The Reading / Listening - Baldness - Level 3

A court in the U.K. has said calling a man "bald" is sexist. The judge in the court said using the word could break equality laws. The judge said this was because the word bald is "inherently related to gender". This means that because most people who are bald are men, it is wrong to use the word against a man. This sex discrimination case came after a worker took his company to court. The boss called the worker bald. The worker said he had an argument with his boss. The boss angrily called the worker "bald" and fired him. The worker won a case of unfair dismissal in the court. The judge said the word bald was harmful, and that using it was sexual harassment.

The court had to decide if the word bald was simply an insult, or whether it was harassment. Lawyers for the boss' company said calling a man bald was not sexual harassment. They said that women can also be bald. In court, they argued that: "In order to be related to sex, it would have to apply to that sex to the exclusion of the other sex." They said that because women can also be bald, it could not be harassment. A court judge disagreed with the boss' lawyers. She said that commenting on a man's baldness is the same as a man making comments about parts of a woman's body. The lead judge said the word bald was related to gender. He said this was because more men than women are bald.

Try the same news story at these easier levels:

    Baldness - Level 0,  Baldness - Level 1   or  Baldness - Level 2

Sources
  • https://www.lbc.co.uk/news/bald-hair-men-man-ruling-high-court-latest-tony-finn/
  • https://www.thesun.co.uk/news/30968722/calling-man-bald-sexual-harassment-judge-rules/
  • https://www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news/high-court-rules-calling-man-33866756


Make sure you try all of the online activities for this reading and listening - There are dictations, multiple choice activities, drag and drop activities, sentence jumbles, which word activities, text reconstructions, spelling, gap fills and a whole lot more. Please enjoy :-)

Warm-ups

1. BALDNESS: Students walk around the class and talk to other students about baldness. Change partners often and share your findings.
2. CHAT: In pairs / groups, talk about these topics or words from the article. What will the article say about them? What can you say about these words and your life?
       court / bald / sexist / equality / laws / gender / boss / argument /sexual harassment /
       decide / insult / lawyers / bald women / disagree /comments / gender / bald men
Have a chat about the topics you liked. Change topics and partners frequently.
3. BALD IS BEST: Students A strongly believe it is better to be bald than to have hair; Students B strongly believe the opposite. Change partners again and talk about your conversations.
4. INEQUALITIES: What are these inequalities like in your country? How can we make things more equal? Complete this table with your partner(s). Change partners often and share what you wrote.

 

~ism

Equality

Sexism

 

 

Racism

 

 

Ageism

 

 

Weightism

 

 

Religion

 

 

Money

 

 
MY e-BOOK
ESL resource book with copiable worksheets and handouts - 1,000 Ideas and Activities for Language Teachers / English teachers
See a sample

5. HAIR: Spend one minute writing down all of the different words you associate with the word "hair". Share your words with your partner(s) and talk about them. Together, put the words into different categories.
6. HAIRSTYLES: Rank these with your partner. Put the best hairstyles at the top. Change partners often and share your rankings.

  • Bald
  • Ponytail
  • Buzz cut
  • Comb over
  • Mohawk
  • Afro
  • Beehive
  • Dreadlocks

 

Vocabulary

    Paragraph 1

      1. court a. A person who works in a court and decides if someone is right or wrong.
      2. bald b. When someone is told to leave their job or position.
      3. gender c. A place where important people, like a judge, decide if someone broke the law.
      4. sexist d. Having no hair on your head.
      5. judge  (noun) e. Treating people unfairly because they are a man or a woman.
      6. equality f. When everyone is treated the same and has the same rights.
      7. dismissal g. Either of the two sexes (male and female).

    Paragraph 2

      8. insult  (noun) h. When two or more people do not think the same thing.
      9. harassment i. Connected to something or someone in some way.
      10. lawyer j. When someone is not allowed to join or be part of something.
      11. exclusion k. Something mean or rude that you say to hurt someone’s feelings.
      12. related to l. Saying or writing something about a topic or event.
      13. disagreed m. When someone bothers or upsets another person again and again because of their skin colour, sex, religion, age, etc..
      14.

commenting

 n.

A person who helps people with the law and works in courts.

