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V. Read and translate the article.

The concrete ceiling. Why women are up against it.

Someone once observed that a glass ceiling blocks women's rise to the top. But it seems more like a concrete ceiling.

The following could be what's stopping us:

- Because boys are taken more seriously than girls at school.

- Because some female high achievers, such as Margaret Thatcher, often

don't promote other women.

- Because women have babies.

- Because men think women won't be as committed to their job once they have a child.

- Because «women get all moody and useless once a month».

- Because a woman is still judged on her looks.

- Because women think men won't love them any more if they're successful.

- Because women are busy doing housework when they could be training impressing the boss and networking.

- Because «women's brains are smaller».

- Because working mothers are made to feel guilty.

- Because women are told to start out as secretaries. And good secretaries rarely get promoted.

- Because not enough women have the courage or confidence to speak out about inequality.

- Because women say sorry, sorry, sorry all the time.

- Because women are either too tough or not tough enough.

- Because men fear and distrust powerful women.

- Because no one ever thinks of calling the father when a child is ill.

-Because a lot of men genuinely think of themselves as superior to women.

- Because some men just don't listen to what women are saying.

- Just because.

Notes:

to be up against it - to face problems

glass ceiling - an invisible barrier which stops you going up

committed - dedicated; hardworking

high achievers - very successful people

moody - changeable (happy, sad, calm, angry, etc.)

looks - appearance (e.g. pretty, ugly).

networking - meeting other people in your business, making

useful contacts

promoted - given a better /higher job in a company

tough - negative: aggressive; positive: strong.

Answer the questions.

1. Can you think of another title for the article without using the expressions «glass ceiling» or «concrete ceiling»?

2. Which are the most important points in the article? Choose the top three and explain them in your own words.

3. Think of two more sentences beginning «Because...» to add to the article. Explain your choice.

Sexual Harassment

on the Job as a fact of Ethical Challenge

Read and translate the text.

Sexual harassment is a fact of life in many workplaces.

To avoid sexual harassment managers must have some defini­tion of the term. Is it harassment if a supervisor demands that his secretary sleep with him to keep her job? Yes. Is it harassment if he flirts with her, or tells her an off-colour joke? Maybe. If he tells her she looks nice, is that harassment? Probably not, but not everyone agrees. Most workers recognize this "unwelcome". Others insist that an action must be repeated to be offensive.

In 1986, the U.S. Supreme Court upheld a ruling that stated that

requiring sexual contacts as a condition of employment or promotion

violates the Civil Rights Act of 1964. Requirement of sexual contacts or

unwelcome sexual advances and coercions (sexual harassments) are

crimes and are subject to punishment according to the laws of many

countries.