Holidays & Events

International
Women’s Day
Sa
Pre-Reading
A. Warm-Up Questions

1. When is International Women’s Day?

2. What is the main purpose of this day?

3. Do women face inequalities in your country?

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4. W
 hat do you think this year’s
focus will be for women?

B. Vocabulary Preview

Match up as many words and meanings as you can.

Check this exercise again after seeing the words in context on page 2.

1. struggle a)  material, cloth

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2. achievement b)  money earned from work
3. progress c)  ending, getting rid of, having no more
4. originate d)  different
5. anniversary e)  a fight
6. textile f)  the start (of a war, fire, disease, etc.)
7. garment g)  ending the use of weapons (guns, bombs, etc.)
8. wage h)  success
9. link i)  a piece of clothing
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10. varied j)  to come from, to have as a beginning
11. elimination k)  around the world
12. poverty l)  moving forward, improving, getting better
13. violence m)  the state of being poor
14. disarmament n)  the yearly return of the date of an event
15. global o)  great physical force
16. outbreak p)  to join together

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 International Women’s Day
Holidays & Events

Reading
1. E
 very year on March 8, International Women’s Day 3. W
 hen Clara Zetkin first suggested making an
is celebrated by millions of women throughout International Women’s Day, there were already
the world. This day provides the opportunity to signs of the outbreak of World War I. For that
Sa
remember the struggles of women throughout reason, she called on women everywhere to link
history as well as the achievements they have their fight for equal rights with a fight to preserve
made. Marches, demonstrations, concerts, international peace. Since that time, women’s
films, and conferences take place to recognize concerns have grown broader and more varied.
the progress women have made in obtaining From the principal demands for better working
equality and also to assess the problems that conditions and the right to vote, the focus has now
many women around the world still face today. turned to issues such as equal pay for equal work,
equal opportunities for education and training,
2. International Women’s Day originated at an
improved day care and health services, global
international congress in 1910 in Copenhagen,
disarmament, and the elimination of poverty,
Denmark. Women from 17 different countries
discrimination, and violence against women.
attended the congress. At that congress, a
m
woman from Germany named Clara Zetkin 4. In 1977, the United Nations General Assembly
suggested setting aside a day each year that passed a resolution inviting every country
would be dedicated to fighting for equal rights to proclaim March 8 a United Nations Day
for women all over the world. Zetkin proposed for Women’s Rights and International Peace.
March 8 as this day because this was the Since then, March 8 has grown to become
anniversary of the first protest march against a truly international celebration.
the terrible working conditions of textile and
5. W
 hile International Women’s Day is now celebrated
garment workers in New York City in 1857. At
in nearly every country of the world, the form and
that time, many of the garment workers lived
content of the celebration varies from country
in crowded tenement houses and worked in
to country. In some countries, it is celebrated as
pl
firetrap sweatshops for very long hours and
an official national holiday and is used to show
very low wages. These conditions pushed
respect for the role played by women in society
many women to begin to fight for their political
as mothers, workers, and citizens. In some places,
rights, the right to vote, and improved working
this day is observed much like Mother’s Day, with
conditions. Their enthusiasm gave life to the
women receiving gifts and flowers. As well as
entire movement for women’s rights.
being a day to recognize the progress women have
made in their struggle for equal rights and world
peace, many people use this day as an opportunity
to raise awareness and money for disadvantaged
e
women around the world. While a great deal
has already been accomplished, there is still
much to do.

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 International Women’s Day
Holidays & Events

Comprehension
Practice asking and answering the following questions with your partner.
Then write the answers in your notebook.
Sa
1. What do people remember on International Women’s Day?

2. What types of events take place on this day?

3. Where did International Women’s Day originate?

4. Why did Clara Zetkin choose March 8

as the date for International Women’s Day?

5. What was life like for the New York

garment workers in the mid-19th century?

6. How did International Women’s Day become

associated with the fight to preserve world peace?
m
7. What types of issues does International Women’s Day focus on now?

8. What role did the United Nations play in making

International Women’s Day a truly international celebration?

9. How is International Women’s Day

similar to Mother’s Day in some countries?

