Thursday, February 7, 2013

SINGLE AND OVER 27: WHAT THE CHINESE GOVERNMENT CALLS 'LEFTOVER WOMEN'



By: Mary Kay Magistad
Published: The World; January 18, 2013;http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-21320560
Level of Difficulty: *
Note to the Student: It is suggested, though not compulsory, that this reading task be followed by War Against Girls, which is also in this file. The reason is that the themes overlap to some extent.
BEFORE YOU READ
·         Read the title of the text. Why do you think these women can’t get married?
·         What kind of women do you think are the ones who can’t get married in China?
·         Do you see the issue as a problem? If so what would the effects be?

NOW WATCH THE VIDEOS
·         Leftover women in China https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xwKR_rZz-8M
        BBC World News: China's "Leftover Women" with Leta Hong Fincher


QUESTIONS
1.       Why is Huang Yuanyuan so anxious about getting older?
2.       What does “It” refer to in the phrase “It is an odd label”?
3.       Why exactly is it an “odd label”
4.       What does “This kind of message” refer to?
5.       What is the real underlying reason for the government campaign against single women over the age of 27 or 30?
6.       Why does a surplus in men lead to some women being unmarried?
7.       In the current social climate in China, what are the chances of educated single women getting married? Why?
8.       What does “that” refer to in the phrase “that’s kind of offensive”?
9.       What is the underlying reason for “mixers” aside from just promoting marriage? To prevent ………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
10.   Why are women who have done graduate work compared to yellow pearls?
11.   Did the follow up study to the one published in Newsweek prove or disprove the first study?
12.   Read Elissa’s story to the end. How happy does she seem with her life?
WRITING TASK
Write an essay discussing the causes and effects of the problem of “Leftover Women”. Use the suggestions below and any notes you make on a related video.You will find an example of this writing task under "Sample Essays"
In you introduction, introduce the problem of “Leftover Women” and the paragraph with a thesis statement that states you are going to be discussing the causes and effects.
In the first paragraph of your development, discuss the causes: the gender imbalance and the male preference for younger less educated women
In the second paragraph of the development, discuss the effects: two groups of people who have little hope of marriage and the havoc that may be caused by an army of restless, single men
In your conclusion, suggest solutions: taking measures to correct the gender imbalance and raising the level of education nationwide
SINGLE AND OVER 27: WHAT THE CHINESE GOVERNMENT CALLS ‘LEFTOVER WOMEN’ KEY AND TEACHER’S NOTES
This simple little text focuses on an issue which is not only a problem in China but in a lot of other places as well including perhaps Turkey. In the latter country too children coming from working class or lower middle class backgrounds are moving into the middle class thanks to higher education, which creates a problem. Who do they marry? They may no longer be satisfied with partners their parents select for them. It might be interesting to discuss the issue. The text is followed by a very tidy plan for an essay which should follow the reading activity. All the points in the plan come out of the text and you will be discussing the issue as you red so it should be a doddle.
1.       Three reasons: because she is still single, she has no boyfriend and big pressure to get married.
2.       Sheng nu or leftover women
3.       Because there is a surplus of single young men
4.       To stop being so picky and just find a man
5.       A severe demographic crisis OR China’s gender imbalance
6.       Men want to marry down
7.       Very low because there are only D quality men left
8.       The word eugenics
9.       Social havoc (caused by an army of single men)
10.   Because as they age, they are worth less and less
11.   Disproves it
12.   She’s happy

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