🎧 Audio
📖 Script
Chicago Women in Trades is a nonprofit organization that has been promoting gender equity in the construction industry since 1981. Their mission is to help more women enter trades like carpentry, plumbing, and electrical work, which are traditionally male-dominated fields. This organization provides training, mentorship, and support to women who wish to pursue careers in these areas. Over the years, they have successfully helped many women find jobs and build successful careers in construction.
However, recent political developments have presented new challenges for Chicago Women in Trades. The organization’s efforts are now facing opposition due to political actions aimed at reducing diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives. Former President Donald Trump has been vocal about his opposition to DEI programs, which he argues are divisive. This stance has created an environment where organizations promoting DEI, like Chicago Women in Trades, find it difficult to secure funding and support.
Despite these challenges, Chicago Women in Trades continues to push forward. They are determined to keep advocating for women’s rights and opportunities in the trades. The organization is working hard to find new ways to fund their programs and raise awareness about the importance of diversity in the workplace. They believe that having a diverse workforce benefits everyone and leads to more innovative and productive teams.
The work of Chicago Women in Trades is significant on both social and economic levels. By helping women enter and succeed in the construction industry, they are not only promoting gender equality but also contributing to the economy by filling labor shortages and increasing productivity. The construction industry, like many others, needs a diverse workforce to meet the demands of modern projects and clients.
In conclusion, Chicago Women in Trades is a vital organization that supports women’s entry into the construction trades. Despite facing challenges from political opposition, they remain committed to their mission. Their work is crucial for promoting diversity, equity, and inclusion in the workplace, and it highlights the ongoing struggle for gender equality in traditionally male-dominated industries.
📝 Vocabulary
- nonprofit: an organization that does not aim to make a profit（非営利団体）
例文: “The nonprofit helps provide education for underprivileged children.”
Collocations／日本語の意味を見る
- nonprofit organization
- nonprofit sector
- nonprofit foundation
- equity: fairness and justice in the way people are treated（公平性）
例文: “The company strives for equity in all its hiring practices.”
Collocations／日本語の意味を見る
- gender equity
- equity in education
- equity initiatives
- trades: skilled jobs involving manual labor（職業、職種）
例文: “Many people find fulfilling careers in the trades, such as plumbing or carpentry.”
Collocations／日本語の意味を見る
- construction trades
- skilled trades
- trade schools
- mentorship: guidance or advice provided by a mentor（指導、助言）
例文: “Having mentorship can be crucial for career development.”
Collocations／日本語の意味を見る
- mentorship program
- receive mentorship
- seek mentorship
- opposition: strong disagreement or resistance（反対）
例文: “The proposal faced strong opposition from local residents.”
Collocations／日本語の意味を見る
- face opposition
- political opposition
- strong opposition
✏️ Grammar Point
Present Perfect Tense – “Chicago Women in Trades has been promoting gender equity in the construction industry since 1981.”
文法の日本語補足を見る
💡 使用場面
(過去から現在まで続いていることを表現したいときに使います。)
📝 使用例文
“例: In a business meeting, you might say: ‘If we cut costs now, we can increase our profit margin next quarter.’”
❓ Listening Questions
- True/False: Chicago Women in Trades has been promoting gender equity since 1990.
- MCQ: What challenge is Chicago Women in Trades currently facing?
a) Lack of interest from women
b) Political opposition to DEI initiatives
c) Shortage of mentors
d) Decrease in construction jobs - MCQ: What is one benefit of having a diverse workforce according to the script?
a) Reduced costs
b) Improved team innovation
c) Faster project completion
d) Higher wages
🔑 Listening Answersを見る
- False
- b) Political opposition to DEI initiatives
- b) Improved team innovation
📚 Reading Questions
- What has been the mission of Chicago Women in Trades since 1981?
- Why is the work of Chicago Women in Trades significant on a social level?
- What does the word “equity” mean in the context of this script?
🔑 Reading Answersを見る
🇯🇵 日本語での経済ニュース解説
シカゴ・ウィメン・イン・トレードは、1981年以来、建設業界での男女平等を推進してきた非営利団体です。彼らは多様性、公平性、包括性（DEI）の取り組みを通じて、多くの女性が伝統的に男性が多い職種に就けるよう支援しています。しかし、トランプ元大統領によるDEIプログラムへの反対姿勢は、これらの取り組みの資金調達に困難をもたらしています。日本でもDEIは重要な課題であり、多様性のある労働力はイノベーションを促進し、経済成長に寄与する可能性があります。将来的には、より多くの企業がDEIを取り入れ、持続可能な経済発展を目指すことが期待されます。
Source: https://www.npr.org/2025/11/19/nx-s1-5611496/trump-dei-women-construction-jobs