10. How are disadvantaged women throughout

the world helped by this special day?
pl
e

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 International Women’s Day
Holidays & Events

Vocabulary Practice
1. March 8 is a day that is dedicated to the 6. Their enthusiasm gave life to the
fight for equal rights for women everywhere. entire movement for women’s rights.
Sa
a) described in detail a) strike
b) demanded by many people b) excitement
c) set apart for a definitive purpose c) entertainment

2. March 8 was the date of the first protest 7. The focus now is on issues such as
march against terrible working conditions. the elimination of poverty and discrimination.

a) meeting in a government building a) attention

b) demonstration to show objection or opposition b) camera
c) discussion about the pros and cons c) money

3. Many of the garment workers 8. One of the important issues is the elimination
lived in crowded tenement houses. of discrimination against women.
m
a) tents in a campground a) crime and punishment
b) cabins in a forest b) unfair treatment
c) large buildings used by many families c) fighting

4. They worked in firetrap sweatshops 9. March 8 is a day to raise awareness of

for very long hours and very low wages. the problems facing many women today.

a) sweater factories a) make money for

b) exercise studios b) teach people about
c) factories with terrible working conditions c) have a protest about
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5. Their principal demands were better 10. March 8 is a day to raise money for
working conditions and the right to vote. disadvantaged women around the world.

a) demonstrations a) being in a bad situation

b) what they wanted most b) not working
c) the least important c) being far away
e

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 International Women’s Day
Holidays & Events

Pair Work (Student A)

A. Sharing Information
Sa
You and your partner each have some different facts and figures
about women around the world. Read your information and then
work with your partner to complete the questions in Part B.

Facts & Figures

Women’s Leadership Roles, Voting Rights,
and Economic Positions as of 2006

Did You Know...?

1. In 1893, New Zealand became the first

m
country to grant equal voting rights to women.

2. In 2006, out of 180 countries, only 11 had elected women as heads of
state or government. These 11 countries included Chile, New Zealand,
Mozambique, Finland, Liberia, Ireland, Philippines, Germany, South
Korea, Jamaica, and Latvia.

3. In 2006, only three countries had female governor generals:

Canada, the Bahamas, and St. Lucia.

4. A
 round the world, there are more women in decision-making
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positions in local governments than in national governments.

5. Switzerland did not grant full voting rights to women until 1971.

6. In the 21st century, some countries still do not

have full voting rights for women. Saudi Arabia
and United Arab Emirates are two of these countries.

7. In 2006, Rwanda had the highest proportion of women

parliamentarians in the world, with its National Assembly
comprised of 48.8% women.
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8. In over 60 of the world’s states, women’s
income is 50% lower than men’s income.

9. 7
 0% of people who live in extreme poverty—
living on less than $1 per day—are women.

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 International Women’s Day
Holidays & Events

Pair Work (Student B)

A. Sharing Information
Sa
You and your partner each have some different facts and figures
about women around the world. Read your information and then
work with your partner to complete the questions in Part B.

Facts & Figures

Women’s Leadership Roles, Voting Rights,
and Economic Positions as of 2006

Did You Know...?

1. W
 omen in the United States received full voting
m
rights in 1920, and in 1928 in the United Kingdom.

2. In 2006, only five countries had female vice presidents. These
included Costa Rica, Taiwan, Zimbabwe, Gambia, and El Salvador.

3. In 2006, only 16.1% of members of

national parliaments worldwide were women.

4. In 1995, Sweden became the first country to have an

equal number of women and men in ministerial positions.

5. In 2005, Kuwait gave women full voting rights.

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6. In 2006, there were 39 women ambassadors to the United Nations.

7. In the United Nations system, women make up 37.1% of all professional
staff, but only 16% of the most senior policy-making positions.

8. W
 omen make up 39% of salaried positions around the world, but
women’s participation in high levels of economic decision-making
remains low throughout the world.

9. In the United States, women hold 50.3% of all management and
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professional positions, but only 7.9% of Fortune 500 top earners and
1.4% of Fortune 500 CEOs (chief executive officers) are women.

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 International Women’s Day
Holidays & Events

Pair Work cont.

B. Questions
Sa
Work with your partner to complete the following questions in your notebook.
(You each have half of the information in your previous reading.)

1. Which country became the first to grant women equal voting rights?

2. When did this event occur?

3. Worldwide, do women hold more government

positions at the local or national level?

4. In 2006, what was the percentage of women in parliaments worldwide?

5. Which country granted women full voting rights first:

the United States or the United Kingdom?
m
6. Name 11 countries that had elected female heads of state in 2006.

7. When did women get full voting rights in Switzerland?

8. What percentage of management and professional

positions do women hold in the United States?

9. How many countries had female vice presidents in 2006?

10. Which country was the first to have an equal

number of women and men in ministerial positions?
pl
11. What percentage of senior policy-making
positions in the United Nations do women hold?

