26.

  1. The old stereotypes about men and women.
  2. The changing roles played by men and women.
  3. The division of labor between men and women.
  4. The widespread prejudice against women.

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27.

  1. Offer more creative and practical ideas than men.
  2. Ask questions that often lead to controversy.
  3. Speak loudly enough to attract attention.
  4. Raise issues on behalf of women.

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28.

  1. To prove that she could earn her living as a gardener.
  2. To show that women are more hardworking than men.
  3. To show that women are capable of doing what men do.
  4. To prove that she was really irritated with her husband.

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29.

  1. She took on a job that was traditionally men's job.
  2. She got married with a receptionist in a lawyer's office.
  3. She dislike the stereotyped roles of women.
  4. She began dating with a sociologist.

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30.

  1. A housewife.
  2. A receptionist in an attorney's office.
  3. A welder at a construction site.
  4. A teacher.

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Hi, everybody. Last session, we discussed the traditional roles of men and women, or rather, the gender stereotypes, in the last century in the United States. I've read the written assignment you submitted last Friday.

Today, we are going to talk about the changes in the gender stereotypes. Recent sociological research has shown that somehow the old male and female stereotypes no longer fit. Men and women in this country haven't been fulfilling then traditional roles for quite some time now. And there seem to be fewer and fewer differences between the sexes. For instance, even though more women than men are still homemakers without paying jobs, women have been taking over more responsibility in the business world, earning higher salaries than ever before and entering fields of work that used to be exclusively male areas. At office meetings and in group discussions, they might speak up more often, express strong opinions and come up with more creative and practical ideas than their male colleagues. Let me give you an example in my family. Several days ago, my 23-year-old daughter came to me with some important news. Not only had she found the highest paying job of her career, but she'd also accepted a date with the most charming men she'd ever met.

"Really?" I responded, "Tell me about them."

"A receptionist in an attorney's office and a welder at a construction site." she answered in a matter-of-fact way. The interesting thing is that my daughter's date is the receptionist and my daughter is the welder. The old stereotypes of men's and women's work have been changing more quickly than ever before, except perhaps in my own marriage.

"Who's going to mow the lawn?" I asked my husband this morning.

"Oh, I will," he answered politely. "That's men's work."

"What?" irritated, I raised my voice. "That's a ridiculous stereotype. I'll show you who can do the best job on the lawn."

The work took 3 hours and I did it all myself.