gender discrimination essay ielts

Sample essay on gender equality

Sample gender equality question, ielts model essay on gender equality, ielts writing task 2 gender topic common questions.

Don't worry about accuracy with places and exact dates, the important thing is your ideas, and if you need to give examples, you can mention different countries. That will be fine. Essay writing on gender equality is not the same as submitting a research paper, you only need to set out your arguments, not reference everything.

Other possibilities include questions about women in developed countries and whether they have similar rights to men. If so, the vocabulary in the sample answer above will ensure that you are well-prepared to speak about equal opportunity!

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Gender Discrimination - band 7

It is true, that some professions favor men or women, because of their gender, and due to this, there are a lot of male or female-dominant workplaces. My personal believe is, that both women, and men, should be able to apply any job they want to, no matter what the job is.

Both males and females should be able to work in any profession, because we should not discriminate anyone by their gender. In addition, both men and women can educate themselves equally, so why should there be professions only for men or women. Furthermore, it is beneficial to the workplace to have both women and men working there, because it brings variety to the workplace. To give an example, I work in health care, that is known to have more female than male employees, and I feel that working atmosphere is better, when there are both genders in the workplace.

There are some professions that require certain kinds of qualities in a man or in a woman, for example physical or mental strength, intelligence, or patience to name a few. However, these qualities can be found both in males or females, or at least they can educate or train themselves to be better at those qualities. However, I think that job standards should be the same for everyone. For example, if a woman wants to be a policeman, the physical standards should be the same as for men, because she is applying for a job that is physically demanding. Also, if a man wants to work in children day care, he has to be caring and maternal so that he can take care of the children.

In conclusion, females and males should be entitled to apply any profession they want, but they also should have those qualities that are required to be working in those certain professions. Nowadays men and women are considered to be equal in so many different things, so it is a shame that they cannot apply to the same jobs.

(335 words)

Task Achievement

This is a good answer that makes the writer's position clear. A balanced argument with some supporting examples has been presented. (7)

Coherence & Cohesion

There is an overall progression and development and ideas are organised into paragraphs well. An ability to use a wide range of linkers effectively and appropriately has been demonstrated. (7)

Lexical Resource

A good range of vocabulary to talk about this topic has been used with an awareness of collocation. There are only one or two instances of imprecise word choices. (7)

Grammatical Range & Accuracy

A variety of structures has been used with some flexibility and accuracy. Errors are infrequent and there is good overall control. (7.5)

Overall Comment - how to improve

This is a good essay, especially in terms of lexis and grammar. More examples could be included to make the main points even stronger.

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IELTS Writing Task 2 Sample Answer Essay: Gender & Study (Real Past IELTS Exam/Test)

by Dave | Real Past Tests | 3 Comments

This is an IELTS writing task 2 sample answer essay on the topic of gender and study/education from the real IELTS exam.

It features two very common topics – education and gender.

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IELTS Writing Task 2 Sample Answer Essay: Gender & Study (Real Past IELTS Exam/Test)

In many schools and universities today, women have a tendency to study the humanities (such as the arts and languages) while men more often major in science related subjects. Some believe this tendency should be changed. To what extent do you agree or disagree? Real Past IELTS Test/Exam

Today more and more parents and policymakers are concerned with the disproportionate ratio of males studying science relative to females. In my opinion, though there are likely social factors at play here that need addressing, there is little value enforcing this change.

The main reason that many are striving to remedy this imbalance is because they feel it is societal, not natural. For centuries, women have subjugated their careers and education to male siblings and husbands. This has led to a history of mostly male role models in scientific pursuits, with women like Mary Shelly and Frida more likely to shine in the arts. Even today, there is a widespread bias that men are better at science that may discourage girls. There have been a number of famous studies cataloging the gender imbalance in science, with most researchers attributing this to social, rather than genetic, factors.

Nonetheless, heavy-handed efforts to force change are detrimental to both men and women. Women who are helped or strongly encouraged to pursue science rather than the arts will be less self-reliant and more likely to develop self-esteem problems. A corollary example would be the failure of affirmative action to promote racial equality. Individuals prosper when societal barriers to success are removed and they are given the opportunity to help themselves. If overly strong measures are taken, such as a quota of female majors in a given subject, that might place less qualified candidates above more deserving ones and then later manifest itself in reduced self-confidence from the unfairly elevated and resentment from those who were passed over.

In conclusion, though I am in favour of all reforms to provide for equal educational opportunity for the sexes, attempts to reform a tendency rather than allow for its change will bring about more harm than good. Rather, parents and educators should encourage students to pursue their passions.

1. Today more and more parents and policymakers are concerned with the disproportionate ratio of males studying science relative to females. 2. In my opinion, though there are likely social factors at play here that need addressing, there is little value enforcing this change.

• Paraphrase the overall topic.
• Clearly state your opinion.

1. The main reason that many are striving to remedy this imbalance is because they feel it is societal, not natural. 2. For centuries, women have subjugated their careers and education to male siblings and husbands. 3. This has led to a history of mostly male role models in scientific pursuits, with women like Mary Shelly and Frida more likely to shine in the arts. 4. Even today, there is a widespread bias that men are better at science that may discourage girls. 5. There have been a number of famous studies cataloging the gender imbalance in science, with most researchers attributing this to social, rather than genetic, factors.

• Write a topic sentence with a clear main idea at the end.
• Develop it – here I start with an historical arguments.
• Then I state the result of this history.
• Finally I connect it to the present day.
• And conclude with some research to back up my claim.

1. Nonetheless, heavy-handed efforts to force change are detrimental to both men and women. 2. Women who are helped or strongly encouraged to pursue science rather than the arts will be less self-reliant and more likely to develop self-esteem problems. 3. A corollary example would be the failure of affirmative action to promote racial equality. 4. Individuals prosper when societal barriers to success are removed and they are given the opportunity to help themselves. 5. If overly strong measures are taken, such as a quota of female majors in a given subject, that might place less qualified candidates above more deserving ones and then later manifest itself in reduced self-confidence from the unfairly elevated and resentment from those who were passed over.

• Write another topic sentence with your main idea at the end.
• Begin to support your opinion.
• Use an example – here I argue by analogy.
• Develop your example.
• Finish your development. Vary using long and short sentences.

1. In conclusion, though I am in favour of all reforms to provide for equal educational opportunity for the sexes, attempts to reform a tendency rather than allow for its change will bring about more harm than good. 2. Rather, parents and educators should encourage students to pursue their passions.

• Repeat your opinion.
• Add in a final detail/thought.

What do the words in bold below mean:

Today more and more parents and policymakers are concerned with the disproportionate ratio of males studying science relative to females. In my opinion, though there are likely social factors at play here that need addressing , there is little value enforcing this change .

The main reason that many are striving to remedy this imbalance is because they feel it is societal , not natural . For centuries , women have subjugated their careers and education to male siblings and husbands. This has led to a history of mostly male role models in scientific pursuits , with women like Mary Shelly and Frida more likely to shine in the arts. Even today, there is a widespread bias that men are better at science that may discourage girls. There have been a number of famous studies cataloging the gender imbalance in science, with most researchers attributing this to social, rather than genetic , factors.

Nonetheless, heavy-handed efforts to force change are detrimental to both men and women. Women who are helped or strongly encouraged to pursue science rather than the arts will be less self-reliant and more likely to develop self-esteem problems . A corollary example would be the failure of affirmative action to promote racial equality . Individuals prosper when societal barriers to success are removed and they are given the opportunity to help themselves. If overly strong measures are taken, such as a quota of female majors in a given subject , that might place less qualified candidates above more deserving ones and then later manifest itself in reduced self-confidence from the unfairly elevated and resentment from those who were passed over .

