Group Wants Fathers to Volunteer at US Schools

A group called the National Center for Fathering launched a program for American men almost 20 years ago. The program is called Watch D.O.G.S. D.O.G.S. stands for Dads of Great Students. The program tries to get men to spend more time serving as volunteers at schools across the United States. Most of the men are fathers. But they can also be grandfathers, uncles and step-fathers. The program was the idea of two men, both dads. They launched Watch D.O.G.S. after two boys, aged 13 and 11, shot and killed four people at an Arkansas school in 1998. Studies show that children generally do better in school when fathers are engaged in their day-to-day activities. One study in 2013 found that a father’s engagement can help a child succeed in school. It can also increase the child’s chances of finishing high school, while reducing his or her risk of drug abuse. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported the findings. The Watch D.O.G.S. program now operates in more than 5,000 schools. It requires that men serve as school volunteers at least one full day during the school year. The men do a little bit of everything during their volunteer days. Some help to direct cars and other vehicles entering school property to drop off children. Others will have a meal with small groups of children. This seems to help boys and girls behave better while out of the classroom. During the rest of the day, the men can read to students, help teachers with activities or assist with small group projects. Adam Mehmud volunteers at a school in northern Virginia, just outside of Washington, D.C. Mehmud is a single father with three sons. His own father died when he was very young. So Mehmud says he wants to be sure to be a good father. He has been a Watch D.O.G.S. volunteer for three years. These days, he says, technology can take over a child’s life. It is harder for parents to find time to connect with their children. But the school day is free from video games and smart phones. Adam Mehmud said he and other men see how interactions that may seem small can help children learn the right way to do things. “I see my sons do very thoughtful things, and hopefully part of the reason for that is because I try to do things for others, too,” Mehmud said. I’m Dan Friedell.   Tabinda Naeem wrote this story for VOANews.com. Dan Friedell adapted it for Learning English. George Grow was the editor. Do your children’s schools allow fathers to get involved? We want to know. Write to us in the Comments Section or on our Facebook page. ________________________________________________________________ Words in This Story engage – v. to become involved with (someone or something) dad – n. a father bit – n. piece  

from Voice of America http://ift.tt/2buX20n
via IFTTT

Lesson 26: This Game Is Fun!