12. What does CEO mean?

13. What percentage of US Fortune 500 (top companies) have female CEOs?

14. When did women in Kuwait get full voting rights?

15. How many female ambassadors to

the United Nations were there in 2006?
e

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 International Women’s Day
Holidays & Events

Vocabulary, Idioms & Expressions

A. Reference
Sa
VOCABULARY, IDIOM,
DEFINITION EX AMPLE
OR EXPRESSION

be on the same footing /

to be equal or have an Women have fought a hard struggle
be on an equal footing
equal status or position to be on an equal footing with men.
(idiom)

suffrage In 1893, New Zealand became the first

the right to vote
(noun) country to grant suffrage to all women.

In the early 1900s, many suffragettes

suffragette a woman who fought for
were put in prison for their actions in
(noun) women’s voting rights
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trying to win the right to vote.

girl Friday a female employee who does a Ask Mary to mail those letters.
(idiom) variety of low-level office jobs She is the girl Friday in our office.

a barrier or obstacle that

Even though Jennifer has excellent
glass ceiling prevents women from moving
skills, she never moves any higher in her
(idiom) up in the professional or
company. She can’t break the glass ceiling.
business world

make a living to earn money to live, She can’t make a living in that job.
pl
(idiom) to support oneself The wages are too low.

the person who makes the

breadwinner She has been the main breadwinner ever
living in the family or the one
(idiom) since her husband lost his job last year.
who supports the family

a program that requires a Because of the government’s policy on

affirmative action
certain number of people from affirmative action, the university must
(expression)
a minority group to be hired hire a woman for that position.
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Affirmative action policies helped many
get one’s foot in the door to get a chance to
women get a foot in the door of the
(idiom) advance or move forward
business world.

be in charge of to be the top person Amy has a lot of responsibilities at work.

(idiom) or the one in control She is in charge of her department.

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 International Women’s Day
Holidays & Events

Vocabulary, Idioms & Expressions cont.

A. Reference cont.
Sa
VOCABULARY, IDIOM,
DEFINITION EX AMPLE
OR EXPRESSION

climb the She has climbed the corporate ladder

to move up in the
corporate ladder very quickly and is now the CEO of
business world
(idiom) the company.

gender Many application forms ask

sex, class (male or female)
(noun) you to state your gender.

feminine of or like women, They wanted their new baby girl’s room to
(adjective) opposite of masculine look very feminine, so they painted it pink.
m
The hard work of feminists has
feminist someone who fights
helped to improve the lives of
(noun) for women’s rights
many women around the world.

gender discrimination unfair treatment Women are still working hard to end
(expression) because of one’s gender gender discrimination around the world.

B. Practice
pl
Now write your own sentences using the vocabulary,
expressions and idioms on this and the previous page.
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 International Women’s Day
Holidays & Events

Listening
 http://blog.esllibrary.com/2012/03/07/podcast-international-womens-day/

Fill in the blanks as you listen to the recording.

Sa
1. E
 very year on March 8, International Women’s Day preserve international peace. Since that time,
is celebrated by millions of women throughout women’s concerns have grown broader and
the world. This day provides the opportunity to more             . From the principal
remember the             of women demands for better working conditions and
throughout history as well as the achievements the right to vote, the focus has now turned to
they have made. Marches, demonstrations, issues such as equal pay for equal work, equal
concerts, films, and conferences take place to opportunities for education and training,
recognize the             women improved day care and health services,
have made in obtaining equality and also to             disarmament, and
assess the problems that many women around the elimination of poverty, discrimination,
the world still face today. and             against women.
m
2. International Women’s Day             4. In 1977, the United Nations General Assembly
at an international congress in 1910 in Copenhagen, passed a resolution inviting every country
Denmark. Women from 17 different countries to proclaim March 8 a United Nations Day
attended the congress. At that congress, a for Women’s Rights and International Peace.
woman from Germany named Clara Zetkin Since then, March 8 has grown to become a 
suggested setting aside a day each year that truly             celebration.
would be dedicated to fighting for equal
5. W
 hile International Women’s Day is now
rights for women all over the world. Zetkin
celebrated in nearly every country of the world,
proposed March 8 as this day because this was
the form and content of the celebration varies
pl
the             of the first protest
from country to country. In some countries, it is
march against the terrible working conditions
celebrated as an official national holiday and is
of textile and             workers
used to show             for the role
in New York City in 1857. At that time, many of
played by women in society as mothers, workers,
the garment workers lived in crowded tenement
and citizens. In some places, this day is observed
houses and worked in firetrap sweatshops for very
much like Mother’s Day, with women receiving
long hours and very low             .
gifts and flowers. As well as being a day to
These conditions pushed many women to begin
recognize the             women have
to fight for their political rights, the right to
made in their struggle for equal rights and world
vote, and improved working conditions. Their
e
peace, many people use this day as an opportunity
enthusiasm gave life to the entire movement for
to raise awareness and money for disadvantaged
women’s rights.
women around the world. While a great deal
3. W
 hen Clara Zetkin first suggested making an has already been             ,
International Women’s Day, there were already there is still much to do.
signs of the             of World War I.
For that reason, she called on women everywhere
to link their fight for equal rights with a fight to