In conclusion, though I am in favour of all reforms to provide for equal educational opportunity for the sexes, attempts to reform a tendency rather than allow for its change will bring about more harm than good . Rather , parents and educators should encourage students to pursue their passions .

policymakers politicians

concerned worried about

disproportionate ratio too many of one group

relative to in comparison to

social factors at play how society influences

need addressing must be dealt with

little value enforcing this change not much to be gained from making this reform

striving trying to

imbalance not equal

societal related to society

natural related to genetic predisposition

centuries hundreds of years

subjugated made less/lower

siblings brothers and sisters

scientific pursuits working in science

Mary Shelly author of Frankenstein

Frida Mexican painter

shine stand out

widespread bias stereotypes

discourage not encourage, dissuade

cataloging keeping track of

gender imbalance unequal in terms of men/women

attributing this

genetic natural

heavy-handed efforts strong attempts

detrimental hurts

self-reliant responsible

self-esteem problems feeling bad about yourself

corollary example analogous instance

affirmative action giving more opportunity to a specific race

promote racial equality make the races more equal

prosper succeed

societal barriers institutional setbacks

removed taken away

overly strong measures too powerful actions

quota set number

in a given subject in a specific major

place less qualified candidates above promote people less deserving

deserving ones those who earned it

manifest become true

reduced self-confidence lower self-esteem

unfairly elevated unjustly promotoed

resentment dislike of

passed over skipped

in favour of preferring

reforms changes

equal educational opportunity same chance for all

attempts tries

reform changes

tendency inclination

bring about more harm than good hurt more than help

rather instead of

pursue their passions strive after their dreams

Pronunciation

Listen and repeat:

ˈpɒlɪsiˈmeɪkəz   kənˈsɜːnd   ˌdɪsprəˈpɔːʃnɪt ˈreɪʃɪəʊ   ˈrɛlətɪv tuː   ˈsəʊʃəl ˈfæktəz æt pleɪ   niːd əˈdrɛsɪŋ ˈlɪtl ˈvæljuː ɪnˈfɔːsɪŋ ðɪs ʧeɪnʤ ˈstraɪvɪŋ   ˈrɛmɪdi   ɪmˈbæləns   səˈsaɪətl ˈnæʧrəl ˈsɛnʧʊriz ˈsʌbʤʊgeɪtɪd   ˈsɪblɪŋz   ˌsaɪənˈtɪfɪk pəˈsjuːts ˈmeəri ˈʃɛli   friːdə ʃaɪn   ˈwaɪdsprɛd ˈbaɪəs   dɪsˈkʌrɪʤ   ˈkætəlɒgɪŋ   ˈʤɛndər ɪmˈbæləns   əˈtrɪbjuːtɪŋ ðɪs   ʤɪˈnɛtɪk ˈhɛvɪˈhændɪd ˈɛfəts   ˌdɛtrɪˈmɛntl   sɛlf-rɪˈlaɪənt   sɛlf-ɪsˈtiːm ˈprɒbləmz kəˈrɒləri ɪgˈzɑːmpl   əˈfɜːmətɪv ˈækʃ(ə)n   prəˈməʊt ˈreɪʃəl i(ː)ˈkwɒlɪti ˈprɒspə   səˈsaɪətl ˈbærɪəz rɪˈmuːvd   ˈəʊvəli strɒŋ ˈmɛʒəz   ˈkwəʊtə   ɪn ə ˈgɪvn ˈsʌbʤɪkt pleɪs lɛs ˈkwɒlɪfaɪd ˈkændɪdɪts əˈbʌv   dɪˈzɜːvɪŋ wʌnz   ˈmænɪfɛst   rɪˈdjuːst sɛlf-ˈkɒnfɪdəns   ʌnˈfeəli ˈɛlɪveɪtɪd   rɪˈzɛntmənt   pɑːst ˈəʊvə ɪn ˈfeɪvər ɒv   ˌriːˈfɔːmz   ˈiːkwəl ˌɛdju(ː)ˈkeɪʃənl ˌɒpəˈtjuːnɪti   əˈtɛmpts   ˌriːˈfɔːm   ˈtɛndənsi   brɪŋ əˈbaʊt mɔː hɑːm ðæn gʊd ˈrɑːðə pəˈsjuː ðeə ˈpæʃənz

Vocabulary Practice

What do the words in bold below mean?

The main reason that many are striving to remedy this imbalance is because they feel it is societal , not natural . For centuries , women have subjugated their careers and education to male sibligings and husbands. This has led to a history of mostly male role models in scientific pursuits , with women like Mary Shelly and Frida more likely to shine in the arts. Even today, there is a widespread bias that men are better at science that may discourage girls. There have been a number of famous studies cataloging the gender imbalance in science, with most researchers attributing this to social, rather than genetic , factors.

Listen and check:

Listening Practice

Learn more about gender equality here:

Reading Practice

And read more about this topic from The Atlantic:

https://www.theatlantic.com/science/archive/2018/02/the-more-gender-equality-the-fewer-women-in-stem/553592/

Speaking Practice

Answer the related questions about science below from the real speaking exam :

• Were you good at science when you were in school?
• What was your favorite scientific subject?
• How do you use science in your life now?
• Are science majors common in your country?

Writing Practice

Write about the related topic below then check with my sample answer:

Throughout history, male leaders have led us into violence and conflict. If a society is governed by female leaders it will be more peaceful. To what extent do you agree or disagree with this opinion? Real Past IELTS Exam

IELTS Writing Task 2 Sample Answer Essay: Female Leaders (Real Past IELTS Exam/Test)

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It is highly believed that certain subjects in educational institutions belong to specific gender types: humanity studies for women, while scientific courses for men. I completely agree that, in any level of education, this tendency ought to be changed to promote gender equality and diminish the stereotype of gender-related subjects. Each field of study should be equal to all learners regardless of their sex types. Studying a subject in a formal education is related to students’ passion and goal which are not highly related to types of gender. For instance, Marrie Currie, a female scientist who had a great knowledge and skills in chemistry, a science related subject. Another good example, C. S Lewis, who was a well-renowned author in science-fiction and Christian literatures. Those evidences exemplify that not all women and men have the same tendency as the notion states, but everyone has their own potential and interest in different courses. Thus, each course should have balance proportion between female and male students. Moreover, both school and university should eradicate gender tendency stereotype. This view can hinder future students to apply in courses that are suitable to their skills. For example, males are not likely to study nursing since many people believe that it belongs to females. As a result, although men have wide knowledge and skills in caring patients, they prefer to hide their ability to avoid bad perspective from family and friends. Consequently, education might not improve significantly because of the subject stereotype that only prefer for related gender. In conclusion, I believe that, in all educational institutions, the gender tendency towards different subjects should be altered to establish equality and erase any gender stereotype.

Good Carry!

Some mistakes: we don’t say ‘it is highly believed,’ which do not correlate strongly with…. Christian literature, balanced proportion of, gender stereotypes, from applying for, stereotype that currently pervades society, stereotypes.

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IELTS Gender Differences Essay

Do men and women have different strengths and weaknesses?