 

Before reading / listening

1. TRUE / FALSE: Read the headline. Guess if 1-8 below are true (T) or false (F).

  1. A court in the U.K. said bald men are sexist.     T / F
  2. A judge in a court said the word 'bald' could break equality laws.     T / F
  3. A company boss called a worker bald and fired him.     T / F
  4. The worker lost a court case against the company that fired him.     T / F
  5. A court decided the word bald was an insult, not harassment.     T / F
  6. The company said bald isn't a sexist word because women can be bald.   T / F
  7. A court judge disagreed with the company's lawyers.     T / F
  8. A judge said the word bald was related to gender.     T / F

2. SYNONYM MATCH: Match the following synonyms from the article.

  1. bald
  2. laws
  3. gender
  4. discrimination
  5. harmful
  6. simply
  7. argued
  8. related
  9. commenting on
  10. lead
  1. prejudice
  2. sex
  3. speaking about
  4. damaging
  5. claimed
  6. hairless
  7. connected
  8. top
  9. regulations
  10. just

3. PHRASE MATCH: (Sometimes more than one choice is possible.)

  1. using the word could break
  2. the word bald is inherently related
  3. most people who are bald
  4. The worker said he had an argument
  5. The worker won a case of unfair dismissal
  6. The court had to decide if the word bald
  7. it could not
  8. A court judge disagreed
  9. commenting on a man's
  10. making comments about parts
  1. with his boss
  2. baldness is the same
  3. in the court
  4. was simply an insult
  5. to gender
  6. with the boss' lawyers
  7. are men
  8. of a woman's body
  9. equality laws
  10. be harassment

Gap fill

Put these words into the spaces in the paragraph below.
related
worker
sexist
dismissal
wrong
harmful
equality
boss

A court in the U.K. has said calling a man "bald" is (1) ______________________________________________. The judge in the court said using the word could break (2) ______________________________________________ laws. The judge said this was because the word bald is "inherently (3) ______________________________________________ to gender". This means that because most people who are bald are men, it is (4) ______________________________________________ to use the word against a man. This sex discrimination case came after a (5) ______________________________________________ took his company to court. The boss called the worker bald. The worker said he had an argument with his (6) ______________________________________________. The boss angrily called the worker "bald" and fired him. The worker won a case of unfair (7) ______________________________________________ in the court. The judge said the word bald was (8) ______________________________________________, and that using it was sexual harassment.

Put these words into the spaces in the paragraph below.
same
lead
calling
gender
apply
insult
disagreed
court

The court had to decide if the word bald was simply an (9) ______________________________________________, or whether it was harassment. Lawyers for the boss' company said (10) ______________________________________________ a man bald was not sexual harassment. They said that women can also be bald. In (11) ______________________________________________, they argued that: "In order to be related to sex, it would have to (12) ______________________________________________ to that sex to the exclusion of the other sex." They said that because women can also be bald, it could not be harassment. A court judge (13) ______________________________________________ with the boss' lawyers. She said that commenting on a man's baldness is the (14) ______________________________________________ as a man making comments about parts of a woman's body. The (15) ______________________________________________ judge said the word bald was related to (16) ______________________________________________. He said this was because more men than women are bald.

Listening — Guess the answers. Listen to check.

1) The judge in the court said using the word could ______
     a.  break equality laws
     b.  break equally laws
     c.  break e-quality laws
     d.  break eek quality laws
2)  The judge said this was because the word bald is inherently ______
     a.  related to gentle
     b.  related to agenda
     c.  related to gander
     d.  related to gender
3)  The boss angrily called the worker "bald" ______
     a.  and fried him
     b.  and fired him
     c.  and fared him
     d.  and afraid him
4)  The worker won a case ______
     a.  off-on fair dismissal
     b.  of non-fair dismal
     c.  of unfair dismissal
     d.  of unfair dismal
5)  The judge said the word bald was harmful, and that using it ______
     a.  was sexually harassment
     b.  was sex you all harassment
     c.  was sexual harassment
     d.  was sex yule harassment

