Women's Rights in the Workplace Reading Answers

Apr 24, 2025

Women's Rights in the Workplace Reading Answers contains 6 questions, and it is a topic belonging to the assessment system of IELTS general reading test. Women's Rights in the Workplace Reading Answers have to be answered within 10 minutes. In this IELTS reading section, there are questions like Do the following statements agree with the information given in the text above? Also, Women's Rights in the Workplace Reading Answers talks about the progress of women's rights in the workplace. To practice reading papers like that, the candidates can refer to IELTS Reading Practice test.

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Topic:

Women's Rights in the Workplace

Women enjoy most freedoms today that men enjoy, and have joined the American workforce in droves to work as doctors, lawyers, teachers, designers, truck drivers and in many other professions. Discrimination against women still exists in various forms, particularly in the workplace. Women should know their rights as U.S. workers and take responsibility for helping to stop rights violations in the workplace.

History

Women have worked in some capacity in the U.S. since its inception, but only in menial jobs for very low pay. During World War I, women entered the workforce in higher numbers due to the shortage of men. It wasn't until World War Il that they went to work in force. During this period, women took positions formerly open only to men; 7 million women entered the workforce, 2 million of those in heavy industry. They still had no formal workplace rights until the passage of Title VIl of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. This act states that employers may not discriminate against people on the basis of race, colour, religion, sex or national origin.

Significance

Title VII makes it illegal for employers to exclude qualified women from any available position. Employers would often hire less qualified men for positions to which women had applied. This law empowers women to sue if they feel a potential employer has excluded them from a position based on gender. President John F. Kennedy signed the Equal Pay Act in 1963, which states that employers must pay women the same amount they would pay a man in the same position. In the past, companies paid women far less than their male counterparts for the same position. Women can sue their employers if they can prove that a male in the same position earns higher wages. Both of these laws significantly increase the status of women in the workforce.

Types

Women's rights in the workplace include many facets, such as the right to work if pregnant. An employer cannot exclude a woman from a position due to pregnancy as long as she can perform satisfactorily. Employers cannot refuse to hire any person due to marital status, gender or age. In addition, an employee of any company where a woman works may not sexually harass the woman in any way. This includes a hostile work environment where the woman must endure sexual comments, touching or materials, as well as unwanted sexual advances that put her in fear of losing her job if she does not comply. Women should report all advances of this sort to the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission or a supervisor.

Benefits

Because of workplace rights, women enjoy the freedom to work in almost any position they choose. They join the armed forces, work as cab drivers, own businesses and become executives in large corporations. As the financial status of women increases, so does the welfare of their families, children and the nation.

Considerations

According to Sexual Harassment Support, a nonprofit support group for victims of sexual harassment, only 5 percent to 15 percent of victims of workplace sexual harassment report these violations to their employers or proper authorities for fear of ridicule, losing their jobs or not being believed. All victims of sexual harassment should seriously consider reporting it. Taking this step protects America's workforce from workplace rights violations.

Questions 9-14

Do the following statements agree with the information given in the text above?

TRUE - if the statement agrees with the information

FALSE - if the statement contradicts the information

NOT GIVEN - if there is no information present

9. During world war 2 there were more women working than men.

Answer: FALSE

Supporting statement: "During this period, women took positions formerly open only to men; 7 million women entered the workforce..."

Keywords: World War II, women working

Keyword Location: History paragraph, lines 3-5

Explanation: While many women joined the workforce during World War II, the text does not say they outnumbered men; it only states there was a significant increase in female workers.

10. Women now earn at least 10 times more than men in certain roles.

Answer: NOT GIVEN

Explanation: The text discusses equal pay laws but does not mention women earning significantly more than men in any roles.

11. Discrimination towards women still happens in the present day.

Answer: TRUE

Supporting statement: "Discrimination against women still exists in various forms, particularly in the workplace."

Keywords: discrimination, women, present day

Keyword Location: Introduction paragraph, line 3

Explanation: The passage clearly states that discrimination towards women still occurs in modern workplaces.

12. A small number of women report sexual harassment in the workplace.

Answer: TRUE

Supporting statement: "According to Sexual Harassment Support...only 5 percent to 15 percent of victims...report these violations..."

Keywords: small number, report, sexual harassment

Keyword Location: Considerations paragraph, lines 1-3

Explanation: The passage states that a small percentage of women report workplace sexual harassment cases.

13. Women have no rights to work if they are pregnant.

Answer: FALSE

Supporting statement: "Women's rights in the workplace include...the right to work if pregnant."

Keywords: pregnant, right to work

Keyword Location: Types paragraph, line 1

Explanation: The text confirms that women cannot be denied employment because of pregnancy, contradicting the statement.

14. Women are the highest paid CEO's in the USA.

Answer: FALSE

Supporting statement: "Women can sue their employers if they can prove that a male in the same position earns higher wages."

Keywords: women, highest paid, CEOs, USA

Keyword Location: Paragraph 2, lines 5-7

Explanation: The text discusses wage equality laws but does not mention women being the highest-paid CEOs in the USA. In fact, it highlights that women often earn less than men in the same positions, contradicting the statement.

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