Women and men are commonly seen as having different strengths and weaknesses. Is it right to exclude males or females from certain professions because of their gender? The idea that males and females are born with distinct characteristics from each other has been a unanimous consensus for as long as human beings first came into existence. However, in my view, these differences should hold little to no significance when it comes to selecting specific careers for both genders. To start, the exclusion of a gender from particular professions can have a detrimental effect on many groups in society. Clearly, qualifying an applicant based on their gender instead of their abilities will prevent individuals from developing to their full potential. Furthermore, this mode of thinking directly contributes to sexism by reinforcing harmful stereotypes and setting negative examples for younger generations. For example, a young, impressionable girl who witnessed a woman being denied a job simply for being a woman will form biases about which occupation a certain gender can and cannot enter, and will inevitably constrain herself and her potentials inside that false mindset. Advocators of this exclusion present a counter-argument, stating that the unique attributes of males (better physical strength, authoritativeness) and females (sentiment, gentleness) might hinder them from efficiently completing certain tasks at work, but this view is fundamentally flawed. Firstly, these traits are not exclusive to a certain gender. Secondly, individual who receives enough training or possesses adequate qualifications will prove themselves suitable for a job, regardless of their sex. Finally, supposing that this exclusion was implemented, the workplace and job culture would experience a severe lack in diversity, which has been proven to reduce employees’ productivity and negatively impact their attitudes towards work. From the basis of the points mentioned above, it is conclusive to state that leaving out a certain gender from a profession is never a good idea. Companies and employers should always strive for gender equality and offer equivalent work opportunities to all sexes to eliminate harmful, sexist stereotypes and create a welcoming, inclusive work environment for all.

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Some People Think that it is Better to Educate Girls and Boys in Separate Schools- IELTS Writing Task 2

Updated On Jan 30, 2024

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Some people think that it is better to educate girls and boys in separate schools. Others, however, believe that boys and girls benefit more from attending mixed schools. Discuss both these views and give your own opinion.

Discussion type

Introduction

Sentences 1&2 – The question of boys and girls being taught in same or disparate institutions has been a contentious issue, sparking numerous conversations. Some opine that boys and girls should be taught in different schools, while others think they benefit more from attending co-educational institutions.

Sentence 3 – I agree with the latter and in this essay, I will delve into both sides of the issue.

Body Paragraphs

Paragraph 1 – Co-educational schools promote gender equality, reduce gender stereotypes, develop healthy competition, and encourage socialisation and mutual respect among boys and girls. It also encourages girls to seek equal career opportunities in the future which contributes to the economic growth of the country in the long-term.

Paragraph 2 – Advocates of single-sex schools suggest that it reduces distraction, bullying and gender discrimination, and teaching can be adapted to the different learning styles of boys and girls.

In conclusion, it can be said that while separate schools can have its benefits, co-educational institutions are more advantageous for the purpose of educating boys and girls.

Sample Essay

The question of boys and girls being taught in the same or disparate institutions is rather contentious, sparking numerous conversations. Some opine that boys and girls should be taught in different schools, while others think they benefit more from attending co-educational institutions. I agree with the latter and in this essay, I will delve into both sides of the issue.

Firstly, activists campaigning for gender equality opine that instructing boys and girls in the same environment creates an atmosphere of reciprocal understanding and promotes equality between them. It also reduces gender stereotypes as boys and girls get to interact with each other. Co-educational institutions also make room for mutual respect and socialisation, along with providing opportunities for synergetic effort from both boys and girls. Furthermore, it offers every child a sense of healthy competition, allowing boys and girls to compete with and learn from each other, which builds their confidence. Lastly, it teaches girls that they too can work and contribute equally like their male classmates, which later on encourages them to pursue and seek career opportunities. This has a positive impact on the growth of any nation by having both men and women contribute equally to the economy and bolster it.

Contrastingly, advocates for education to be segregated state that boys and girls studying together may prove to be distracting. Some even suggest that boys and girls learn in different ways and teaching in separate schools can be adapted to accommodate such differences. Moreover, others suggest that separate educational institutions ensure there is diminished bullying and gender discrimination faced by girls.

In conclusion, it can be said that while separate schools can have their benefits, co-educational institutions are more advantageous for the purpose of educating boys and girls.

Meaning – Mutual or corresponding Example – The treaty served to consolidate the promise of reciprocal assistance made by both countries.

• Contentious

Meaning – Debatable or controversial Example – The topic of immigration has become an increasingly contentious issue in recent years.

Meaning – A generalised idea formed on the basis of limited or untrue information Example – She did not really conform to the stereotype of a studious person.

Meaning – Decrease or dwindle Example – The supply of onions was considerably diminished this year.

Meaning – Collaborative or concerted Example – They followed a synergetic approach to accomplish the group project.

Meaning – Strengthen Example – The president’s impassioned speech bolstered the courage of the soldiers.

Meaning – To dig or scour Example – She delved into the archives of the newspaper to find relevant articles.

• Discrimination

Meaning – Prejudice or intolerance Example – Violence due to discrimination has adversely affected the lives of many people throughout history.

• Accommodate

Meaning – Adjust or adapt Example – I will alter the recipe to accommodate my dietary restrictions.

• Advantageous

Meaning – Beneficial Example – The trade agreements will prove to be advantageous for all the countries involved.

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IELTS Writing Task2 Essays

Gender Issues

Advance your IELTS Writing skills on Gender Issues with IELTS24's practice questions, expert feedback, and benchmark model essays.

IELTS24 invites you to delve into the critical discourse of Gender Issues in our IELTS Writing Task 2 section. Explore a wide array of essay prompts examining gender equality, representation, and societal roles. Our model essays provide exemplary responses to these prompts, aiding your understanding and preparation. Utilize our real-time writing practice and expert feedback to hone your essay skills for a superior IELTS performance.

Task 2 Essay: Gender Equality at Work

Question: Nowadays, some workplaces tend to employ equal numbers of men and women workers. Do you think it is a positive or negative development?

Band 8+ Sample Answer:

(Intro) In the 21st century, the roles of women are becoming increasingly crucial with a growing number of females hired by some enterprises. Personally, I feel that this trend is not only beneficial to women and their families, but it also helps lessen the burden on society to support them and narrows the gender gap as well.

(Body 1) Individually, women may have opportunities to excel themselves and improve their living conditions. First, if the domination of men in the workplace is eradicated it may enable females to make use of their talents and pursue their desired occupations. In fact, in some fields like art and design, women are superior to men concerning their attention to detail, while men tend to be more suitable for jobs related to engineering or construction. In addition, a wider selection of careers can better families’ economic conditions, indicating that women can earn a living on their own and become as much the breadwinners as their husbands. Hence, couples can have better living standards and conditions to raise their children.

(Body 2) Socially, the merits of more equal employment are fewer responsibilities for the government and a demonstration of human rights progress. Primarily, more working women means that governments no longer need to provide grants or subsidies to households on low incomes. On the contrary, society could benefit from taxes paid by these female employees to invest in vital infrastructure and essential services As for gender equality, reserving positions for women would definitely be a positive step for the recognition of women’s rights. On a practical level, many females are taking important positions globally and contributing tremendously to the organiSations they commit to. Susan Wojcicki, the CEO of YouTube can exemplify this.

(Conclusion) In conclusion, eliminating discrimination against women at work would bring clear social and economic advantages to both society and individuals. Governments and enterprises need to come to an agreement to remove the fixed quota of the number of women working in organiSations for greater benefits in the future. (330 words)

Words: Student essay, corrected & upgraded by Nick Kemp, former IELTS examiner.

Image: Portraitor / Pixabay.

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IELTS and Gender – What You Need to Know

Posted by David S. Wills | May 28, 2020 | IELTS Tips | 0

If you have ever sat the IELTS exam before, there is a good chance that you have had to use the word “gender” or talk about issues relating to men and women. This may come up in the reading or listening test, but it’s more likely that it will occur in speaking or writing.

In this article, I’m going to tell you all about IELTS and gender so that you can be totally prepared for any questions that come your way during the test. Some of the things that I will cover in this lesson are:

• What to expect from the test
• Vocabulary about gender
• Some examples of gender questions
• Some sample answers to questions

Alright, then. Let’s begin!