6)  The court had to decide if the word bald was ______
     a.  simply an insults
     b.  simply a consult
     c.  simply an inn salt
     d.  simply an insult
7)  it would have to apply to that sex to the exclusion of ______
     a.  the over sex
     b.  the others sex
     c.  the other sex
     d.  the another sex
8)  She said that commenting on a man's baldness is the same as a ______
     a.  man making comment
     b.  man making comments
     c.  man making commence
     d.  man making com mints
9)  The lead judge said the word bald was ______
     a.  related to gender
     b.  related to gander
     c.  related to agenda
     d.  related two genders
10)  He said this was because more men than ______
     a.  women are bailed
     b.  women are beard
     c.  women are bold
     d.  women are bald

Listening — Listen and fill in the gaps

A court in the U.K. has (1) __________________________________________________ man "bald" is sexist. The judge in the court said using the word could (2) __________________________________________________. The judge said this was because the word bald is "inherently related to gender". This means that because most people who are bald are men, it (3) __________________________________________________ use the word against a man. This sex discrimination case came after a worker took his (4) __________________________________________________. The boss called the worker bald. The worker said he had an argument with his boss. The boss (5) __________________________________________________ worker "bald" and fired him. The worker won a case of unfair dismissal in the court. The judge said the word bald was harmful, and (6) __________________________________________________ was sexual harassment.

The court had to decide if the word bald was (7) __________________________________________________, or whether it was harassment. Lawyers for the boss' company said calling a man bald (8) __________________________________________________ harassment. They said that women can also be bald. In court, they argued that: "In order to be related to sex, it would (9) __________________________________________________ to that sex to the exclusion of the other sex." They said that because women can also be bald, it could not be harassment. A court (10) __________________________________________________ the boss' lawyers. She said that commenting on a man's baldness is the same as a man (11) __________________________________________________ parts of a woman's body. The lead judge said the word bald was (12) __________________________________________________. He said this was because more men than women are bald.

Comprehension questions

  1. Who said the word 'bald' could break equality laws?
  2. What did a judge say the world bald was related to?
  3. Where did a worker take his company?
  4. What did a boss do to a worker besides calling him bald?
  5. Where did the worker win a case of unfair dismissal?
  6. Who said the word 'bald' was not harassment?
  7. Who did the company's lawyers say could be bald?
  8. Who did a judge disagree with?
  9. What did a judge liken commenting on a man's baldness to?
  10. Who said more men than women were bald?

Multiple choice quiz

1) Who said the word 'bald' could break equality laws?
a) a lawyer
b) a court judge
c) a bald man
d) a bald woman
2) What did a judge say the world bald was related to?
a) hair
b) baldness
c) babies
d) gender
3) Where did a worker take his company?
a) the moon and back
b) a restaurant
c) to court
d) a hair salon
4) What did a boss do to a worker besides calling him bald?
a) He fired him.
b) He shaved his head.
c) He gave him a cap.
d) He gave him a wig.
5) Where did the worker win a case of unfair dismissal?
a) in the USA
b) in a court
c) in a hair salon
d) on the Internet

6) Who said the word 'bald' was not harassment?
a) the company's lawyers
b) the worker
c) many women
d) barbers
7) Who did the company's lawyers say could be bald?
a) children
b) babies
c) women
d) old people
8) Who did a judge disagree with?
a) the boss' lawyers
b) women
c) his staff
d) the company worker
9) What did a judge liken commenting on a man's baldness to?
a) comments about weight
b) comments about religion
c) comments about race
d) comments about a woman's body
10) Who said more men than women were bald?
a) a bald man
b) a woman
c) the lead judge
d) a lawyer

Role play

Role  A – Bald
You think being bald is the best hairstyle. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them what is wrong with their hairstyle. Also, tell the others which is the worst of these (and why): ponytail, mohawk or dreadlocks.

Role  B – Ponytail
You think a ponytail is the best hairstyle. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them what is wrong with their hairstyle. Also, tell the others which is the worst of these (and why): being bald, mohawk or dreadlocks.

Role  C – Mohawk
You think a mohawk is the best hairstyle. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them what is wrong with their hairstyle. Also, tell the others which is the worst of these (and why): ponytail, being bald or dreadlocks.

Role  D – Dreadlocks
You think dreadlocks are the best hairstyle. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them what is wrong with their hairstyle. Also, tell the others which is the worst of these (and why): ponytail, mohawk or being bald.

