By: Mary Kay Magistad
Published: The World; January 18, 2013;http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-21320560
Level of Difficulty: *
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
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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