Summary Anna plays the game "Catch Americana" and learns more about U.S. Presidents. She also learns to watch where she walks! Speaking Learn to pronounce the new words for this lesson. Find out more about the U.S. Presidents and the symbols in the game Anna and Dan play in the video. You can also learn another way to warn someone of danger. ​ Pronunciation Use this video to learn about how people say "ought to" in fast speech. Conversation   Anna: This is the Roosevelt Memorial. Where is the symbol? Anna remembers that Dan said: You have to find things that aren't really there. ... When you find an American symbol, you win points and a Fun Fact about a U.S. President. Anna: Yay! I found Uncle Sam and I won another 40 points! What is the Fun Fact? Voice: Franklin Roosevelt was the first to fly in a plane as president! Anna: I didn't know that. This is a really beautiful memorial. Anna: This is the Lincoln Memorial! Where is the symbol? Anna: I found it! The Statue of Liberty! Please give me my Fun Fact. Voice: Abraham Lincoln was a great wrestler! Anna: I didn't know that. Lincoln wanted freedom for all people. So, the Statue of Liberty works well. Anna: And I won 20 points! Time to find the next symbol. Dan: Hey! Look out! Anna: Sorry. Hey, it's you! Now, I should be more careful. Dan: That’s okay. Anna: This game is a lot of fun. Hey, what’s your name? Dan: Dan. What’s yours? Anna: Anna. Dan: Like Americana! Anna: Yeah, I guess so. Dan: Did you find any symbols? Anna: Yes, I found three and won 120 points! Dan: Me too. But, did you find the bald eagle? Anna: No. Did you? Dan: No. First one to find it wins? Dan: Anna, look out for that tree! Anna: I learned a lot about presidents with this game. But I ought to be more careful. Until next time …! Writing Are there any memorials to famous leaders in your town or in your country? Tell us about them. Do you admire the leader? Write to us by email or in the Comments section. Click on the image below to download the Activity Sheet and practice talking about sports with a friend. Learning Strategy Learning Strategies are the thoughts and actions that help make learning easier or more effective. The learning strategy for this lesson is Make Associations. When we think of connections between things we are making associations.  In this lesson, Dan makes an association to help himself remember Anna's name. After Anna tells him her name, he says, "Like Americana!" The name "Anna" sounds like the end of the word "Americana" to Dan.  Can you find another example of making associations in the conversation? Write to us in the Comments section or send us an email. Teachers, see the Lesson Plan  for more details on teaching this strategy. Quiz ​Listen to short videos and test your listening skills with this quiz. ______________________________________________________________ New Words (air)plane - n. a vehicle that has wings and an engine and can carry people or things in the air fly - v. to travel in an aircraft or spacecraft freedom - n. the power to do what you want to do or the ability to move or act freely Look out - phrasal verb. used to tell someone to be aware of something dangerous wrestler - n. someone who competes in the sport of wrestling yay - interjection.used to express joy, approval, or excitement   American Presidents and Symbols (Part Two) Abraham Lincoln: America's 16th President, Abraham Lincoln signed the Emancipation Proclamation. It said the 3 million enslaved people in the South were free. They could enjoy some kinds of freedom after the end of the American Civil War. Franklin Delano Roosevelt America's 32nd president, Franklin Delano Roosevelt, was president from March 4, 1933 – April 12, 1945. He was the only President elected to four terms, and the only paralyzed President. FDR led the United States through World War Two. (President Roosevelt's symbol in the Catch Americana game is Uncle Sam. The Uncle Sam symbol called many American men to join the U.S. Army to fight in the World Wars.  George Washington ______________________________________________________________ Free Materials   Download the VOA Learning English Word Book for a dictionary of the words we use on this website. Each Let's Learn English lesson has an Activity Sheet for extra practice on your own or in the classroom. In this lesson, you can use it to practice talking about associations with sports and warnings using "look out." For Teachers ​ See the Lesson Plan for this lesson for ideas and more teaching resources. Send us an email if you have comments on this course or questions. Grammar focus: modal "ought to;" irregular past tense verbs Topics: U.S. Presidents; Americana symbols Learning Strategy: Make Associations Speaking & Pronunciation Focus: Pronouncing "ought to" in fast speech; Giving warnings with the expression "look out;" Symbols associated with American Presidents ______________________________________________________________ Now it's your turn. Send us an email or write to us in the Comments section below or on our Facebook page to let us know what you think of this lesson.