After reading / listening

1. WORD SEARCH: Look in your dictionary / computer to find collocates, other meanings, information, synonyms … for the words...

'bald'

  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________

    • and 'sexist'.

  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________

    • • Share your findings with your partners.

    • Make questions using the words you found.

    • Ask your partner / group your questions.

    2. ARTICLE QUESTIONS: Look back at the article and write down some questions you would like to ask the class about the text.

    •Share your questions with other classmates / groups. •Ask your partner / group your questions.

    3. GAP FILL: In pairs / groups, compare your answers to this exercise. Check your answers. Talk about the words from the activity. Were they new, interesting, worth learning…?

    4. VOCABULARY: Circle any words you do not understand. In groups, pool unknown words and use dictionaries to find their meanings.

    5. TEST EACH OTHER: Look at the words below. With your partner, try to recall how they were used in the text:

    • equality
    • wrong
    • case
    • argument
    • angrily
    • harmful
    • simply
    • also
    • other
    • disagreed
    • comments
    • lead

    Student survey

    Write five GOOD questions about this topic in the table. Do this in pairs. Each student must write the questions on his / her own paper. When you have finished, interview other students. Write down their answers.

    (Please look at page 12 of the PDF to see a photocopiable example of this activity.)

    Discussion - Baldness

    STUDENT A’s QUESTIONS (Do not show these to student B)

    1. What did you think when you read the headline?
    2. What images are in your mind when you hear the word 'bald'?
    3. What do you think of baldness?
    4. Is it better to be bald or to have hair?
    5. Is calling a man 'bald' sexist?
    6. Is calling a woman 'bald' sexist?
    7. What do you think of your hair?
    8. Have you ever had an argument with a boss?
    9. Does the word 'bald' in your country have a negative meaning?
    10. What hairstyle would you really like to have?

    STUDENT B’s QUESTIONS (Do not show these to student A)

    1. Did you like reading this article? Why/not?
    2. What do you think of when you hear the word 'sexist'?
    3. What do you think about what you read?
    4. How important is hair?
    5. Is the word 'bald' an insult?
    6. How hurt do you think a man would be by the word bald?
    7. What are the advantages of being bald?
    8. How much money do you spend on your hair?
    9. Is it worse for a man or woman to be bald?
    10. What questions would you like to ask a bald man?

    Discussion — Write your own questions

    STUDENT A’s QUESTIONS (Do not show these to student B)

    (a) ________________

    (b) ________________

    (c) ________________

    (d) ________________

    (e) ________________

    STUDENT B’s QUESTIONS (Do not show these to student A)

    (f) ________________

    (g) ________________

    (h) ________________

    (i) ________________

    (j) ________________

    Language — Cloze (Gap-fill)

    A court in the U.K. has said (1) ____ a man "bald" is sexist. The judge in the court said using the word could break (2) ____ laws. The judge said this was because the word bald is "inherently related to gender". This means that because (3) ____ people who are bald are men, it is wrong to use the word against a man. This sex discrimination case came after a worker (4) ____ his company to court. The boss called the worker bald. The worker said he had an argument with his boss. The boss (5) ____ called the worker "bald" and fired him. The worker won a case of unfair dismissal in the court. The judge said the word bald was (6) ____, and that using it was sexual harassment.

    The court had to decide (7) ____ the word bald was simply an insult, or whether it was harassment. Lawyers for the boss' company said calling a man bald was not (8) ____ harassment. They said that women can also be bald. In court, they argued that: "In order to be related to sex, it would have to apply (9) ____ that sex to the exclusion of the other sex." They said that because women can also be bald, it could not be harassment. A court judge disagreed (10) ____ the boss' lawyers. She said that commenting on a man's baldness is the same as a man (11) ____ comments about parts of a woman's body. The lead judge said the word bald was related to (12) ____. He said this was because more men than women are bald.

    Which of these words go in the above text?

