Pre-reading questions:
- Are you a member of any sports club?
- Do you know any sporting events that are played by males or females only? Discuss.
Vocabulary:
- concerned – worried; caring
I didn’t play because I was concerned about losing. - bar – prohibit (someone) from doing something
She was barred from entering the club because she’s too young. - exclusion – a situation in which someone or something is not allowed to take part in an activity or to enter a place
Your exclusion from this game is a punishment for coming in late. - illustrious – famous and well respected
He came from an illustrious family in London. - discriminatory – unfairly treating a person or particular group of people differently from others
This company does not have any discriminatory practices in hiring people.
In May 2016, the men of the Honourable Company of Edinburgh in Muirfield voted against female membership mostly because they were concerned about slow play and making women feel uncomfortable. As a result, Muirfield was barred from hosting a British Open. This year, to avoid further exclusions from hosting major events such as a British Open, Muirfield voted in favor of allowing membership to women. Before this year’s decision, Muirfield has long been admitting females only as guests and visitors.
Muirfield was one of the last clubs to host the most illustrious championships despite its discriminatory membership policies. The Royal and Ancient Golf Club of St. Andrews welcomed female memberships in 2014. In 2016, Royal Troon ended its male-only membership policy. Augusta National Golf Club, home of the Masters, led this end in sexism in golf club membership when it started admitting female members in 2012.
Comprehension Questions:
- Why was Muirfield barred from hosting a British Open?
- In May 2016, why did some members of Muirfield vote against female membership?
- What club started opening its doors to female members in 2014?
- What club started the change in membership policies in 2012?
- What did Royal Troon do in 2016?
Express Your Opinion:
- Do you think golf is better played by men than women? Discuss.
- In sports, what advantages do men have over women?
- What advantages do women have over men when it comes to sports?
- Why do you think sports like soccer and basketball have more male fans than women?
- Do you think there’s a sporting event where men and women can compete against each other as equals?