from Voice of America http://ift.tt/2c0bEX7
via IFTTT

English No Longer Requirement for New York City Taxi Drivers

In Louisiana Flooding, It’s Neighbor Helping Neighbor

  Graham Kinchen had an emergency when a sandbag wall near his home began to fall apart. The wall was protecting his house in Baton Rouge, Louisiana from the recent flooding. He let people know about his problem on Facebook and by telephone. Within five minutes, friends gathered to help rebuild the wall. The incident shows how neighbors have helped each other in response to the recent flooding in Baton Rouge and nearby communities. Baton Rouge is the capital of the southern state of Louisiana. Storms and flooding hit the area from August 8th to 14th. Thirteen people were killed and about 100,000 homes were damaged. Thousands of people are homeless. Many are staying in shelters or the homes of friends or family. Spirit of Cooperation “We have seen a great spirit of cooperation, with neighbors, churches and friends pitching in,” said Peter Kovacs, editor of The Advocate, the daily newspaper in Baton Rouge.“ Many of us have unexpected houseguests, and we’re making a great adventure of it.” Kinchen and his wife, Denise, use a boat to get from their front door to the road. Sandbags have been keeping most of the flood waters out of their house. Louisiana has suffered severe flooding before. Hurricane Katrina in 2005 killed 1,833 people and heavily damaged or destroyed 300,000 homes. Many residents of New Orleans left their flooded homes behind and moved to other cities, including Baton Rouge. Eleven years later, many former New Orleans residents remain in Baton Rouge. Obama: Confident Rebuilding Will Move Forward “Sometimes when these kinds of things happen, it can seem a little bit too much to bear,” said President Barack Obama. Obama was in Baton Rouge Tuesday, noting that he had visited New Orleans after Hurricane Katrina when he was a U.S. senator. Obama said he is confident flooded communities in Baton Rouge and nearby communities will recover, just as many neighborhoods in New Orleans did after Hurricane Katrina. “And the reason I can say that with confidence is because that's what Americans do in times like this,” Obama said. “I know how resilient the people of Louisiana are, and I know that you will rebuild again.” By resilient, Obama means having the ability to overcome problems, no matter how tough. Dustin Clouatre  is a member of the self-named “Cajun Navy.” It is a group of residents who use Facebook to organize private boat owners to rescue people and move food and other aid where it is needed. 'Love Is All You Need' He soon became popular on social media. “Me and my uncle had just gotten a family out of a house and something got caught in the motor,” he said. It was a sign that said, “Love is All You Need.” The photo quickly spread on social media. David Vitter is a Republican senator from Louisiana. He visited flooded communities with the president on Tuesday. “There’s a spirit of helping folks and it really was in full display when the president visited the neighborhood,” Vitter said. Vitter calls the rain that brought the floods a 1000-year event, meaning it has a one-in-1,000 chance of happening in any year. The Red Cross said it is the biggest natural disaster in the United States since Super Storm Sandy in 2012. Despite this, Vitter and others said the Louisiana disaster has not received much news coverage outside the state. Competition for News Coverage “I think people are a little disaster weary, plus there are other competing stories,” Vitter said. Both Vitter and Obama praised the willingness of people to help each other. They spoke to a young African-American man, who was helping his father clean out his flooded home. The man was also helping his dad’s elderly white neighbor, who lives alone. The work of removing flooded walls, floors and furniture is not easy. Kevin White has been working on flood relief for the past week in Saint Amant, Louisiana. He said the smells at the water-damaged houses are terrible. White is housing a family of four who were flooded out of their own home. He and the family spent the past few days tearing out walls and throwing out everything else damaged in his guests’ flooded house. The damaged things represent almost everything the family owned, he said. I’m Bruce Alpert. Marissa Melton reported this story for VOA. Bruce Alpert adapted the story for VOA Learning English. We want to hear from you. Write to us in the Comments Section and share your views on our Facebook Page. __________________________________________________________ Words in this Story sandbag -- n. bag filled with sand and used as a weight or to build temporary walls to protect homes and businesses pitching in -- v. offering help houseguests -- n. people who are invited to stay at a person’s house confident -- n. having a feeling or belief that people can do something well or succeed at something resilient -- adj. having the ability to overcome problems display -- n. put out so people can see it weary -- adv. tired, lacking interest because you have seen it often before furniture -- n. chairs, tables, beds, etc., that are used to make a room ready for use

from Voice of America http://ift.tt/2bPAxYg
via IFTTT

English in a Minute: Turn the Tables

When should you "turn the tables?" Find out how to use this expression in this week's English in a Minute!