    1. (a)     calling     (b)     saying     (c)     shouting     (d)     arguing    
    2. (a)     equally     (b)     equals     (c)     equality     (d)     equestrian    
    3. (a)     much     (b)     most     (c)     all     (d)     no    
    4. (a)     did     (b)     gave     (c)     had     (d)     took    
    5. (a)     angered     (b)     angry     (c)     angrily     (d)     anger    
    6. (a)     harmed     (b)     harmful     (c)     harmless     (d)     harms    
    7. (a)     what     (b)     if     (c)     so     (d)     such    
    8. (a)     sexy     (b)     sexual     (c)     sexes     (d)     sexism    
    9. (a)     for     (b)     at     (c)     to     (d)     on    
    10. (a)     up     (b)     at     (c)     of     (d)     with    
    11. (a)     waking     (b)     faking     (c)     taking     (d)     making    
    12. (a)     gene     (b)     generation     (c)     agenda     (d)     gender

    Spelling

    Paragraph 1

    1. The deugj in the court
    2. using the word could break yqteuial laws
    3. related to degnre
    4. This sex isitoamrcinidn case
    5. he had an eutamgrn with his boss
    6. The worker won a case of unfair similssda

    Paragraph 2

    1. the word bald was simply an nituls
    2. or ehhertw it was harassment
    3. In court, they geruad that
    4. In order to be tedrael to sex
    5. to the consilxeu of the other sex
    6. ieasrdegd with the boss' lawyers

    Put the text back together

    (...)  argument with his boss. The boss angrily called the worker "bald" and fired
    (...)  The court had to decide if the word bald was simply an insult, or whether it was harassment. Lawyers
    (...)  not be harassment. A court judge disagreed with the boss' lawyers. She said that commenting
    (...)  discrimination case came after a worker took his company to court. The boss called the worker bald. The worker said he had an
    (...)  him. The worker won a case of unfair dismissal in the court. The judge said the word bald
    (...)  was harmful, and that using it was sexual harassment.
    (...)  to that sex to the exclusion of the other sex." They said that because women can also be bald, it could
    (...)  people who are bald are men, it is wrong to use the word against a man. This sex
    (...)  for the boss' company said calling a man bald was not sexual harassment. They said that women
    (...)  on a man's baldness is the same as a man making comments about parts of a woman's body. The lead
    (...)  can also be bald. In court, they argued that: "In order to be related to sex, it would have to apply
    (  1  )  A court in the U.K. has said calling a man "bald" is sexist. The judge in the court said using the word could break equality
    (...)  judge said the word bald was related to gender. He said this was because more men than women are bald.
    (...)  laws. The judge said this was because the word bald is "inherently related to gender". This means that because most

    Put the words in the right order

    1. equality   word   the   break   Using   bald   could   laws.
    2. gender.   word   to   related   The   bald   is   inherently
    3. bald   men.   who   are   people   Most   are
    4. a   worker   court.   After   his   took   company   to
    5. case   won   a   worker   of   unfair   dismissal.   The
    6. said   They   also   women   be   can   that   bald.
    7. would   to   sex.   It   have   apply   to   that
    8. about   comments   body.   parts   of   woman's   Making   a
    9. the   said   to   He   word   related   gender.   was
    10. bald.   men   because   more   was   This   are

    Circle the correct word (20 pairs)

    A court in / at the U.K. has said calling a man "bald" is sexist. The judge in the court said using the word could break equally / equality laws. The judge said this was because the word bald is "inherently related to gander / gender". This means that because most / much people who are bald are men / man, it is wrong to use the word again / against a man. This sex discrimination case came after a worker gave / took his company to / at court. The boss called the worker bald. The worker said he had an argument with his boss. The boss angrily called the worker "bald" and fired / fried him. The worker won a case of unfair dismissal in the court. The judge said the word bald was harmful / harmless, and that using it was sexual harassment.

    The court had to decide if the word bald was simply / simple an insult, or whether it was harassment. Lawyers for the boss' company said called / calling a man bald was not sexual harass / harassment. They said that women can also be bold / bald. In court, they argued that: "In / On order to be related to sex, it would have to apply to that sex to the exclusion of the another / other sex." They said that because women can also be bald, it could not be harassment. A court judge disagreed with the boss' lawyers / laws. She said that commenting on a man's baldness is the different / same as a man making comments about apart / parts of a woman's body. The lead judge said the word bald was related to / at gender. He said this was because more men than women are bald.

