Women’s Liberation Movement

Over the past two decades a number of significant social and political movements have vied with one another for a share of the public consciousness. Among these are the Civil Right Movement, the Environmental Protection Movement, the Consumer Protection Movement, and the drive for full political and social equality for women. For all the preachments of American democrats, women find themselves largely excluded from the political process. Supporters of what is called women’s liberation claim that men control American society.

Despite the Equal Rights Amendment approval in 1972, women still face a lot of the social order. Of course, the process of social and political change is a painfully slow and grudging process, one that comes very close to people’s psychology which is ruled by deeply rooted concepts. Apart from getting the same rate of pay for the same kind of work, women also want the establishment of government- financed centers that would provide day-time care for the children of working parents. Another concern of the women’s liberation movement is the changing of the traditional roles of women and men in the home.

1. Scan the texts for answers to the following questions.

1. Why are the patterns of American families so diverse?

2. Where on the social scale are welfare recipients found?

3. How can the economic plight of socially disadvantaged people be corrected?

4. Why are some people reluctant to receive welfare even if they are entitled to it?

5. Why are so many women with children on welfare?

6. Do those on welfare want to work or not?

7. What is meant by “casual” and “steady” dating?

8. What is a “blind date”?

9. Why are many American women still at the bottom of the social pyramid?

10. What kind of woman would be called “supermom”?

11. Why are many women compelled to work outside of the home?

12. How do most men take their family responsibilities at home? Are they happy about them?

13. What are the major concerns of Women’s Lib? Has it made any strides so far?

2. Find in the text the English phrases corresponding to the Russian equivalents.

1. Люди, имеющие высокие доходы; 2. Разработать программу; 3. Люди, получающие социальные пособия; 4. Консультации, способствующие трудоустройству; 5. Стремление к трудоустройству; 6. Основать свой дом; 7. Люди, испытывающие эмоциональный стресс; 8. Очень высокие цены на дома; 9. Обязательства по отношению к партнеру в браке; 10. Формирование сознательности (осознания своей значимости); 11. Быть в курсе происходящего; 12. Работать вне дома; 13. Оплачивать эксплуатационные расходы по дому; 14. Чувствовать себя ущемленным; 15. Быть в состоянии крайнего напряжения; 16. Сосредоточиться на ежедневных заботах; 17. Разделять успехи на работе и в воспитании детей; 18. Кампания за политическое и социальное равенство женщин; 19. Глубоко укоренившиеся представления; 20. Дошкольные детские учреждения.

3. Supply the word or the word combination from the text which is a periphrasis of the following:

1.great differences in family patterns within the boundaries of a nation; 2.those people who are on welfare; 3.to start one’s own home; 4.obligations to one’s former wife (husband); 5.to have a job and work outside one’s home; 6.to settle bills for water, gas, electricity, etc.; 7.staggering prices for houses; 8.activities promoting a more profound understanding; 9.to know how things stand; 10.to feel offended and harassed; 11.a campaign for equal rights for women; 12.nursery schools and kindergartens; 13.to concentrate on ordinary household chores; 14.to be emotionally downcast; 15.to be in a desperate position.

Read the text to bring out general ideas the Americans have about homeless people.

ROOTS OF HOMELESSNESS

Homelessness is a huge social problem even in affluent countries. There are more than 3 million homeless people in the USA, and the number is growing.

People become homeless through a variety of reasons: imperfect laws, family problems, drugs or alcohol addiction, illness or separation, rock bottom poverty, loss of job and others. The range of people who are affected by homelessness is infinite as society itself. In Russia many people lost their homes because of scams with flats. In the USA lots of people become homeless because of evictions. 40% homeless people in the USA are families.

Not many homeless people like the life without obligations and responsibilities and being on their own. Just something went wrong in their lives, they lost all social contacts which supported them within society and became social lepers. They found themselves in a downward spiral, life has fallen down roundabout them and they can’t patch things up.

Some people are more prone to becoming homeless than others but still nobody is ensured against losing their home. An American magazine told the story of a computer supervisor who had heart condition and had to pay $ 30,000, all his life savings, for hospital bills not covered by insurance. Some time later he got to rock bottom and ended up sleeping rough.

In Moscow the city government is making some efforts to improve the situation. It built several shelters for homeless people where they can sleep at night, wash their clothes and have a snack. There are also charitable organizations trying to improve the life of these people, to help them feel safer. But of course, these measures are not enough, they reach only the tip of the iceberg. Contrary to popular belief, not all homeless people are alcoholics, but many are, and those who have commitment to alcohol recovery, need psychological and medical help. The situation can change for the worse as a new housing law provides for evictions of people who don’t pay the rent in time. So the number of homeless people in Russia can just increase, and homelessness will take a greater toll.

Vocabulary

4. affluent –богатый, процветающий ( о стране )

5. addiction – склонность,пагубная привычка

6. separation – расставание, разлука

7. rock bottom poverty – крайняя нужда

8. scam – афера, жульничество

9. eviction – выселение из дома,квартиры

10. social leper – социально отверженный

11. prone –

12. insurance –

13. rough –

14. shelters –

15. to have commitment –

16. will take a greater toll –