What does gender mean?

This is actually an increasingly complicated and controversial topic, but I will keep it simple and basic for now.

The dictionary says that gender means:

either of the two sexes (male and female), especially when considered with reference to social and cultural differences rather than biological ones. The term is also used more broadly to denote a range of identities that do not correspond to established ideas of male and female.

Basically, it is the issue of men and women (or boys and girls ). As you can see, it is a topic that is truly worldwide and so it is something that anyone can talk about. Therefore, it could (and does) appear in the IELTS test regularly.

(Note: Gender studies is an area of academia that people think about more and more. There are lots of complex issues relating to biology, society, etc., but for IELTS you are not expected to know all of this. You just need to be aware of some basic things that I will explain to you.)

How would gender appear in IELTS?

As it is a common life issue that every human knows about, the topic of gender may appear in IELTS. It is a little abstract and requires some thought, so you would not often find it in easy parts of the test. It is more likely to occur in:

• Speaking part 3
• Writing task 1
• Writing task 2

It may appear in the reading or listening tests, but it’s such a big and complicated topic that I don’t think you would be expected to know that much. Therefore, in this article I will focus on the speaking and writing test.

IELTS speaking test and the topic of gender

In the IELTS speaking test, there are three parts. The first is a short, easy interview sections with basic and often quite personal questions. The second is when you must talk for two minutes about a subject, and the third part is for more abstract, difficult questions.

To be honest, it is unlikely that you will be asked questions about gender for part one or two. If you did encounter a question about gender for part one, it would probably say something like:

Are there more male or female teachers in your country? Why?

This would be part of a series of questions about teachers (or education) and gender would just be one aspect. You might answer it like this:

Oh, there are definitely more female teachers nowadays. I think that fifty or a hundred years ago, there were more men, but now women have come to dominate the profession.

You see, there really isn’t that much to be said here. Even if you wanted to, you don’t need to go on at length. That is something you can save until part three.

IELTS speaking part 3 – questions about gender/sex

It is much more common that you would encounter these questions in part 3 of the test because these are abstract questions about issues such as:

• Changes over time
• The best way to do something
• Environment
• Complex issues

In IELTS, questions are often picked from a set of topics. Common IELTS speaking topics include:

• Computers/technology
• Food/cooking
• and many more

Let’s say we picked one of those topics: education. Then there may be questions that twist the topic of education according to some abstract ideas: education and gender, education and age, education and environment, education and society, etc.

Example questions

Here are a few sample IELTS speaking part 3 questions about gender:

Q: Do you think that women should be able to do the same sorts of jobs that men do?

A: I think that people should have equal opportunities regardless of gender. There are some things that maybe men are better at or women are better at, but ultimately everyone should be given the chance to prove whether or not they can do something, and this should not be limited by gender, race, religion, or any other such factor.

Q: Should more women be encouraged to work in male-dominated fields such as science and technology?

A: Yes, I think it’s important to let young girls know that they can pursue their interests and goals , then make sure that these pathways are open to them. I am against any sort of mandatory quotas for hiring people , but companies should be blind to gender when choosing employees because it is not a good way to predict whether or not someone will be competent or not.

Final note on gender and IELTS speaking

Remember that gender could actually be incorporated into the answer for almost any question. You could be asked about hobbies and then end up talking about gender roles and preferences. This is fine, as long as you are actually answering the question and not going off topic.

Gender in the IELTS writing test

For the writing test, the issue is largely the same. You will be asked a question that relates to an IELTS writing topic and then you will need to write an essay that answers it.

For this, you should be able to use some basic language relating to gender. You do not have to be an expert, but you should be able to master everyday language about men and women. You can find that in the next section (at the bottom of the page).

Here, however, I am going to show you three sample band 9 answers from task 2 of the IELTS writing test. I hope that you can read these in order to figure out some useful ideas and language. I wrote these essays for the students on my writing correction programme . Check it out if you are in need of assistance.

Sample Answer #1

Some people think that men and women have different qualities. Therefore, some certain jobs are suitable for men and some jobs are suitable for women.

To what extent do you agree or disagree?

The subject of gender difference is highly controversial nowadays, particularly in regards abilities that would make a person suitable for different kinds of jobs. However, it seems clear that there are quite notable differences and that people may be more inclined to take different jobs due to their gender. This essay will argue that although equality is important, some people will naturally be more suitable for certain jobs.

Firstly, it is important to establish that men and women should be treated equally in terms of opportunities. Traditionally male jobs, such as fire fighter and doctor, should be open to qualified women, while traditionally female jobs, such as teacher and nurse, should be open to qualified men. It is undeniable that in almost any profession the most talented people can belong to either gender.

However, while a particularly strong woman could make an excellent fire fighter or a particularly sensitive man could be a wonderful kindergarten teacher, in general innate gender differences do mean that there will be more male fire fighters and more female kindergarten teachers. There are some qualities that are far more common in men and some that are far more common in women. These account for the reasons why certain genders prefer certain jobs or are better suited to them.

In conclusion, it is important that all jobs are open to both genders, but it seems hard to deny that there are certain jobs that are better suited to men or to women. It is important that equal opportunities are provided, but an imbalance will continue because of innate gender differences.

Sample Answer #2

Nowadays, as women and men have to work full time, household duties should be equally divided.

Do you agree or disagree?

In the modern era, men and women have similar responsibilities and so it is only reasonable that household chores should also be divided equitably. This essay will argue in favour of equal responsibilities in the home.

In the past, gender roles were very different due to the innate abilities possessed by men and women. Men, who were stronger and faster gender, went out to hunt and work while the women typically stayed at home. After countless technological innovations, humans have developed to the point where strength, speed, and dexterity are no longer pre-requisites for entering the workforce; hence, women can do the same jobs that men can do. With this development, it is only reasonable that men take on some of the work that was previously assigned only to women.

It would be unfair if men were not made to make this change because the equitable division of labour is important. If a man and woman both work for ten hours, then it would be totally unreasonable to expect only one of them to come home and do several more hours of work in the house, so couples should find a way to ensure that they split their chores. If one person works more than the other, then they should agree to compensate for this at home. It is a basic sense of fairness and decency that makes such an arrangement the only logical way to cope with the situation.

In conclusion, men and women should share housework duties so that both people in a relationship are doing an approximately equal amount of work overall.

Sample Answer #3

Universities should accept equal numbers of male and female students in every subject.

These days, the issue of gender equality attracts a lot of attention and people argue over how to deal with perceived inequalities in employment and education. Some think that universities should be required to accept equal numbers of male and female students in each subject, but this is a profoundly ignorant stance.

To begin with, for equality to flourish, people should always be chosen based upon their abilities rather than their identity. In education, as in sports or business, people with talent should be given opportunities. It is extremely unfair that someone is chosen because of their race or gender, despite having lower abilities than someone else. If universities were required to split their classes according to gender, there would almost certainly be a few talented people who were not able to attend because some less talented person of the opposite gender was picked instead. This is unfair for the students and detrimental for society.

The fact is that the two genders do have somewhat different preferences and abilities in terms of academic subjects, and while equality of opportunity should exist, it cannot be forced upon people or else it will come at the expense of some others. In teaching, for example, university classes are usually about eighty percent female. If a university was forced to have fifty percent from each gender, there would be a large number of eager young women who could not attend their desired course. This is true in the STEM courses, too, but the opposite way around. If you forced a university to accept more women, then talented men would be declined.

In conclusion, the idea of forcing educational institutions to accept equal numbers of students from either gender is patently absurd. It may sound fair, but it is actually very unfair on the students, and would have negative ramifications for society as a whole.