    Talk about the connection between each pair of words in italics, and why the correct word is correct. Look up the definition of new words.

    Insert the vowels (a, e, i, o, u)

    _  c__rt  _n  th_  _.K.  h_s  s__d  c_ll_ng  _  m_n  "b_ld"  _s  s_x_st.  Th_  j_dg_  _n  th_  c__rt  s__d  _s_ng  th_  w_rd  c__ld  br__k  _q__l_ty  l_ws.  Th_  j_dg_  s__d  th_s  w_s  b_c__s_  th_  w_rd  b_ld  _s  "_nh_r_ntly  r_l_t_d  t_  g_nd_r".  Th_s  m__ns  th_t  b_c__s_  m_st  p__pl_  wh_  _r_  b_ld  _r_  m_n,  _t  _s  wr_ng  t_  _s_  th_  w_rd  _g__nst  _  m_n.  Th_s  s_x  d_scr_m_n_t__n  c_s_  c_m_  _ft_r  _  w_rk_r  t__k  h_s  c_mp_ny  t_  c__rt.  Th_  b_ss  c_ll_d  th_  w_rk_r  b_ld.  Th_  w_rk_r  s__d  h_  h_d  _n  _rg_m_nt  w_th  h_s  b_ss.  Th_  b_ss  _ngr_ly  c_ll_d  th_  w_rk_r  "b_ld"  _nd  f_r_d  h_m.  Th_  w_rk_r  w_n  _  c_s_  _f  _nf__r  d_sm_ss_l  _n  th_  c__rt.  Th_  j_dg_  s__d  th_  w_rd  b_ld  w_s  h_rmf_l,  _nd  th_t  _s_ng  _t  w_s  s_x__l  h_r_ssm_nt.

    Th_  c__rt  h_d  t_  d_c_d_  _f  th_  w_rd  b_ld  w_s  s_mply  _n  _ns_lt,  _r  wh_th_r  _t  w_s  h_r_ssm_nt.  L_wy_rs  f_r  th_  b_ss'  c_mp_ny  s__d  c_ll_ng  _  m_n  b_ld  w_s  n_t  s_x__l  h_r_ssm_nt.  Th_y  s__d  th_t  w_m_n  c_n  _ls_  b_  b_ld.  _n  c__rt,  th_y  _rg__d  th_t:  "_n  _rd_r  t_  b_  r_l_t_d  t_  s_x,  _t  w__ld  h_v_  t_  _pply  t_  th_t  s_x  t_  th_  _xcl_s__n  _f  th_  _th_r  s_x."  Th_y  s__d  th_t  b_c__s_  w_m_n  c_n  _ls_  b_  b_ld,  _t  c__ld  n_t  b_  h_r_ssm_nt.  _  c__rt  j_dg_  d_s_gr__d  w_th  th_  b_ss'  l_wy_rs.  Sh_  s__d  th_t  c_mm_nt_ng  _n  _  m_n's  b_ldn_ss  _s  th_  s_m_  _s  _  m_n  m_k_ng  c_mm_nts  _b__t  p_rts  _f  _  w_m_n's  b_dy.  Th_  l__d  j_dg_  s__d  th_  w_rd  b_ld  w_s  r_l_t_d  t_  g_nd_r.  H_  s__d  th_s  w_s  b_c__s_  m_r_  m_n  th_n  w_m_n  _r_  b_ld.

    Punctuate the text and add capitals

    a court in the uk has said calling a man bald is sexist the judge in the court said using the word could break equality laws the judge said this was because the word bald is inherently related to gender this means that because most people who are bald are men it is wrong to use the word against a man this sex discrimination case came after a worker took his company to court the boss called the worker bald the worker said he had an argument with his boss the boss angrily called the worker bald and fired him the worker won a case of unfair dismissal in the court the judge said the word bald was harmful and that using it was sexual harassment

    the court had to decide if the word bald was simply an insult or whether it was harassment lawyers for the boss company said calling a man bald was not sexual harassment they said that women can also be bald in court they argued that in order to be related to sex it would have to apply to that sex to the exclusion of the other sex they said that because women can also be bald it could not be harassment a court judge disagreed with the boss lawyers she said that commenting on a mans baldness is the same as a man making comments about parts of a womans body the lead judge said the word bald was related to gender he said this was because more men than women are bald