from Voice of America http://ift.tt/2bIPKHc
via IFTTT

The Longest Living Vertebrate is… a Shark

  New research found the longest living animal on Earth with a backbone is  – a shark. The research, published in Science magazine, found the Greenland shark is the longest living vertebrate – or animal with a backbone-- in the world. The gray-colored sharks live in the cold waters of the Arctic and are named after Greenland, the world’s largest island. After examining one of these sharks, scientists decided it was born in the icy waters about 400 years ago, and only died recently. An international team of biologists and physicists was able to estimate the ages of 28 dead female Greenland sharks by studying the lenses of their eyes. It is a new way to learn the age of an animal. Eight of the sharks were probably 200 years old or more, and could even have been 300 years old. That would make them older than the bowhead whale, which earlier was believed to have been the oldest vertebrate at about 211 years old, according to the Associated Press. This also means Greenland sharks can live more than three times longer than humans. Many people these days can expect to live into their eighties. African elephants average about 70 years. The oldest of the Greenland sharks the scientists studied was nearly 5 meters long. It was thought to have been 392 years old when it was caught four years ago.  But because the testing method is so new, it is not exact.  The study’s lead author is Julius Nielsen, a marine biologist from Denmark. He says the 392 number could be off by as much as 120 years in either direction. That means the shark was probably born sometime between the years 1500 and 1740, with 1620 being the most likely. "It's an estimate. It's not a determination," Nielsen said. "It is the best we can do." Even at the lowest age, the shark would have been 272 years old when it died, and still would be the longest-living animal with a backbone, Nielsen said. "I don't know why they get as old, but I hope someone will find out," Nielsen said. Christopher Lowe is director of the shark lab at California State University in Long Beach. He was not part of the study, but praised it. In an email to AP, Lowe wrote that he is not surprised that Greenland sharks live a long time.  But, he said, "I'm really shocked by the magnitude of that longevity."   Lowe said that when the water is deep and cold, that usually means fish can live a long time. Why? It could be because the cold water slows down an animal’s metabolism—or the way it processes food into energy. While Greenland sharks are among the largest fish in the world, they only grow about one centimeter a year. That fact caught Nielson’s attention and he decided to find a way to determine their age. To get the age estimates, Nielsen and his team used a complex system that combines chemical tests, mathematical models and growth measurements. The research also suggested the female Greenland sharks do not mate and have babies until they are about 150 years old. That may not be good news, because the Greenland sharks may not have many young. If too many are caught, the species could die out. The scientists worry that the sharks are being caught up and killed with other species by commercial fisheries. Some animals without backbones can live even longer. A clam, found in waters off Iceland, lived to be 507 years old. And scientists say some sponges are estimated to be more than 2,000 years old. I’m Anne Ball, and I'm Bryan Lynn. Kevin Enochs wrote this story for VOA. Anne Ball wrote it for Learning English with information from the Associated Press. Pete Heinlein was the editor. We want to hear from you. Write to us in the Comments Section and visit us on our Facebook page. _________________________________________________________________   Words in This Story vertebrate – n. animal with a backbone lens – n. the clear part of the eye that focuses light to see images determination – n. finding out or calculating something magnitude – n. the size or importance of something longevity – n. the length of life metabolism – n. the process that a living thing makes food and water into energy

