Why Women's Day

Why dedicate a day exclusively to the celebration of the world's

women?

The United Nations General Assembly, composed of delegates

from every Member State, celebrates International Women's Day
to recognize that peace and social progress require the active
participation and equality of women, and to acknowledge the
contribution of women to international peace and security.

For the women of the world, the Day is an occasion to review how far they have come in
their struggle for equality, peace and development.

You might think that women's equality benefits mostly women, but every one-percentile
growth in female secondary schooling results in a 0.3 percent growth in the economy. Yet
girls are often kept from receiving education in the poorest countries that would best benefit
from the economic growth.

Until the men and women work together to secure the rights and full potential of women,
lasting solutions to the world's most serious social, economic and political problems are
unlikely to be found.

In recent decades, much progress has been made. On a worldwide level, women's access to
education and proper health care has increased; their participation in the paid labor force has
grown; and legislation that promises equal opportunities for women and respect for their
human rights has been adopted in many countries. The world now has an ever- growing
number of women participating in society as policy-makers.

However, nowhere in the world can women claim to have all the same rights and
opportunities as men.

The majority of the world's 1.3 billion absolute poor are women.

On average, women receive between 30 and 40 per cent less pay than men earn for the
same work.

And everywhere, women continue to be victims of violence, with rape and domestic violence
listed as significant causes of disability and death among women of reproductive age
worldwide.
 Why Women's Day Lesson Plan

Set Induction Complete the sentence:

Women's day is .

What is the purpose of celebrating International Women's Day?

Is there a need for such an international day these days?
Do women still have to fight for equality? In which countries?

Reading
While reading the article look for the following:
Why does The United Nations General Assembly celebrate
Women's International Day?
What problems will only find a solution when women's rights are
fully recognized?
What problems do women still encounter?

Discussion
Can you come up with any other reasons of your own for
celebrating Women's Day?
Why is it that women's equality is said to be important for all
people and all nations and not just an issue for women?
How can we explain the fact that women earn less than men for
doing exactly the same jobs and having the same education?
What should be done to improve the situation?

Follow Up
Writing an opinion essay.
What, in your opinion, are the major problems women face today? What are
some of the possible solutions?

Group Activity

You are members of a committee appointed by Ms. Dalia Itzik, Speaker of the
Knesset to examine women's status in Israel and suggest steps for
improvement.

Committee Members:
A social worker
A professor in Work and Organizational Studies, Hebrew University
A lawyer
 A Member of Na'amat A women's Organization

Examine the Following Information:

In Israel, like in other Western Countries, the number of women is

larger than the number of men. (103 women to every 100 men)
Women's life expectancy is longer than men's. (In 2000 Jewish
women 80.7, Jewish men 77.1.
Among older population women are less educated than men. 14%
of Jewish women above the age of 65 have never attended school,
versus 7% of Jewish men.
Among younger generation, more women graduate high school and
get academic education than men.
There is a large gap between Arab girls and boys who study in high
schools. (More girls than boys complete high school education).
Drop out rate is higher among boys. (8.65% girls vs. 12.2% boys)
64% of Jewish female students get A Bagrut Certificate vs. 53% of
Jewish males.
More females study at universities than males.
More males choose technological subjects than females.
The majority of the students in Education Faculties and in Para
Medical studies are females.
The number of females and males studying Law and Medicine is
almost identical.
There is a constant rise in the number of working women
Men receive higher salaries than women for comparable work. This
is true in all fields, including all work status.
In 2000 41000 women and 118000 were employed as directors.
10% of the female and 30% of the male directors are chairmen.
Almost 50% of the judges are females.
Almost 40% of the lawyers are females.
Group Activity

You are members of a committee appointed by Ms. Dalia Itzik, Speaker of the
Knesset to examine women's status in Israel and suggest steps for
improvement.

Committee Members:
A social worker
A professor in Work and Organizational Studies, Hebrew University
A lawyer
A Member of Na'amat A women's Organization

Examine the Following Information:

In Israel, like in other Western Countries, the number of women is

larger than the number of men. (103 women to every 100 men)
Women's life expectancy is longer than men's. (In 2000 Jewish
women 80.7, Jewish men 77.1.
Among older population women are less educated than men. 14%
of Jewish women above the age of 65 have never attended school,
versus 7% of Jewish men.
Among younger generation, more women graduate high school and
get academic education than men.
There is a large gap between Arab girls and boys who study in high
schools. (More girls than boys complete high school education).
Drop out rate is higher among boys. (8.65% girls vs. 12.2% boys)
64% of Jewish female students get A Bagrut Certificate vs. 53% of
Jewish males.
More females study at universities than males.
More males choose technological subjects than females.
The majority of the students in Education Faculties and in Para
Medical studies are females.
The number of females and males studying Law and Medicine is
almost identical.
There is a constant rise in the number of working women
Men receive higher salaries than women for comparable work. This
Is true in all fields, including all work status.
In 2000 41000 women and 118000 were employed as directors.
10% of the female and 30% of the male directors are chairmen.
 Almost 50% of the judges are females.
Almost 40% of the lawyers are females.