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Gender roles
in Estonia
Kadi talks about how
women’s lives have
changed in Estonia.
1
Todd: So, Kadi, you are
from Estonia. Can you
talk about gender roles
for the new generation
compared to the older
generation? been like that. I'm not children start going to
quite sure but... kindergarten in Estonia
when they're really
Kadi: Yes, in Estonia, I
3 Todd: Who does the young, maybe from three
think it's really like, we
chores like cooking and months. I think even,
have this kind of Western
cleaning? yeah, you can go to work
type of family, and under
when your child is like
Western type, I mean like
Kadi: Yeah, I think we all half-a-year old. Just go to
that it doesn't matter if
do it. We don't have that work. Take a child there,
like ... the woman doesn't
kind of rule that women and people are going to
have to be a housewife.
only have to clean and care about her.
She can work. She can
do whatever she likes. cook. Of course in some
Like, even maybe the families, it is like that 5 Todd: Is the nanny
tendency right now is that because women are expected to cook and
women are more ... better cleaning, clean as well?
becoming more like especially, rather than
masculine. Often it men are, but yeah, men Kadi: It depends on the
happens that women are quite good cooks. contract. It depends on
make more money than the contract. Yeah, if you
men do and they're the 4 Todd: What do people do hire a person who that
ones who bring the bread for childcare? Like who you say you're gonna pay
in the house. Yeah, takes care of the him or her, usually her,
2
compared to Eastern children? like for cleaning, cooking,
society where usually taking care of the
women are considered as Kadi: Nannies. Yeah. We children, whatever, it
housewives. They just have nannies for working depends on the contract.
have to clean and cook mothers, they usually like
and raise the kids, and in to hire people to watch
my country ... no ... over the children and just
there's not such a thing they play with them and
and I think it always has also like kindergarten, like

Go online for the slide show, interactive quiz, and free downloadable MP3 of this interview: www.elllo.org : Interview #955
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Summarize
Take notes as you listen or read the interview on the left side of the paper. Then write
complete sentences to summarize the story in your own words. The first one is done.

Part 1: Kadi say that in Estonia women follow Western

Estonia, Western culture more than Eastern culture. By that she

work, housewife, whatever, means that women can choose to do whatever

they want. Often, women go out and work and
make more than men make more money than men.

Part 2: ______________________________________
______________________________________
Eastern society, housewives
______________________________________
clean, cook, raise kids ______________________________________
______________________________________
has always been like that
______________________________________

Part 3: ______________________________________
______________________________________
______________________________________
______________________________________
______________________________________
______________________________________

Part 4: ______________________________________
______________________________________
______________________________________
______________________________________
______________________________________
______________________________________

Part 5: ______________________________________
______________________________________
______________________________________
______________________________________
______________________________________
______________________________________
Go online for the slide show, interactive quiz, and free downloadable MP3 of this interview: www.elllo.org : Interview #955
 elllo.org
Start a Conversation: ANSWERS

Match the following questions with the responses.

1. Would you rather work or be a ____ We have a maid that takes care of
housewife? the kids and also cooks.

2. In your country, what percentage of ____ It depends on the job. If I had to

married women are housewives? work in an office, then Iʼd prefer to be a
housewife.

3. Do you think a man should have to do ____ I may change jobs after a few
housework even if his wife doesnʼt work? years but Iʼll probably keep working until
Iʼm 55.

4. At what age do children normally start ____ Itʼs about 50%. Half work and half
school in your country? stay at home with the kids.

5. Who takes care of your kids while you ____ I donʼt care about the money. I just
work? need something to do with my time.

6. Your husband makes so much money, ____ We both do.

why donʼt you just stay home?

7. What kind of outfits do you wear to ____ If he gives his wife a good
work? massage every day, then no housework
is ok.

8. How did you manage to raise a child ____ Itʼs ok if we dress casual but I love
while studying at the university? wearing business suits with heels.

9. Who cooks? ____ Preschool is free here, so most

parents send their kids at age 3.

10. Do you think youʼll keep working until ____ My husband did a lot of the
retirement? childcare while I was at classes.

Go online for the slide show, interactive quiz, and free downloadable MP3 of this interview: www.elllo.org : Interview #955
 elllo.org
Keep the Conversation Going
Keep the conversations going and then ask a follow up questions.

A: I would much rather stay home with the kids than work.

B: Are you sure? I think itʼs a harder than you expect.

A: Well, there are definitely good points and bad points. ________________________

_____________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________

(Write a question here) __________________________________________________?

_______________________________________________

A: In general, who do you think is happier, women or men?

B: Good question. What do you think?

A: Well in some cases, men are happier. For example, _________________________

_____________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________

(Write a question here) __________________________________________________?

Go online for the slide show, interactive quiz, and free downloadable MP3 of this interview: www.elllo.org : Interview #955
 elllo.org
Start a Conversation: ANSWERS

Match the following questions with the responses.

1. Would you rather work or be a 5 We have a maid that takes care of

housewife? the kids and also cooks.

2. In your country, what percentage of 1 It depends on the job. If I had to work

married women are housewives? in an office, then Iʼd prefer to be a
housewife.

3. Do you think a man should have to do 10 I may change jobs after a few years
housework even if his wife doesnʼt work? but Iʼll probably keep working until Iʼm 55.

4. At what age do children normally start 2 Itʼs about 50%. Half work and half
school in your country? stay at home with the kids.

5. Who takes care of your kids while you 6 I donʼt care about the money. I just
work? need something to do with my time.

6. Your husband makes so much money, 9 We both do.

why donʼt you just stay home?

7. What kind of outfits do you wear to 3 If he gives his wife a good massage
work? every day, then no housework is ok.

8. How did you manage to raise a child 7 Itʼs ok if we dress casual but I love
while studying at the university? wearing business suits with heels.

9. Who cooks? 4 Preschool is free here, so most

parents send their kids at age 3.

10. Do you think youʼll keep working until 8 My husband did a lot of the childcare
retirement? while I was at classes.

Go online for the slide show, interactive quiz, and free downloadable MP3 of this interview: www.elllo.org : Interview #955