transitions between ideas could be smoother.

Lexical Resource: It uses a good range of vocabulary, though not as sophisticated as the Band 8-9 essay. Some attempts at less common vocabulary are present.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: The essay uses a mix of simple and complex sentences with generally good control, though there are some errors.

This essay demonstrates adequate writing skills but with noticeable limitations:

Task Achievement: The essay addresses the task, but some points are underdeveloped, and the writer’s position could be clearer.

Coherence and Cohesion: The essay has a clear structure, but paragraphing and cohesive devices are basic.

Lexical Resource: The vocabulary is adequate for the task but limited in range and sophistication. There is some repetition of words and phrases.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: The essay mainly uses simple sentences with some attempts at complex structures. There are noticeable grammatical errors, but they don’t significantly impede communication.

Key Vocabulary to Remember

• Gender equality (noun) – /ˈdʒendər iˈkwɒləti/ – Equal rights and opportunities for men and women
• Leadership positions (noun phrase) – /ˈliːdəʃɪp pəˈzɪʃənz/ – High-ranking jobs with decision-making power
• Pay gap (noun) – /peɪ ɡæp/ – The difference in earnings between men and women
• Multifaceted (adjective) – /ˌmʌltiˈfæsɪtɪd/ – Having many different aspects or features
• Holistic approach (noun phrase) – /həˈlɪstɪk əˈprəʊtʃ/ – Considering all parts of a situation together
• Unconscious bias (noun phrase) – /ʌnˈkɒnʃəs ˈbaɪəs/ – Unintentional prejudices that affect decision-making
• Work-life balance (noun phrase) – /wɜːk laɪf ˈbæləns/ – The equilibrium between career and personal life
• Mentorship (noun) – /ˈmentɔːʃɪp/ – Guidance provided by an experienced person in a field
• Parental leave (noun phrase) – /pəˈrentl liːv/ – Time off work for parents to care for a new child
• Transparent (adjective) – /trænsˈpærənt/ – Open and honest, easy to understand or recognize

Promoting gender equality in leadership positions is a complex issue that requires a multifaceted approach. While addressing the pay gap is crucial, it’s equally important to implement policies that tackle underlying barriers to women’s advancement in leadership roles. As you prepare for your IELTS Writing Task 2, consider practicing with similar topics related to workplace equality, diversity in leadership, or government policies for social change.

To further improve your skills, try writing your own essay on this topic and share it in the comments section below. This practice will help you refine your arguments, improve your essay structure, and expand your vocabulary on this important subject. Remember to analyze both perspectives thoroughly and present a well-reasoned personal opinion supported by relevant examples.

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