Then and Now: Could, Allowed To and Should

1Why this matters

"Compare traditional and modern gender roles" is a common composition title. A strong answer needs accurate facts, fair judgement, and the right grammar to talk about what people could or were allowed to do in the past, and what they should do now. It also needs linking words that show contrast. This lesson gives you all four.

2Reading: Changing roles in Rwanda

This is an original text by Ganzaa. The facts about the Chamber of Deputies were checked against the English Wikipedia article on it.

In the past, many girls in Rwanda could not finish school, because families often expected daughters to stay at home, help with housework and marry young. In many families, only sons could inherit land from their parents. Women were rarely seen in leadership, and in many homes a wife was not expected to speak for the family in public.

Much has changed. Since 1999, a Rwandan law has given daughters the same right as sons to inherit from their parents. The Constitution adopted in 2003 says that women must hold at least thirty per cent of posts in decision-making bodies. In the Chamber of Deputies, 24 of the 80 seats are reserved for women, and many more women win seats through party lists. Since the 2008 election, women have held more than half of all the seats, which was a first for any national parliament in the world.

Roles at home are changing too, though more slowly. In many families today, both parents earn money, and fathers cook, collect children from school and help with homework. Girls study mathematics, engineering and ICT, and boys study nursing and teaching. Yet in many homes women still do most of the unpaid work, such as cooking, cleaning and caring for children, even when they also work outside the home. Many people say that the next change should happen in the kitchen as well as in parliament.

Check your understanding

Vocabulary: inherit (receive property from someone who has died), constitution (the highest law of a country), reserved (kept for a particular group), decision-making body (a group that makes official decisions, such as a council or parliament), unpaid work (work done without wages, such as housework).

3Grammar: could, was allowed to, should

All of these are followed by the base verb. could to go, allowed to inherited and should shares are all wrong.

Worked example

Rewrite in the past: Girls are allowed to join the football team. (in 1980: no)

1. Past of are allowed to is were allowed to.
2. The meaning is negative → were not allowed to.
3. Keep the base verb join.

Answer: In 1980, girls were not allowed to join the football team.

Time expressions: past simple or present perfect?

• A finished time (in 1999, in 2003, ten years ago) → past simple: The Constitution was adopted in 2003.
• since + a starting point, when the situation continues now → present perfect: Since 2008, women have held more than half of the seats.

4Writing: comparing traditional and modern roles

Useful linking words for contrast and comparison:

• Contrast: whereas, while, however, in contrast, on the other hand, but
• Similarity: similarly, both ... and, likewise, in the same way

There are two ways to organise a comparison essay. In the block method, you describe the past in one paragraph and the present in the next. In the point-by-point method, each paragraph compares one topic (education, work, leadership) in both periods. The point-by-point method usually earns more marks, because it compares directly.

Model point-by-point paragraph (topic: education)

In the past, many girls could not continue beyond primary school, whereas boys were often encouraged to study further. Families expected daughters to help at home and marry young. Today, in contrast, girls and boys are allowed to study any subject, and many girls choose mathematics, ICT and engineering. However, some girls still miss lessons because of housework, so parents should share chores fairly between their sons and daughters.

5Project: a media documentary on gender roles

In groups, plan a three-minute audio or video documentary called Then and Now.

1. Choose one topic: school, work, leadership or the home.
2. Interview one older person (use your questions from the lesson on life in the past) and one young person.
3. Write a short script: an introduction, two clips, and a conclusion that compares them, using at least three linking words.
4. Record it on a phone, play it to the class, and invite questions.

Always ask permission before you record anyone, and let them hear the result.

Practice