Writing Vocabulary: Gender Issues

Attaining gender equality (əˈteɪnɪŋ ˈdʒɛndər ɪˈkwɒlɪti): The process of achieving equal opportunities and rights for all genders, particularly in social, political, and economic aspects.

Sexual discrimination (ˈsɛksjʊəl ˌdɪskrɪˈmɪneɪʃən): Unfair treatment or prejudice based on an individual’s sex or gender.

A male-gender-biased society (ə meɪl-ˈdʒɛndər-ˈbaɪəst səˈsaɪəti): A society that favors men and is unfair to women or non-binary individuals in terms of rights, opportunities, and social roles.

Second-class citizens (ˈsɛkənd klɑːs ˈsɪtɪzən): Refers to individuals who are systematically discriminated against within a state or other political jurisdiction, despite their nominal status as citizens or legal residents.

Equal opportunities (ˈiːkwəl ˌɒpəˈtjuːnɪtiz): The policy of treating everyone the same, regardless of their gender, race, religion, age, sexual orientation, or physical ability.

Break through the glass ceiling (breɪk θruː ðə glɑːs ˈsiːlɪŋ): The act of overcoming the unseen, yet unbreachable barrier that keeps individuals from rising to the upper rungs of the corporate ladder, regardless of their qualifications or achievements.

Prejudiced against (ˈprɛdʒʊdɪst əˈɡeɪnst): Having an unreasonable dislike or distrust of a group, often based on their race, sex, religion, etc.

Doubt their ability (daʊt ðeər əˈbɪlɪti): Question or feel uncertain about someone’s capacity to perform or achieve something.

Pay gap (peɪ gæp): The disparity between what men and women earn for doing the same job.

Have not been taken seriously (hæv nɒt biːn ˈteɪkən ˈsɪərɪəsli): Refers to situations where an individual’s ideas or concerns are dismissed or not considered important.

Achieving gender parity (əˈtʃiːvɪŋ ˈdʒɛndər ˈpærɪti): The state or condition of being equal, especially about gender, particularly in positions of power, pay, or representation.

Informed decision-makers (ɪnˈfɔːrmd dɪˈsɪʒənˌmeɪkərz): Individuals who make choices or judgments based on relevant and accurate information.

Increasing sense of self-worth (ɪnˈkriːsɪŋ sɛns ɒv sɛlf-wɜːrθ): The process of enhancing one’s belief in their own value or worth as a person.

Socially constructed roles and responsibilities (ˈsoʊʃəli kənˈstrʌktɪd roʊlz ənd rɪˌspɒnsɪˈbɪlɪtiz): Roles and duties that society has created and deemed appropriate for individuals based on their gender, age, race, etc.

To reach the full potential (tuː riːtʃ ðə fʊl pəˈtɛnʃəl): The ability to become the best that one can be in a particular area or field.

Creating a ripple effect (kriːˈeɪtɪŋ ə ˈrɪpəl ɪˈfɛkt): A situation in which one event causes a series of other events to happen.

Income-generating activities (ˈɪnkʌm-ˈdʒɛnəˌreɪtɪŋ ækˈtɪvɪtiz): Tasks or actions that are done with the purpose of earning income.

Suffrage (ˈsʌfrɪdʒ): The right to vote in political elections.

Concrete ceiling (ˈkɒnkriːt ˈsiːlɪŋ): A barrier that prevents certain individuals or groups from advancing to higher positions, which is more severe and less penetrable than a glass ceiling.

Maternal health (məˈtɜːrnl hɛlθ): The health of women during pregnancy, childbirth, and the postpartum period.

Communal traits (kəˈmjuːnəl treɪts): Characteristics or behaviors that relate to or are shared by all members of a community, often referring to traits such as cooperation, empathy, and concern for others.

Agentic traits (əˈdʒɛntɪk treɪts): Characteristics or behaviors that are associated with individualistic and assertive actions, often linked to traits like dominance, ambition, and independence.

Suffragette (ˌsʌfrəˈdʒɛt): A woman seeking the right to vote through organized protest, particularly a member of early 20th-century women’s organizations in the UK and US.