from Voice of America http://ift.tt/2bpEW2M
via IFTTT

Wheels: An Invention Worth Exploring

  Now, the weekly program Words and Their Stories from VOA Learning English. On this program, we explore the history and usage of common expressions in American English. Today we explore expressions using the word “wheel.” The first wheels, it is believed, were not used for transportation. They were created to serve as potter’s wheels around 3500 B.C. in Mesopotamia. The invention of the wheel was a big deal for humanity. And we can be proud of our ancient human ancestors. So, after going through all that trouble of inventing something like the wheel, it is foolish to reinvent it. This gives us our first expression: to reinvent the wheel. To reinvent the wheel means to waste a lot of time or effort to create something that already exists. For example, in the United States there are many schools that have Parent Teacher Associations (PTA.) These groups let parents help teachers in many different way. So, if you are a parent who wants to start a PTA at your child’s school, you don’t need to reinvent the wheel. You can simply copy the structure already created by many thousands of parents many times over. However, one man actually did reinvent the wheel. By 2001, Australia had introduced a new, online patent system. This system did not require a lawyer. So, a patent lawyer in Australia wanted to prove the system was flawed. So, he submitted a patent application for a “circular transportation facilitation device.” His “wheel” was given a patent, and he proved his point. Just as the wheel is an important invention, a big wheel is an important person. Like gears in a large machine, the big wheel makes the other smaller wheels turn. The same can be said for a person. A big wheel is powerful and can affect other people. The phrase “big wheel” came into use during World War II. As the big wheels are the ones with the power, they are usually the ones doing the wheeling and dealing. To wheel and deal means to make business or political deals, especially in a dishonest way. For example, the wheeling and dealing of Wall Street brokers helped create the 2008 real estate crash in the United States. If we talk about important people, like a big wheel, we should also talk about unimportant people. They can be called a fifth wheel. A car only needs four wheels to operate. So, the “fifth wheel” is unnecessary. A “fifth wheel” is someone who is not needed or who is being ignored in a situation. You will also hear some people use the phrase third wheel. It means the same thing but refers to a bicycle needing only two wheels to operate and not three. Whether you are driving a car or riding a bike, it is important to keep wheels running smoothly. So, sometimes a good idea to grease them. Nothing is more annoying than a squeaky wheel. Maybe that is why we say, the squeaky wheel gets the grease. This idiom means that the problem complained about most loudly, usually gets fixed first. Some word historians say this idiom comes from the American writer Josh Billings. He wrote the poem, “The Kicker,” in 1870. I hate to be a kicker, I always long for peace, But the wheel that does the squeaking, Is the one that gets the grease. You will also hear some people exchange the word “grease” for “oil,” but the meaning remains the same. Most Americans drive and own a car. American English has many expressions that come from our car culture. One important driving lesson we learn very early is to not drive when you are tired. Falling asleep at the wheel is dangerous and can get you or others killed. To be asleep at the wheel is also an expression in American English. It means you are being careless and you don’t notice what is going on around you. If someone falls asleep at the wheel, they are careless at work or are not taking their responsibilities seriously. Let’s listen to this example. Imagine there is a tour company that is doing very well. They successful operate for years, supplying quality tours and vacations. And, they have many repeat customers. Then the president of the company retires and names her son to take her place. But he does not want the job and does not give it the attention it needs. His best friend, who makes mistakes often, is in charge of hotel reservations. The new president puts too many people on tours. He fails to pay money back to unsatisfied customers. Everything falls apart in a matter of months. You could say the new president was asleep at the wheel. He lost control of the company, just like a sleeping person would lose control at the wheel of a car. Now, when you say your wheels are turning it means you are having an idea. When the wheels and gears of a machine turn, things start working. We say the same thing about the brain. To set the wheels in motion means to begin something. But if you are spinning your wheels, you are not beginning anything. This comes from trying to drive in mud or on ice. The car’s wheels cannot grip the surface. They spin and spin in place and don’t go anywhere. That brings us to the end of this Words and Their Stories and our exploration of the word “wheel.” Hopefully, we did a good job and will not be accused of falling asleep at the wheel.  I’m Anna Matteo. _____________________________________________________________ Words in This Story potter – n. a person who makes pots, bowls, plates, etc., out of clay : a person who makes pottery by hand foolish – adj. having or showing a lack of good sense or judgment patent – n. protected by a trademark or a brand name so as to establish proprietary rights analogous to those conveyed by letters patent or a patent broker – n. a person who helps other people to reach agreements, to make deals, or to buy and sell property such as stocks or houses crash – n. a sudden decline (as of a population) or failure (as of a business) grease – n. an oily substance tour company – n. a journey through the different parts of a country, region, etc. reservation – n. an arrangement to have something (such as a room, table, or seat) held for your use at a later time   customer – n. someone who buys goods or services from a business grip  – v.  to grab or hold tightly

from Voice of America http://ift.tt/2bVN5L0
via IFTTT

Yellowstone: America's First National Park

The National Park Service has overseen the nation’s national parks for 100 years. Today, hear about the nation’s first national park, Yellowstone. It is one of the great wild places left not only in America but the world.

from Voice of America http://ift.tt/2bWFcoe
via IFTTT

Yellowstone: America's First National Park

Yellowstone is America's first national park. It is one of the great wild places left not only in America but the world.