Other language practice

I said earlier that it is less likely that gender will be an issue in the listening or reading tests. Well, it still might arise, so you should be prepared. You should also make time to study these issues so that you have the right language to use in speaking and writing.

Here is an interesting TED talk about gender.

Here is an excerpt from 04:50:

Now there’s something else that we’ve discovered about social media that’s actually quite surprising. It turns out that women are really driving the social media revolution. If you look at the statistics — these are worldwide statistics — in every single age category, women actually outnumber men in their use of social networking technologies. And then if you look at the amount of time that they spend on these sites, they truly dominate the social media space, which is a space that’s having a huge impact on old media. The question is: what sort of impact is this going to have on our culture, and what’s it going to mean for women? If the case is that social media is dominating old media and women are dominating social media, then does that mean that women are going to take over global media? Are we suddenly going to see a lot more female characters in cartoons and in games and on TV shows? Will the next big-budget blockbuster movies actually be chick flicks? Could this be possible, that suddenly our media landscape will become a feminist landscape?

She raises some interesting ideas and questions, and you should listen to her talk in order to pick up some of the language that she uses, which may be helpful in your IELTS preparation.

Gender/Sex Vocabulary for IELTS

Finally, let’s look at some language. In that passage above, you can see references to “women” and “female,” which are terms you absolutely must know. However, we are going to go a little further than that here.

Let’s look into some gender-related words and phrases that might help you prepare for IELTS:

Don’t forget, also, that in English we have some words that change according to gender, like these ones:

If you are talking about people in general, try to use the neutral term, like “sportsperson,” “firefighter,” and so on. There are many instances where language is gendered for animals (think “bull” vs “cow”; “rooster” vs “chicken” etc) but this is not at all important for IELTS.

Finally, the difference between “gender” and “sex.” These words are often used interchangeably, but they do have a subtle difference that some people like to talk about a lot, but which is probably not important for the majority of people.

The word “sex” can also refer to sexual intercourse, but contextually you can tell the difference. Also, in IELTS they would never ask you about sex in that sense. They are culturally sensitive in that respect.

Sex and English Grammar

Gender refers to whether someone is a man or a woman, but it relates more to the social/cultural constructs than actual biology. On the other hand, sex means whether someone is biologically man or woman. A doctor might ask a pregnant mother, “Do you want to know the sex of the baby?” but they cannot ask “Do you want to know the gender of the baby?”

You may have noticed one thing there. I said “doctor” and then “they.”

Is this right or wrong?

It’s right ! We can use “they” for the third-person singular form when we do not know or do not want to say whether someone is male or female. For example, in that sentence, I said “a doctor” but I did not tell you whether this doctor was male or female. It is sexist to assume that they are one or the other. Therefore, I said “they” as a replacement for he/she.

This is becoming more common in English and some people dislike it, but it’s been around for a long time. If you want to speak correct, modern English, then you should pay attention to this sort of change.

About The Author

David S. Wills

David S. Wills is the author of Scientologist! William S. Burroughs and the 'Weird Cult' and the founder/editor of Beatdom literary journal. He lives and works in rural Cambodia and loves to travel. He has worked as an IELTS tutor since 2010, has completed both TEFL and CELTA courses, and has a certificate from Cambridge for Teaching Writing. David has worked in many different countries, and for several years designed a writing course for the University of Worcester. In 2018, he wrote the popular IELTS handbook, Grammar for IELTS Writing and he has since written two other books about IELTS. His other IELTS website is called IELTS Teaching.

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Ielts essay 1135 - men and women can be equally suited to do any type of work, ielts writing task 2/ ielts essay:, some people think men and women have different natural abilities that make them suitable for different types of work. others, however, believe that both men and women can be equally suited to do any type of work..

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IELTS Writing Task 2 Topic Examples

Discrimination, men do most of the high-level jobs. should the government encourage a certain percentage of these jobs to be reserved for women what is your opinion on that.

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IELTS TASK 2: gender discrimination in education

IELTS essay Gender discrimination has been completely eliminated in this modern world.

• Structure your answers in logical paragraphs
• ? One main idea per paragraph
• Include an introduction and conclusion
• Support main points with an explanation and then an example
• Use cohesive linking words accurately and appropriately
• Vary your linking phrases using synonyms
• Try to vary your vocabulary using accurate synonyms
• Use less common question specific words that accurately convey meaning
• Check your work for spelling and word formation mistakes
• Use a variety of complex and simple sentences
• Check your writing for errors
• Answer all parts of the question
• ? Present relevant ideas
• Fully explain these ideas
• Support ideas with relevant, specific examples
• ? Currently is not available
• Meet the criteria
• Doesn't meet the criteria
• 6 band Some people believe that studying at university is the key to a successful life, while others think that nothing practical is gained by doing this. In today’s society, the decision as to enter universities or not is usually a topic of debate for any high school graduate. Many think that pursuing tertiary education is the most vital factor in achieving prominence in life, while others believe that it is a waste of time to spend years on getting ...
• 6 band In future, nobody will buy printed newspaper or books they will be able to read everything they want online without paying with statement? In this technological world, internet has been changing many industries nowadays and it will have been happening in our future which can be seen by books and newspaper are changing into PDF files and doc files and so on. In past generation, people had been reading the daily newspapers for know the ...
• Language is not a genetic gift, it is a social gift. Learning a new language is becoming a member of the club – the community of speakers of that language. Frank Smith
• 5.5 band Some think we should take more measures to deal with criminals. However, others think that there is not much we can do to curb law breaking. Discuss both views and give opinion Crime is a serious and growing problem in most societies. Although many people believe that the best way to tackle this is to take more measures to deal with criminals, others are of the opinion that This is not very effective. On the one hand, we can enact and improve many new measures to cope wit ...
• 6.5 band Many people prefer to watch foreign films rather than locally produced films. Why could this be? Should governments give more financial support to local film industries? It is true that Foreign films are more popular in some countries than in local movies. From my perspective, There are several reasons for this propensity, and firstly, the government which especially can make quality teams have financial support for employees in the field of film. There are various ...
• To have another language is to possess a second soul. Charlemagne
• 6.5 band In the world, the pollution level in large cities is being worse. What are the causes and solutions? In these days and age, the contamination degree in major urban places is becoming serious. Some understandable causes related to this phenomenon and several effective solutions could be taken to address this problem. On the one hand, two primary reasons could explain why this could be the case. Fir ...
• 6 band Should news editors give more importance to good news? Editors play a decisive role in determining what news should be broadcast on television and printed in newspapers. These decisions are affected by a variety of factors like market economics, political affiliations and profitability. Most of our news channels and newspapers are owned by private orga ...

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task2 the gender discrimination

Post by qowlaks » Mon Oct 26, 2015 3:26 pm

Re: task2 the gender discrimination

Post by Flick » Mon Nov 02, 2015 8:17 pm

qowlaks wrote: task2.png In the current era, a large number of people are suffering from sex discrimination. I think the reason for this is stereotype s . I will discuss this problem. To begin with, when we were in elementary school, we learned about the difference s between women and men. Therefore, we think normally w omen are diligen t, g entle and vulnerable, whereas men are aggressiv e, a uthoritativ e, competitive and strong. I think that is why we stereotype. In my opinion, if we want to reduce gender discrimination, we have to change the system of education which encourages us to regard women and men as having different strengths and weaknesses. If we lived in an environment in which people think women and men can have the same strengths and weaknesses, we might not care what gender you are and what your job is. Actually, when employers hire new employees, they have a tendency to check their gender. As mentioned before, if we are living in an environment that doesn't discriminate, t hey might not do that and would not exclude males or females from specific jobs just because of their sex. However, a lot of women still think they are vulnerable, so a duty which is quite dangerous has to be dealt with by men, while men still consider that it is better that women get jobs which require delicacy. (<--Can you give examples of dangerous jobs and delicate jobs?) In conclusion, the way to break and change the stereotype is to make a new educational system to change the way we think about the sexes . And then I believe gender discrimination will reduce naturally.

