Discussion | Unit 2: The Gender Gap

1. What is the purpose of the article?

2. What is the purpose of paragraph 2?

3. How many reasons are given as factors contributing to Frozen’s success in Japan? Which one is the main concern of this article? Answer in your own words.

4. In your own words, explain why Frozen is described as being “un-Disney” (¶8). Find at least three specific details.

5. Which of the following best completes the blank in paragraph 11?

a. In fact b. Fortunately c. After all d. To illustrate

6. With the help of context clues, explain the meaning of “they tend to fare less well in its boardrooms” (¶12)

7. Based on the article, give two specific details from two different paragraphs illustrating a gender gap in Japan. Use your own words.
¶ ___:
¶ ___:

8. What message does the writer intend to convey through the concluding sentence?

9. True (T) or False (F)? Support your answer with one piece of evidence from the article.

F Frozen’s success worldwide has been due almost exclusively to its popularity with children.

Evidence: "So, what’s behind Japan’s Frozen craze? Undoubtedly, Japanese audiences are responding to the same qualities that have turned Frozen into a global phenomenon. Not only is the music catchy, but the story is morally nuanced enough that adults seem to enjoy it as well as children." (¶3)

10. In the left column are major ideas from the article. In the right column, identify the paragraph(s) which contain(s) each of these ideas.

Major ideas/topics

a.    How marketing strategies employed to promote Frozen in Japan differed from those used in other countries.
b.    Argument for feminism’s contribution to Frozen’s phenomenal success.
c.    Japanese women’s limited role in politics.
d.    The extent of Frozen’s success in Japan.
e.    Argument against feminism’s contribution to the movie’s phenomenal success.
f.    The movie’s synopsis.
g.    Possible reasons for Frozen’s sensational popularity in Japan.

Paragraph(s)

a.
b.
c.
d.
e.
f.
g.

11. Vocabulary
Using context clues, give a definition of the following:

a.    accolades (¶1)    _______________________________________________________
b.    cakewalk (¶6)    _______________________________________________________
c.    traipsing (¶7)    _______________________________________________________
d.    tack (¶10)        _______________________________________________________
e.    ploy (¶11)         _______________________________________________________
f.    heckled (¶13)     _______________________________________________________
g.    boorishness (¶14) ________________________________________________________
h.    has struck a chord (¶15) __________________________________________________
i.    masterstroke (¶16) ______________________________________________________

12. What do the following refer to?

a. This fact (¶13) ________________________________________________________
b. The latter (¶17)________________________________________________________

1. Which of the following best describes the purpose of the article?
a.    To inform
b.    To criticize
c.    To defend
d.    To propose a solution

2. Which paragraph contains the main idea of the article?

3. Paragraph 4 doesn’t have a stated main idea. Write one for it.

4. Explain what the writer means by “But it is indeed in Uttar Pradesh that we see the deepest sympathy for this deleterious machismo” (¶5).

5. In what way does the writer’s mentioning “Bandit Queen” (¶6, 7) help advance the main idea of this article?

6. Identify the metaphor used in paragraph 8 and explain its meaning.

7. How many examples are given to support the idea stated in paragraph 8?

8. Briefly explain the disagreement among the panel of journalists in paragraph 9.

9. What does the writer intend to tell the reader by mentioning the poet tweeting about Tejpal’s case (¶12)?

10. True (T) or False (F)? Support your answer with evidence from the text.

____ It is against the law for an Indian husband to force his own wife to have sex with him.

Evidence: _____________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________

11. Vocabulary in Context
Match the word/phrase on the left with its definition on the right. Write letters a, b, c … in the space provided.

Words/Phrases

b spike (¶1)
a tacitly (¶3)
e unabashed (¶3)
c deleterious (¶5)
m biopic (¶7)
h went awry (¶9)
j lambasted (¶9)
d atrocity (¶10)
k trivialized (¶10)
l bite the bullet (¶11)
g egregious (¶11)
f impeccable (¶12)
i entertained (¶13)

Definitions

a. indirectly
b. increase
c. harmful
d. cruel and violent act
e. shameless
f. flawless
g. extremely bad
h. didn’t go as planned
i. considered
j. criticized severely
k. made to sound less serious
l. endure pain bravely
m. movie about the life of a particular person

12. What do the following refer to?
a. the setting (¶7) _________________________________________________
b. the urban intelligentsia (¶8)__________________________________________

	The Ascent of Woman, BBC (2015) Episode 1: Civilization (58:56 min.) Episode 2: Separation (59:21 min.) Episode 3: Power (58:55 min.) Episode 4: Revolution (58:32 min.)
	Tokyo Revealed, Travel Channel (2002)
	Gender Swap: Japanese High School Girls Wear Pants, Boys Wear Skirts, TomoNews (2014) A Yoshida high school’s held an unusual event on Nov. 11^th, one that has sparked some interesting discussion.
	The Gender Gap in Japan, The Economist (2014)
	Japan: Politics, Power and the Press, The Listening Post, Al Jazeera (2015; 10:23 min.)
	Dear Life Japan: Gender Roles (2012; 9:31 min.)
	Disney's Frozen - "Let It Go" Multi-Language Full Sequence (2014; 3:56 min.)
	Let It Go - Behind The Mic Multi-Language Version (from "Frozen") (2014; 3:55 min.)

	Frozen, dir. Chris Buck and Jennifer Lee, perf. Kristen Bell, Idina Menzel, Jonathan Groff, Disney (2013) Frozen, Wikia Frozen is a 2013 American 3D CGI-animated musical fantasy comedy-drama film, created and produced at Walt Disney Animation Studios
	Disney's Frozen Official Japanese Trailer with English Subtitles, YouTube (2:06 min.)