CIO

[greenwich]

Although the industrial union organizations that emerged under the banner of the Congress of Industrial Organizations (CIO) in the 1930s and 1940s embraced the principles of nondiscrimination and inclusion, the role of women within unions reflected the prevailing gender ideology of the period. Elizabeth Faue's study of the labor movement in Minneapolis argues that women were marginalized by union bureaucratization and by the separation of unions from the community politics from which industrial unionism had emerged. Faue stresses the importance of women's contribution to the development of unions at the community level, contributions that made women's ultimate fate within the city's labor movement all the more poignant: as unions reached the peak of their strength in the 1940s, the community base that had made their success possible and to which women's contributions were so vital became increasingly irrelevant to unions' institutional life.

In her study of CIO industrial unions from the 1930s to the 1970s, Nancy F. Gabin also acknowledges the pervasive male domination in the unions, but maintains that women workers were able to create a political space within some unions to advance their interests as women. Gabin shows that, despite the unions' tendency to marginalize women's issues, working women's demands were a constant undercurrent within the union, and she stresses the links between the unions' women activists and the wave of feminism that emerged in the 1960s.

1. Which of the following can be inferred regarding the "gender ideology" mentioned in the highlighted text?
(A) It prevented women from making significant contributions to the establishment of industrial unions.
(B) It resulted from the marginalization of women in industrial unions.
(C) It had a significant effect on the advancement of women's issues within industrial unions.
(D) Its primary tenets were nondiscrimination and inclusion.
(E) Its effects were mitigated by the growth of industrial unions.

2. The author of the passage is primarily concerned with
(A) Presenting two views
(B) Reconciling two antithetical claims
(C) Assessing conflicting evidence
(D) Weakening a generally accepted argument
(E) Tracing the development of an ideology

3. According to the passage, Faue's study and Gabin's study agree in that both
(A)attribute the inclusion of women in unions to the policies of the CIO
(B)emphasize the importance of unions at the community level
(C)argue that women played important roles in the establishment of industrial union organizations
(D)suggest that women in industrial union organizations played a subordinate role
(E)suggest that the interests of women workers were incompatible with those of unions in general

Please provide explanation with your answers.

[fcabanski]

1. Which of the following can be inferred regarding the "gender ideology" mentioned in the highlighted text?

Before looking at the answers, what would you anticipate the answer is? It has to be something negative towards women's advancement.


(A) It prevented women from making significant contributions to the establishment of industrial unions.
No. According to the passage women made significant contributions. "Faue stresses the importance of women's contribution to the development of unions at the community level." Eliminate.


(B) It resulted from the marginalization of women in industrial unions.
No, the marginalization resulted from gender ideology. Eliminate.


(C) It had a significant effect on the advancement of women's issues within industrial unions.
This one matches the anticipation. Keep it.

(D) Its primary tenets were nondiscrimination and inclusion.
No, it was the opposite of these. "Although the industrial union organizations that emerged under the banner of the Congress of Industrial Organizations (CIO) in the 1930s and 1940s embraced the principles of nondiscrimination and inclusion, the role of women within unions reflected the prevailing gender ideology of the period. " Eliminate.

(E) Its effects were mitigated by the growth of industrial unions.
Nay on this trade. "...as unions reached the peak of their strength in the 1940s, the community base that had made their success possible and to which women's contributions were so vital became increasingly irrelevant to unions' institutional life." Eliminate.

C is the answer.


2. The author of the passage is primarily concerned with
When you originally read the passage, hopefully you read with your two track mind. Track 1 read the passage, while track 2 asked questions and focused on the main point(s) of what you were reading.

An anticipated answer to this question is "gee, it has to have something to do with the differing conclusions of the two studies. That's the main feature of this passage, and the question asks "primarily concerned".

(A) Presenting two views
This matches the anticipation. There were two studies, and they had two different conclusions. This is the answer.


(B) Reconciling two antithetical claims - There really weren't any claims, and the two different views were not reconciled. Eliminate.

(C) Assessing conflicting evidence - There really wasn't conflicting evidence. The studies examined the same evidence. Eliminate.

(D) Weakening a generally accepted argument - One of the main goals of track 2 is to ask yourself "what is the author's tone - factual, critical, excited..." The author didn't attack anyone's argument. There was no weakening of arguments. Eliminate.

(E) Tracing the development of an ideology - The author mentions the ideology and it's effect, but the author does not trace the ideology's development. Eliminate.


3. According to the passage, Faue's study and Gabin's study agree in that both

Anticipation: They agree that women's issues/concerns became subordinate.

(A)attribute the inclusion of women in unions to the policies of the CIO - Neither mentioned why women were included in union policies. Eliminate.

(B)emphasize the importance of unions at the community level - Only Faue mentioned community level. Eliminate.

(C)argue that women played important roles in the establishment of industrial union organizations - Only Faue mentions this. Eliminate.

(D)suggest that women in industrial union organizations played a subordinate role - Ah yesssssssss! Keep it.

(E)suggest that the interests of women workers were incompatible with those of unions in general - Neither one suggests this. In fact, both suggest the opposite. Eliminate.

I need a course in how to answer these questions on this forum. The cutting and pasting and scrolling back and forth is taxing.