Post by David.IELTS.Examiner » Wed Nov 04, 2015 5:19 am

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Transgender Rights Advocates’ Last Best Hope Is Neil Gorsuch and John Roberts

The Supreme Court announced on Monday that it will decide whether states have the constitutional authority to prohibit gender-affirming care for minors. Its decision, expected next term, will determine the fate of laws in more than two dozen states that severely restrict or even criminalize transgender minors’ access to health care. More broadly, the ruling will establish whether laws targeting the rights of transgender children and adults are constitutionally suspect.

There is, as always, a chance that the Supreme Court could issue a surprise decision that mandates equality for trans Americans and their families. But it appears more likely that the court will greenlight bans on gender-affirming care for minors. In the process, the conservative justices could devastate rights for all transgender people in the process, stripping away constitutional protections throughout the country. It is fitting that the court took up this case on the second anniversary of Dobbs . The next civil rights showdown, with existential stakes for equal citizenship regardless of sex or gender identity, has begun.

U.S. v. Skrmetti , the case that SCOTUS granted on Monday, is a challenge to a Tennessee law that bars health care professionals from providing certain kinds of medicines to minors. The statute forbids puberty-suppressing drugs known as “puberty blockers” as well as cross-sex hormone therapy, explicitly on the basis of sex. These treatments are the standard of care for children experiencing gender dysphoria endorsed by leading medical associations . Tennessee’s ban was part of a spate of legislation promoted by Republicans to mandate its narrow definition of gender by, in part, erasing transgender people’s existence. It was accompanied by legislation banning many drag performances, which were deemed to be “child abuse” by the bill’s sponsor; and it was followed up by a novel measure penalizing adults who assist or “recruit” Tennessee minors who travel out of state for gender-affirming care. Red states around the country are racing to enact similarly draconian laws.

Last year, a group of transgender minors and their parents sued to block Tennessee’s health care ban, arguing that it violates their rights under the 14 th Amendment. The plaintiffs raised two theories: First, the parents argued that the state ban infringed on their right, secured under the due process clause, to make medical decisions for their children; and second, the minors argued that the ban discriminated against them on the basis of sex in violation of the equal protection clause. A three-judge panel on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 6 th Circuit shot down their claims by a 2–1 vote, finding no violation of the 14 th Amendment. The 6 th Circuit held that the due process clause does not protect the parents because there is no “deeply rooted” right to secure gender-affirming care for one’s offspring, and that the equal protection clause is not offended because the law at issue does not actually constitute sex discrimination.

Both the U.S. Department of Justice and the ACLU litigated this case in the 6 th Circuit, and both asked SCOTUS to review the lower court’s decision. Yet, oddly, the Supreme Court granted only the Department of Justice’s petition on Monday. That choice is important, because the DOJ made only one of the plaintiffs’ two arguments: the equal protection claim that Tennessee’s ban discriminates on the basis of sex. That course of action seems to have flowed from a quirk in the statute that permits the Justice Department’s intervention exclusively with regard to equal protection, not due process.

The Supreme Court, though, may well have wanted to tee up Skrmetti as an equal protection case, excising the question about parents’ liberty interests under the due process clause. That’s because the big question that has divided the lower courts is whether anti-trans discrimination constitutes a form of sex discrimination. The Supreme Court has long held that, under the 14 th Amendment, laws that discriminate on the basis of sex receive heightened scrutiny and must be supported by an “exceedingly persuasive justification.” So Skrmetti asks: When states target trans people for disfavored treatment, do they engage in sex-based discrimination? If the answer is yes—as the 4 th , 7 th , and 9 th U.S. Circuit Courts of Appeals have found—then courts must stringently assess anti-trans legislation for an “exceedingly persuasive justification.” If the answer is no—as the 6 th and 11 th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals have found—then courts can pretty much rubber-stamp overt discrimination against transgender people. (Some liberal courts have also held that transgender people constitute their own “suspect class” that triggers heightened scrutiny, though the odds of SCOTUS embracing this position are vanishingly small.)

In other words, there’s even more at stake in Skrmetti than the future of bans on gender-affirming care for minors (and adults, who now face similar restrictions in many jurisdictions). Every day, red states innovate new ways to trammel the liberties of transgender adults and children, passing laws or filing lawsuits that limit their ability to play sports , use public bathrooms , live in safe homes , avoid discrimination in school and the workplace , perform onstage , hold public office , and even vote . The list goes on and on . If there is a broad decision from the Supreme Court in Skrmetti holding that anti-trans laws trigger heightened scrutiny under the equal protection clause, then all these measures are constitutionally suspect. A broad decision the other way will require lower courts to uphold most if not all of these laws, effectively abolishing most constitutional protections for transgender people.

There is cause for some very cautious optimism. In 2020’s Bostock v. Clayton County , the Supreme Court ruled that “it is impossible to discriminate against a person” for being transgender “without discriminating against that individual based on sex.” Notably, though, the court was interpreting a statute, Title VII of the Civil Rights Act, rather than a constitutional provision. Justice Neil Gorsuch authored Bostock , and Chief Justice John Roberts joined him along with the court’s liberals. Roberts and Gorsuch, of course, remain on the court, and there are still three liberal justices. So it is conceivable that a five-justice majority could apply Bostock ’s reasoning to the equal protection context.

Indeed, on a more balanced court, it would seem to be a no-brainer that the logic of Bostock extends to the 14 th Amendment. Anti-trans legislation punishes an individual for failing to adhere to the sex they were assigned at birth and curtails their rights accordingly. When states single out transgender people because they are trans, they are necessarily classifying them on the basis of sex. Tennessee’s health care ban illustrates this fact: Doctors may prescribe testosterone to a cisgender boy , but not a transgender boy who was assigned female at birth—their sex at birth determines whether they may obtain the medication. The same is true of restrictions on adult health care: West Virginia’s Medicaid program, for example, covers breast-reduction surgery for cisgender men (who have excess tissue), but not transgender men assigned female at birth (who have gender dysphoria). As the 4 th Circuit held, this distinction creates an unconstitutional regime based on sex.

Yet other courts have reached the opposite conclusion, often fueled by the Supreme Court’s reversal of Roe v. Wade in 2022’s Dobbs decision. In Dobbs , the court warned against the acknowledgment of any constitutional right that is not “deeply rooted” in the nation’s “history and tradition.” It also arguably cut back the equal protection clause’s protections against sex discrimination, narrowing the definition of gender-based discrimination. Conservative judges have seized upon these passages to Dobbs -ify the law of equality, refusing to protect transgender rights because they did not exist in the 18 th and 19 th centuries. And this Supreme Court is disinclined toward respecting , let alone expanding, LGBTQ+ rights. Moreover, Justices Brett Kavanaugh and Amy Coney Barrett have already signaled their skepticism that health care bans for trans minors are unconstitutional.

Both the Department of Justice and the ACLU urged the Supreme Court to take up Skrmetti because they had no other choice: The proliferation of these stringent laws leaves SCOTUS as the last, best hope of relief. These lawyers made the tough call knowing the risks of an adverse decision, which would wipe out pro-trans precedents in the 4 th , 7 th , and 9 th Circuits that cover deep-red states like South Carolina, Indiana, and Idaho. It is possible, though, to make the case that five justices may see the unconstitutional foundations of Tennessee’s law for what it is: discrimination against transgender people that is inherently rooted in sex-based bias. But as ever, it is a safer bet that this extraordinarily conservative court will not stick its neck out to vindicate the rights of the vulnerable.

