Women in politics ⏲️ 6 Minute English

Published 2023-04-27
It is often said that the qualities of empathy and understanding - often associated with women - are most needed in politics today. Yet, while women make up over half the world's population, only 26 percent of the world's politicians are women. Why is this? Neil and Beth discuss some of the reasons, and teach you related vocabulary as well.

❓❓❓ This week's question:
Britain has had three female prime ministers, all from the Conservative party. First was Margaret Thatcher, who was followed in 2016 by Theresa May, and after that by Liz Truss, who resigned after only a short time in office. But for how long, exactly, was Liz Truss prime minister? Was it:
a) 45 days?
b) 1 year and 45 days? or,
c) 2 years and 45 days?
Listen to the programme to find out the answer.

Vocabulary

✔️ misogyny
hatred of, or prejudice against, women

✔️ coached
specially trained or instructed in how to improve at a particular skill

✔️ attire
the clothes you are wearing

✔️ walk a tightrope
be in a difficult situation that requires careful and considered behaviour

✔️ collaborative
involving several people working together for a particular aim

✔️ my way or the highway
(idiom) used as a warning that someone will only accept their own way of doing things

[Cover: Getty Images]
You can download the transcript and audio for this programme here: 👉 www.bbc.co.uk/learningenglish/english/features/6-m…

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All Comments (21)
  • @Win36317
    I’m from Srilanka. Mrs Sirimawo Bandaranayake was the world’s first female prime minister when she became Prime Minister of Srilanka in 1960 Thank you.
  • @yakamoz1108
    Thank you for providing your latest story. From last October, I dictate your story and do check my English skill, which is why I can confirm my habitant of listening recently. And at the same time, I'm able to have check gramatically. Its so usuful.
  • @trangdieu.18c
    :hand-pink-waving: VOCABULARY FROM THIS VIDEO “Women in politics - 6 Minute English” :hand-pink-waving: 1. Prejudice:an unfair and unreasonable opinion or feeling, especially when formed without enough thought or knowledge 2. Misogynistic: showing feelings of hating women or a belief that men are better than women 3. Resigned: accepting that something you do not like will happen because you cannot change it 4. Tightrope: a tightly stretched wire or rope fixed high above the ground, across which skilled people walk, especially in order to entertain others 5. Misogyny : hatred of, or prejudice against, women 6. Coached: specially trained or instructed in how to improve at a particular skill 7. Attire: the clothes you are wearing 8. Walk a tightrope: be in a difficult situation that requires careful and considered behaviour 9. Collaborative: involving several people working together for a particular aim 10. My way or the highway: (idiom) used as a warning that someone will only accept their own way of doing things 11. Make up over 04/27/2023 VIETNAM ALL THE BEST FOR YOU ^^
  • Hi there I'm one of your listeners, your podcasts are exciting and I am passionate about mr Dan's voice I am looking forward to seeing Dan in your podcast
  • @wert905
    it reminds me of listening task at my school. we listen to this kind of audios and answer the question later.
  • Hi. I liked that episode a lot. I knew some information from that. That is a hard topic i think. Many people can be more criticized. What i see nowadays women rarely work in politics
  • Thank you for providing interesting topic. When I went to an all girl's school , of course all school council members were girls, but there was no problem . I think both encouraging women to work as politicians and changing voting system are needed to narrow the gap.
  • And My way or the highway performed by Limp bizkit is one of my favorite songs 😊