from Voice of America http://ift.tt/2bWzeUA
via IFTTT

French Burkini Bans Revive Debate On Muslim Clothing

  France’s top administrative court has ruled that French towns cannot  ban women from wearing a kind of clothing for swimming on their beaches. The town of Villeneuve-Loubet, had banned “burkinis,” a swimsuit some Muslim women wear to cover their whole bodies. The court’s ruling comes as a worldwide debate has grown over the French bans on burkinis. Some people expressed shock and anger at images of French policemen fining a Muslim woman, and appearing to make her take off a piece of her clothing. The decision by the Council of State Friday deals with the ban in the Riviera town of Villeneuve-Loubet. But, it is expected to affect all of about 30 French towns and cities that have similar bans. The city of Nice is one of them. That is where 86 people were killed when a truck ran into a crowd gathered to see fireworks on France’s Bastille Day. The Islamic State terror group claimed responsibility for that attack. In Friday’s case, lawyers for two human rights groups argued the ban was not legal. They said the bans are not in keeping with people’s freedoms and that mayors did not have the power to tell women what to wear on beaches. Mayors had expressed concern about public order after the deadly attacks by Islamic extremists this summer.  At least one mayor said he will not lift the ban, even after the court’s decision.  “Here the tension is very, very, very strong and I won’t withdraw it,” the mayor of Sisco told BFM-TV Friday. Some top political leaders say the swimsuits oppress women and violate France’s secular values. But the bans have divided France’s government, as other leaders spoke out against the laws. What in the world is a burkini? The name “burkini” combines two words: “bikini” and “burka.” A bikini is a small, two-piece swimsuit shaped like women’s undergarments. Burkas are what some Muslim women wear to cover their whole bodies except for a small opening for their eyes. In comparison, a burkini covers a woman’s body. It leaves only her face, hands and feet showing. Burkinis were first created by Australian designer Aheda Zanetti in 2004.  She said she made them so Muslim women who choose to wear a head covering can take part in water activities and other sports. A history of banning Muslim clothes French officials banned burkinis for reasons including water safety and security concerns. France has outlawed Muslim clothes before. It banned the face-covering veil, as well as the head-covering veil, in public schools. Prime Minister Manuel Valls described the burkini, along with the veil, as a form of enslavement. “The burkini is not a new swimsuit model, it is not a trend,” Valls told La Provence newspaper in support of the ban. He said it “goes against modern society.” A new image for Muslim women Many see the ban as discrimination against Muslims. Others say officials do not understand Muslim women’s new image. Neslihan Cevik designs clothes for Muslim women. Cevik says Muslim women who wear veils are involved in many activities of modern life. “But the market hasn’t taken them seriously so far.” In addition to being a designer, Cevik is also a sociologist who wrote a book on Muslims. “The clothing for that woman has been like, ‘she’s oppressed, she stays at home or goes to her in-laws,’" Cevik adds. “It’s only now that markets are catching up with that new image.” Cevik’s brand targets young, college-aged women who go to cafes and listen to Latin music. They want what is called "Muslim hipster fashion” — backpacks with matching headscarves, jeans or pleated skirts. They do not want to wear the usual long overcoats, she says. “They’ll do anything any young female would do. What’s different is they’re passionately religious.” A business opportunity Neslihan Cevik, who is Turkish, launched M-Line Fashion last December. Her online company has been growing by 20 percent each month. Most of her customers are Turkish. But the business has customers from France and other European countries, as well as South Africa. Cevik sells stylish long tops called tunics, and veils. She hopes to add a line of Muslim swimwear by next summer. She does not like the ones she sees for sale. “It’s so ugly right now,” says Cevik of burkinis. “That’s one of the biggest problems for Muslim women. Whatever you do, all the designs we’ve had so far have been so ugly.” Designers such as Cevik say that the swimsuit and other modern Muslim women’s wear can be liberating. They say the clothing industry is far behind the needs of conservative modern Muslim women. They say the industry could be making much more money designing clothes Muslim women want. Some well-known stores and brands are already starting to sell clothes targeting the Muslim market. They include Britain’s Marks & Spencer and House of Fraser. Mango and DKNY have also launched “Ramadan” clothes collections connected to the holy Muslim holiday. Sales of clothes for the Muslim women market are expected to be worth several billions of dollars in the next few years. I’m Anne Ball. Lisa Bryant wrote this story for VOA News.  Anne Ball wrote it for Learning English. Mario Ritter was the editor. We want to hear from you. Write to us in the Comments Section and visit us on our Facebook page. ________________________________________________________________ Words in This Story   swimsuit – n. clothing people wear to swim in undergarment – n. a piece of underwear worn under clothes veil – n. a piece of cloth worn to cover one’s head and/or face enslavement – n. the action of making someone a slave trend – n. something currently popular or fashionable ugly – adj. opposite of beautiful liberating – adj. making you feel free passionately – adv. showing or having strong emotions