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 International Women’s Day
Holidays & Events

Answer Key
LESSON DESCRIPTION: LEVEL: Int – High Int

International Women’s Day is celebrated by millions of people TIME: 1.5–2 hours

Sa
throughout the world on March 8. In this lesson, students learn
TAGS:  women’s day, international women’s day,
facts and figures about women’s roles and rights around the world.
gender, women, woman, idioms, voting, equality

Pre-Reading 5. Many of the garment workers lived in crowded tenement

houses and worked in firetrap sweatshops for very long

A. WARM-UP QUESTIONS hours and very low wages.

6. International Women’s Day was being established at the
1. International Women’s Day is on March 8. same time that the first World War was about to begin.
2. The main purpose of this day is to remember the 7. International Women’s Day now focuses on issues such as
struggles and achievements of women in history. equal pay for equal work, equal opportunities for education
m
3. Answers will vary. and training, improved day care and health services, global
4. Answers will vary. disarmament, and the elimination of poverty, discrimination,
and violence against women.
B. VOCABULARY PREVIEW 8. In 1977, the United Nations General Assembly passed a
resolution inviting every country to proclaim March 8 a United
1. e 4. j 7. i 10. d 13. o 16. f
Nations Day for Women’s Rights and International Peace.
2. h 5. n 8. b 11. c 14. g
9. It is similar to Mother’s Day in some countries
3. l 6. a 9. p 12. m 15. k
as some women are given flowers and gifts.
10. T hey are helped by those who use this day
Reading (and/or Listening)
as an opportunity to raise awareness and money
pl
for disadvantaged women around the world.
Read individually, in small groups, or as a class. You can also play
the listening as your students read along. A gap-fill version of the
reading is available on page 10. Help your students with vocabulary Vocabulary Practice
and expressions that they are unfamiliar with.
1. c 3. c 5. b 7. a 9. b

Comprehension 2. b 4. c 6. b 8. b 10. a

(continued on the next page...)

1. People remember the struggles and
achievements of women throughout history.
e
2. Events such as marches, demonstrations,
concerts, films, and conferences take place.
3. International Women’s Day originated at an international
congress in 1910 in Copenhagen, Denmark.
4. Zetkin chose March 8 as the date because it was the anniversary
of the first protest march against the terrible working conditions
of textile and garment workers in New York City in 1857.

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 International Women’s Day
Holidays & Events

Answer Key cont.

Pair Work SPELLING NOTE:

This lesson shows the American spelling of the word Practice.

Sa
A. SHARING INFORMATION Most other English-speaking countries spell it this way: Practise

The stats in this pair work activity are from 2006. As an extra (when used as a verb, Practice when used as a noun). Make it a

research activity, have students try to find stats for the current challenge for your students to find this word in the lesson and

year. Discuss whether or not things have improved for women. see if they know the alternate spelling.

B. QUESTIONS EDITOR’S NOTE:

1. New Zealand 7. 1971 This lesson uses the word Progress (noun) in the reading
2. 1893 8. 50.3% and vocabulary sections. You might want to point out to your
3. at the local level 9. 5 students that the stress for this word changes depending on
4. 16.1% 10. Sweden whether it is a noun or a verb. The stress is on the first syllable
5. the US 11. 16% for the noun and on the second syllable for the verb.
m
6. Chile, New Zealand, 12. chief executive officer
Mozambique, Finland, 13. 1.4%
Liberia, Ireland, Philippines, 14. 2005
Germany, South Korea, 15. 39
Jamaica, and Latvia

Vocabulary, Idioms & Expressions

B. PR ACTICE

Answers will vary.

pl
Listening

1. struggles, progress
2. originated, anniversary, garment, wages
3. outbreak, varied, global, violence
4. international
5. respect, progress, accomplished
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