    Put a slash (/) where the spaces are

    AcourtintheU.K.hassaidcallingaman"bald"issexist.Thejudgeintheco
    urtsaidusingthewordcouldbreakequalitylaws.Thejudgesaidthiswasb
    ecausethewordbaldis"inherentlyrelatedtogender".Thismeansthatb
    ecausemostpeoplewhoarebaldaremen,itiswrongtousethewordagain
    staman.Thissexdiscriminationcasecameafteraworkertookhiscompa
    nytocourt.Thebosscalledtheworkerbald.Theworkersaidhehadanarg
    umentwithhisboss.Thebossangrilycalledtheworker"bald"andfiredhi
    m.Theworkerwonacaseofunfairdismissalinthecourt.Thejudgesaidth
    ewordbaldwasharmful,andthatusingitwassexualharassment.Theco
    urthadtodecideifthewordbaldwassimplyaninsult,orwhetheritwashar
    assment.Lawyersfortheboss'companysaidcallingamanbaldwasnots
    exualharassment.Theysaidthatwomencanalsobebald.Incourt,theya
    rguedthat:"Inordertoberelatedtosex,itwouldhavetoapplytothatsext
    otheexclusionoftheothersex."Theysaidthatbecausewomencanalsob
    ebald,itcouldnotbeharassment.Acourtjudgedisagreedwiththeboss'l
    awyers.Shesaidthatcommentingonaman'sbaldnessisthesameasam
    anmakingcommentsaboutpartsofawoman'sbody.Theleadjudgesaid
    thewordbaldwasrelatedtogender.Hesaidthiswasbecausemorement
    hanwomenarebald.

    Free writing

    Write about baldness and sexism for 10 minutes. Comment on your partner’s paper.

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    Academic writing

    Having no hair is easier than having hair. Discuss.

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    Homework

    1. VOCABULARY EXTENSION: Choose several of the words from the text. Use a dictionary or Google’s search field (or another search engine) to build up more associations / collocations of each word.
    2. INTERNET: Search the Internet and find out more about this news story. Share what you discover with your partner(s) in the next lesson.
    3. BALDNESS: Make a poster about baldness. Show your work to your classmates in the next lesson. Did you all have similar things?
    4. BALD: Write a magazine article about the word "bald" being sexist. Include imaginary interviews with people who are for and against this.
    Read what you wrote to your classmates in the next lesson. Write down any new words and expressions you hear from your partner(s).
    5. WHAT HAPPENED NEXT? Write a newspaper article about the next stage in this news story. Read what you wrote to your classmates in the next lesson. Give each other feedback on your articles.
    6. LETTER: Write a letter to an expert on baldness. Ask him/her three questions about it. Give him/her three of your opinions on baldness. Read your letter to your partner(s) in your next lesson. Your partner(s) will answer your questions.

    A Few Additional Activities for Students

    Ask your students what they have read, seen or heard about this news in their own language. Students are likely to / may have have encountered this news in their L1 and therefore bring a background knowledge to the classroom.

    Get students to role play different characters from this news story.

    Ask students to keep track of this news and revisit it to discuss in your next class.

    Ask students to male predictions of how this news might develop in the next few days or weeks, and then revisit and discuss in a future class.

    Ask students to write a follow-up story to this news.

    Students role play a journalist and someone who witnessed or was a part of this news. Perhaps they could make a video of the interview.

    Ask students to keep a news journal in English and add this story to their thoughts.

    Also...

    Buy my 1,000 Ideas and Activities for Language Teachers eBook. It has hundreds of ideas, activity templates, reproducible activities for:

    • News
    • Warm ups
    • Pre-reading / Post-reading
    • Using headlines
    • Working with words
    • While-reading / While-listening
    • Moving from text to speech
    • Post-reading / Post-listening
    • Discussions
    • Using opinions
    • Plans
    • Language
    • Using lists
    • Using quotes
    • Task-based activities
    • Role plays
    • Using the central characters in the article
    • Using themes from the news
    • Homework

    Buy my book

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    Answers

    (Please look at page 26 of the PDF to see a photocopiable example of this activity.)

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