向前一步:第7期 导言 内心的革命(7)

 　　Leymah and I could not have come from more different backgrounds, and yet we have both arrived at the same conclusion. 莱曼和我的背景有极大的差异，但我们的观点却不谋而合。

　　Conditions for all women will improve when there are more women in leadership roles giving strong and powerful voice to their needs and concerns. 当更多女性进入领导阶层、用有力的声音表达她们的需求与关注时，世界上所有女性的处境也将随之得到改善。

　　This brings us to the obvious question—how? 问题显而易见：怎么做？

　　How are we going to take down the barriers that prevent more women from getting to the top? 我们怎样才能拆除阻止女性进入社会高层的壁垒？

　　Women face real obstacles in the professional world, including blatant¹ and subtle sexism, discrimination, and sexual harassment². 在职场中，女性面临着真正的障碍，包括公然或隐性的性别歧视、差别待遇和性骚扰。

　　Too few workplaces offer the flexibility³ and access to child care and parental⁴ leave that are necessary for pursuing a career while raising children. 极少有公司能够提供弹性工作制的岗位，让那些在抚养孩子的同时又追求事业发展的女性抽出必要的时间照顾孩子、休产假；

　　Men have an easier time finding the mentors⁵ and sponsors who are invaluable⁶ for career progression. 而且，女性找到合适的人生导师和赞助者也需要时间，男性在这方面则比女性更轻松。事实上，这二者对个人事业的发展有着难以估量的价值。

　　Plus, women have to prove themselves to a far greater extent than men do. 除此之外，女性需要比男性花费更大的精力去证明自己。

　　And this is not just in our heads. 这可不是在想当然。

　　A 2011 McKinsey report noted⁷ that men are promoted based on potential, while women are promoted based on past accomplishments⁸. 2011年麦肯锡的一项报告指出，男性的晋升基于其自身的潜力，而女性的晋升则是基于其已获得的成就。

　　In addition to the external barriers erected⁹ by society, women are hindered by barriers that exist within ourselves. 除了社会的外部障碍之外，女性还为存在于自身的障碍所影响。

　　We hold ourselves back in ways both big and small, by lacking self-confidence, by not raising our hands, and by pulling back when we should be leaning in. 由于缺乏自信、不敢争取表达的机会、在应该向前一步时往后退。

1 blatant   

adj.厚颜无耻的；显眼的；炫耀的

参考例句：

• I cannot believe that so blatant a comedy can hoodwink anybody.我无法相信这么显眼的一出喜剧能够欺骗谁。
• His treatment of his secretary was a blatant example of managerial arrogance.他管理的傲慢作风在他对待秘书的态度上表露无遗。

2 harassment   

n.骚扰，扰乱，烦恼，烦乱

参考例句：

• She often got telephone harassment at night these days.这些天她经常在夜晚受到电话骚扰。
• The company prohibits any form of harassment.公司禁止任何形式的骚扰行为。

3 flexibility   

n.柔韧性，弹性，（光的）折射性，灵活性

参考例句：

• Her great strength lies in her flexibility.她的优势在于她灵活变通。
• The flexibility of a man's muscles will lessen as he becomes old.人老了肌肉的柔韧性将降低。

4 parental   

adj.父母的；父的；母的

参考例句：

• He encourages parental involvement in the running of school.他鼓励学生家长参与学校的管理。
• Children always revolt against parental disciplines.孩子们总是反抗父母的管束。

5 mentors   

n.（无经验之人的）有经验可信赖的顾问( mentor的名词复数 )v.（无经验之人的）有经验可信赖的顾问( mentor的第三人称单数 )

参考例句：

• Beacham and McNamara, my two mentors, had both warned me. 我的两位忠实朋友，比彻姆和麦克纳马拉都曾经警告过我。 来自辞典例句
• These are the kinds of contacts that could evolve into mentors. 这些人是可能会成为你导师。 来自互联网

6 invaluable   

adj.无价的，非常宝贵的，极为贵重的

参考例句：

• A computer would have been invaluable for this job.一台计算机对这个工作的作用会是无法估计的。
• This information was invaluable to him.这个消息对他来说是非常宝贵的。

7 noted   

adj.著名的，知名的

参考例句：

• The local hotel is noted for its good table.当地的那家酒店以餐食精美而著称。
• Jim is noted for arriving late for work.吉姆上班迟到出了名。

8 accomplishments   

n.造诣；完成( accomplishment的名词复数 )；技能；成绩；成就

参考例句：

• It was one of the President's greatest accomplishments. 那是总统最伟大的成就之一。
• Among her accomplishments were sewing,cooking,playing the piano and dancing. 她的才能包括缝纫、烹调、弹钢琴和跳舞。 来自《现代英汉综合大词典》

9 ERECTED   

adj. 直立的，竖立的，笔直的 vt. 使 ... 直立，建立

参考例句：

• A monument to him was erected in St Paul's Cathedral. 在圣保罗大教堂为他修了一座纪念碑。
• A monument was erected to the memory of that great scientist. 树立了一块纪念碑纪念那位伟大的科学家。