from Voice of America http://ift.tt/2bmExvr
via IFTTT

How Americans View What Work Men and Women Should Do

  The United States could elect its first woman president in November. But most Americans still believe in the traditional division of household jobs, according to a new study. The study surveyed 1,000 adults. It was released at last weekend’s meeting of the American Sociological Association in Seattle, Washington. Three in four adults believe that in a couple with a man and a woman, the woman should do most housework, the study found. That includes cooking, the laundry, and cleaning the house. Nearly 90 percent believe that the man should do the automobile repairs and outdoor work. The survey found that 82 percent of Americans said that women should be responsible for a child’s physical needs. Seventy-two percent said woman should also take care of a child’s emotional needs. Discipline is an exception The exception, in the question of childcare, is discipline. Fifty-five percent said men should deal with discipline of children. And if a couple decides a parent is needed at home to take care of children, 62 percent said it should be the woman, not the man, who stays home. “Sex was by far the strongest determinant of which tasks people assigned to each spouse in heterosexual couples,” said Natasha Quadlin, lead author of the study. Quadlin is a doctoral student in sociology at Indiana University. Working with her on the study was Long Doan, assistant professor of sociology at the University of Maryland. Survey Released Before Presidential Election The study’s release comes less than three months before Americans vote for a new a president -- choosing between Democrat Hillary Clinton and Republican Donald Trump. If Clinton wins, she would be America’s first woman president. For same-sex couples, the study found most Americans believe the decisions about who does what should be decided by which partner is most feminine and which is more masculine. Sixty percent of Americans said the most feminine partners should cook and buy the food. Sixty-seven percent said that the more masculine partners should handle car repairs and do outdoor work. Old Stereotypes Terry O’Neill is president of the National Organization for Women, which works for women’s rights. She is surprised that a majority of Americans support divisions of work based on old stereotypes. A stereotype is an often unfair belief about what people should or can do based on their sex or other characteristics. Old stereotypes about what women do better and what men do better do not make sense for many couples, O’Neill said. For example, O’Neill said she could fix the family car far better than her ex-husband. But she said her former husband was very good at comforting their daughter. She said he also was able to get her to appointments on time, despite the stereotype that men do not do those tasks very well. In O’Neill’s opinion, too many couples let one partner, often the man, make decisions about who does the work. What should happen is a “sharing of power, and sharing of decisions,” with negotiations to decide who does what and when, she said. It does not seem to matter that many women are working as hard if not harder and earning as much, if not more, than their husbands, said Natasha Quadlin. “Even if women have higher earnings than their husbands they are expected to come home and perform a second shift of chores and childcare,” she said. However, men may pay a price for taking on the outside work responsibilities by themselves. Another study found that men’s psychological well-being and health declined when they were their families' only member earning an income. Researchers from the University of Connecticut carried out that study, which also was presented at the American Sociological Association meeting. I’m Bruce Alpert.   Bruce Alpert reported this story for VOA Learning English.  Mario Ritter was the editor. We want to hear from you. Write to us in the Comments Section and share your views on our Facebook Page. Do you think certain jobs should be done only by a woman or by a man? ___________________________________________________________ Words in this Story   survey -- v. an activity in which many people are asked a question or a series of questions in order to gather information about what most people do or think about something couple -- n. two people who are married or who have a romantic or sexual relationship discipline -- n. control that is gained by requiring that rules or orders be obeyed and punishing bad behavior feminine -- adj. of, relating to, or suited to women or girls characteristic -- n. typical of a person, thing, or group masculine -- adj. of, relating to, or suited to a man or boys chore -- n. a small job that is done regularly    

from Voice of America http://ift.tt/2bvXxt1
via IFTTT