• Meet the incels and anti-feminists of Asia

They threaten to make the region’s demographic decline even worse

K IM WOO-SeoK , a 31-year-old chef in Seoul, grew up questioning the way society treats women. He felt sorry for his stay-at-home mother. He considered himself a feminist. But over the past few years, his opinions have shifted. When he came across women activists online, he was shocked to see some of them were making demeaning comments about men, including making fun of small penises. “I felt like my masculinity was under attack,” says Mr Kim. He believes that, since the 2010s, Korean society has become more discriminatory against men than women. Although he has a girlfriend, many of those who share his beliefs in the region do not.

In advanced countries the gap between the sexes has widened, with young men tending to be more conservative and young women tending to be more liberal. The trend is particularly striking in East Asia. Men are not adapting well to a society where women are better educated, compete with them for jobs and do not want to have babies with them. According to one survey in 2021, 79% of South Korean men in their 20s believe they are victims of “reverse discrimination”. In neighbouring Japan, a survey the same year found that 43% of men aged 18 to 30 “hate feminism”.

This article appeared in the Asia section of the print edition under the headline “Meet Asia’s incels and anti-feminists”

Asia June 29th 2024

Casinos are booming in south-east asia.

• Narendra Modi needs to win over low-income Indians
• Takashima Ryosuke is Japan’s youngest ever mayor
• Ancient artistic loot will finally make its way back to Cambodia

From the June 29th 2024 edition

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One Central Asian country stands out above the rest

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The country could become a model for the region

Why many young Asians are no longer studying history

One city-state is bucking the regional trend

Indians have grown used to getting nice things from politicians

But it’s no longer enough to win votes

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The paradox of red-hot labour markets, falling demand and rising prices

Thailand could soon become the latest country to jump on the bandwagon

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As Governments Demonize LGBTQ+ Rights, Children Lose the Most

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In recent months, lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) rights have faced significant setbacks in many countries, with populist and authoritarian governments passing draconian laws curtailing LGBT rights.

Countries as varied as Uganda , Ghana , Iraq , Russia , Hungary , and the United States , among others, have sought to limit the fundamental freedoms of expression, association, and assembly of LGBT people. And they have done so by suggesting that the mere existence of LGBT people in the public sphere poses a threat to children, misusing the rhetoric of protecting children to restrict fundamental human rights.

This tired and offensive stereotype is damaging for LGBT people, who are demonized in the public imagination and deprived of fundamental human rights. It also harms all children, who are deliberately kept in the dark about important topics in the world around them ranging from family diversity to current events to comprehensive sexuality education. But most of all, these laws harm LGBT children, who are made to feel alone and kept from seeing how they might flourish as they grow up.

Many of the laws that pretend to protect children are downright draconian. Uganda enacted its Anti-Homosexuality Bill in 2023 under the guise of “ protecting children and youth. ” In actuality, the law did nothing to address very real concerns that children face in Uganda – for example, high rates of poverty , child labor , and barriers to education and health care – but used that justification instead to curtail the private lives of LGBT adults. This included making consensual same-sex activity among adults punishable with life in prison, imposing the death penalty for “aggravated homosexuality,” and making LGBT advocacy a crime punishable with up to 20 years in prison.

Legislation passed by Ghana’s Parliament similarly purports to “ provide for the protection and support of children ” with wildly repressive restrictions. The bill would criminalize LGBT advocacy campaigns deemed to be aimed at children with up to 10 years in prison, but goes far further in criminalizing the formation and support of LGBT organizations more generally and – in a particularly extreme provision – the mere fact of identifying as LGBT.

And Russia, which years ago banned positive or even neutral portrayals of LGBT people that might be seen by children, subsequently expanded that ban and effectively prohibited any acknowledgement of LGBT people or rights in public life. Russia’s laws have not only been used to intimidate, harass, and punish LGBT people and organizations and encourage discrimination, but have cut off education and health services for LGBT children to the detriment of their mental health and well-being. The situation worsened in 2024 when Russia’s Supreme Court declared LGBT activism “extremist,”  with prison time and other penalties simply for belonging to an LGBT organization.

Other countries have taken similar steps down this path. Hungary has cracked down on depictions of LGBT people in the media , including a law that bans depictions of LGBT people in educational materials or television programs aimed at youth. In 2024, it adopted absurd new regulations restricting where and how toys like rainbow blocks can be marketed and sold.

In the United States, too, lawmakers have insisted they are protecting children as they zealously pass laws that make children’s lives harder. Like Russia or Hungary, seven states limit or ban discussions of sexual orientation and gender identity in schools, and four more restrict whether and how same-sex activity can be discussed in schools. These laws are passed to prevent children learning about diverse sexual orientations and gender identities, with little regard for the harmful effects that isolation and invisibility can have on young people who do or will identify as LGBT.

Many other laws have been passed under the pretext of safeguarding cisgender, heterosexual youth that unjustly target and stigmatize transgender children, denying them access to sports , barring them from appropriate facilities , and outing them to family members . Nearly half of US states prohibit transgender children from obtaining gender-affirming medical care , which is often lifesaving care that alleviates gender dysphoria and helps many to feel comfortable in their bodies. These bans are similarly passed with an almost singular focus on children who might someday decide that they are not transgender, with little regard for the many transgender children and adults who need access to this care and whose lives will be made much more difficult and painful without it.

Thousands of LGBT youth and their families have testified to lawmakers that these bills do immediate and demonstrable harm. And this is supported by data – a poll from the Trevor Project in 2023 found that 71 percent of LGBTQ youth polled and 86 percent  of transgender and nonbinary youth reported that laws restricting their rights had adversely affected their mental health. Although children are telling us that these laws are unfair and stigmatizing, lawmakers are not listening.

LGBT children have the same needs for safety, privacy, health, education, and a sense of belonging as other children do, and governments are consistently failing them. What would law and policy look like if we prioritized the needs of all children?

One guiding principle from international human rights law is a concern for the best interest of the child – and not only cisgender, heterosexual children, but LGBT children as well. Viewed through that more holistic lens, many recent laws and policies are insufficient at best and discriminatory at worst.

LGBT children deserve the same rights and opportunities as their cisgender, heterosexual counterparts. Governments should safeguard their well-being with inclusive curricula, resources and support, and access to quality health care. By acknowledging and supporting LGBT children, we can dismantle discriminatory attitudes and foster a more inclusive society for all children to have access to thoughtful care that meets their needs.

This essay is part of a series marking the 20th anniversary of the LGBT rights program at Human Rights Watch. The collection of articles explores the multifaceted challenges LGBT people face globally. Find them here .

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Supreme Court should rule bans on gender-affirming care for trans people unconstitutional

Over the last few years, the tennessee general assembly has made national headlines for targeting lgbtq+ rights on athletics participation, bathroom use and the community’s inclusion in curriculum..

• David Plazas is the director of opinion and engagement for the USA TODAY Network Tennessee.

A Tennessee state law could determine the future of gender affirming care nationally now that the U.S. Supreme Court has agreed to take up a case over a constitutional battle concerning transgender people's rights.

Since 2022, the number of states banning gender-affirming care for minors has skyrocketed from four to 25 , and the justices will be asked whether this is about a state's right to regulate health care access or whether these bans violate the civil rights of transgender people "on the basis of sex."

Witnessing the evolution of Tennessee's law, I believe these laws came about in response to anti-trans fervor fueled by far-right politicians who saw limiting trans people’s rights as a winning issue for their base.

If the Supreme Court is true to precedent, justices must side with the vast majority of district court judges who have decided that the bans are blatantly unconstitutional and at least in one ruling "based on bigotry."

Tennessee's attorney general wants to win the fight at the Supreme Court

However, Tennessee Attorney General Jonathan Skrmetti clearly disagrees.

The lawsuit bears his name − L.W. v. Skrmetti −and he said he plans on “finishing up the fight” over whether state bans on gender-affirming care for minors are constitutional.

• Are Tennessee’s ban and others like it across the country about a state’s interest in protecting transgender minors from “irreversible” medical treatments?
• Or do these prohibitions trample on transgender people’s civil rights and freedom to self-determination, and parental rights to access medical care for their children who live with gender dysphoria?

Skrmetti’s position clearly falls in the first camp. After all, it is his role is to defend the laws of the state of Tennessee, in this case, the Prohibition on Medical Procedures Performed on Minors Related to Sexual Identity Act of 2023.

However, multiple federal district judges have ruled against or agreed to halt enforcement of laws in different states because they raise questions over whether lawmakers infringed upon the constitutional rights of transgender minors and their parents.

Court of Appeals punted on the constitutional issue

On Monday, Skrmetti wrote in a public statement:

"We fought hard to defend Tennessee's law protecting kids from irreversible gender treatments and secured a thoughtful and well-reasoned opinion from the Sixth Circuit. I look forward to finishing the fight in the United States Supreme Court. This case will bring much-needed clarity to whether the Constitution contains special protections for gender identity.”

Except that the U.S. Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals’ 2-1 majority did not really answer the key question and they presumed the plaintiffs would lose.

Chief Judge Jeffrey S. Sutton and Judge Amul R. Thapar reversed a lower court injunction on enforcing Tennessee and Kentucky’s bans and allowed the case to proceed in the legal system.

They acknowledged the existence of gender dysphoria, but they said that the relative newness of certain treatments, including puberty blockers, made it difficult to determine the long-term consequences of the treatment.

“Prohibiting citizens and legislatures from offering their perspectives on high-stakes medical policies, in which compassion for the child points in both directions, is not something life-tenured federal judges should do without a clear warrant in the Constitution,” they wrote.

In other words, they punted on the constitutional question.

In her dissent, however, Judge Helene N. White did not mince words:

“Tennessee’s and Kentucky’s laws tell minors and their parents that the minors cannot undergo medical care because of the accidents of their births and their failure to conform to how society believes boys and girls should look and live. The laws further deprive the parents — those whom we otherwise recognize as best suited to further their minor children’s interests — of their right to make medical decisions affecting their children in conjunction with their children and medical practitioners. For these reasons, I dissent.”

Dahron Johnson, Nashville co-chair of the Tennessee Equality Project , said in a statement about the high court taking up the case that Tennessee "has abused its power in a brazen overreach seeking to gain access to the medical records of transgender and gender-diverse Tennesseans."

"As the Supreme Court takes up (the case), we trust that the Court will recognize the ways Tennessee, in banning such care, has sought to undermine that trust and communication, blocking access to life-saving health services for our state’s gender-diverse children," she added.

Federal judge calls out state bans as 'based on bigotry'

In June, a federal judge blocked Florida’s ban on gender affirming care for minors, ruling it unconstitutional

However, Judge Robert Hinkle went further in his ruling and called the law out as legislation “based on bigotry.”

“This is a politically fraught area. There has long been, and still is, substantial bigotry directed at transgender individuals,” Hinkle wrote. “Common experience confirms this, as do some of the comments of legislators recounted above. And even when not based on bigotry, there are those who incorrectly but sincerely believe that gender identity is not real but instead just a choice. This is, as noted above, the elephant in the room.”

Prior to Tennessee’s enactment of its ban, state and federal lawmakers embraced a 2022 claim from The Daily Wire right-wing outlet claiming Vanderbilt University Medical Center was “butchering, mutilating and sterilizing” children – something that still has yet to be proven.

But Republican politicians, including U.S. Sen. Marsha Blackburn, held a Rally to End Genital Mutilation in front of the state Capitol just weeks before the start of the legislative session.

In a 2023 guest opinion , trans activist Jace Wilder offered three reasons why the state should not ban care.

"How is it that a ban, that only last year was seen as  too extreme in this state by its leaders , is being pushed through now? The factor that may come to mind is what we keep hearing: 'It's to protect the kids from mutilation.' This isn’t the case," he said.

State lawmakers also wrote guest essays in The Tennessean explaining why they were introducing the ban on gender-affirming care for minors.

“Cultural forces from the left would like us to accept an alarming new myth; that gender is not a biological reality,” wrote House Majority Leader William Lamberth in one column 2022 shortly before the rally. Senate Majority Leader Jack Johnson wrote a defense of the bill in early 2023 during the session. They co-wrote an essay in August 2023 defending the law .

Civil Rights Act should extend to all minors' access to health care

Over the last several years, the Tennessee General Assembly has made national headlines for targeting LGBTQ+ rights in athletics participation, bathroom use and the community’s inclusion in curriculum students learn.

The Supreme Court ruled in the 2020 Bostock v. Clayton County decision that employment discrimination against people based on gender identity was unconstitutional under the Civil Rights Act. Hopefully, they will use similar logic to protect the rights of transgender children and their parents to access medical care.

There is political gain in enacting these bans, but it doesn’t mean lawmakers are right.

David Plazas is the director of opinion and engagement for the USA TODAY Network Tennessee. He is an editorial board member of The Tennessean. He hosts the  Tennessee Voices videocast  and curates the  Tennessee Voices  and  Latino Tennessee Voices  newsletters. Call him at (615) 259-8063, email him at  [email protected]  or tweet to him at  @davidplazas .

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Supreme Court Will Hear Challenge to Tennessee Law Banning Transition Care for Minors

The move comes as states around the country have pushed to curtail transgender rights.

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By Abbie VanSickle

Reporting from Washington

The Supreme Court agreed on Monday to consider a Tennessee law that bans certain medical treatments for transgender minors, the first time the justices will decide on the constitutionality of such statewide bans.

The move could have broad ramifications for about 25 states that have enacted similar measures. Republican-led state legislatures have pushed to curtail transgender rights in recent years, with laws that target gender-transition care and that regulate other parts of life, including which bathrooms students and others can use and which sports teams they can play on.

The case, United States v. Skrmetti , will be heard in the court’s next term, which typically begins on the first Monday in October, though no date has been set yet for oral argument. The justices had considered whether to hear two challenges to transition care, including the Tennessee appeal and one centered on a Kentucky law, at their private conference each week. But they had repeatedly postponed making a decision, suggesting there might have been debate over whether to do so.

The court’s decision to take up the case signals a willingness by at least some of the justices to delve into yet another polarizing social issue, even as they have yet to rule on some of the biggest cases for this term, involving emergency abortion care, disinformation on social media and the scope of presidential power.

The Biden administration and a number of legal advocacy groups representing transgender youths had asked the court to intervene after a federal appeals court upheld the ban. In Tennessee, the law prohibits three types of transgender medical care for minors — puberty blockers, cross-sex hormones and gender-transition surgeries.

The administration has argued that the law violates the equal protection clause of the 14th Amendment because it “frames that prohibition in explicitly sex-based terms.” Solicitor General Elizabeth B. Prelogar, in the government’s petition to the court, identified what she viewed as a disparity in the state’s approach, saying that even as Tennessee bans transgender medical care, it “leaves the same treatments entirely unrestricted if they are prescribed for any other purpose.”

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