VOA慢速英語: 為什么一些美國女性能夠獲得高層職務？

Why Do So Few US Women Hold Top Jobs?

In this Jan. 4, 2007 file photo, newly-elected Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi, holds up the gavel surrounded by children and grandchildren of members of Congress in the U.S. Capitol in Washington. Pelosi was the first woman elected as Speaker. (AP File Photo/Pablo Martinez Monsivais)

為何一些美國女性能夠獲得高層職務？
A new study confirms what most people already know: American women are still far behind American men in taking top leadership jobs in business and politics.
一項新研究公布一項眾所周知的事實：在商業(yè)和政界，美國女性所占據(jù)的高層職務比例還是遠遠低于男性。
The Pew Research Center in Washington, DC produced the study. Pew researchers found that most Americans believe women have the right qualities to be leaders. But they say women may still not be hired into leadership positions.
美國華盛頓特區(qū)的佩尤研究中心發(fā)布這樣研究。佩尤的研究者發(fā)現(xiàn)大多數(shù)美國人相信女性有潛質成為領導人，但是他們表示女性有可能還沒有被錄用到領導人的位置。
"On the one hand, the public thinks that women are just as qualified as men to be in top leadership positions, in business and in government, on the other hand the public feels it is easier for men to get those jobs, and the public is also skeptical that things are going to change in the future, particularly on the business front.”
“一方面，公眾認為女性跟男性一樣，在商界和政界都有資格成為領導人；另一方面，公眾認為男性更容易獲得這些領導人的工作，公眾懷疑未來可能會有一些變動，特別是在商業(yè)各界。”
Kim Parker directs social trends at the Pew Research Center. She says the new study found that Americans think men and women have the same intelligence and ability to create new things. But Americans think women and men have some different abilities.
吉米·帕克領導佩尤研究中心的社會發(fā)展趨勢。她表示新的研究表明美國人認為在創(chuàng)造新事物方面，男性跟女性有相同的智力和能力。但是美國人認為女性和男性還是有一些不同的能力。
For instance, they believe women are especially good at finding compromises. In other words, women can find ways for people to agree, or at least accept solutions. The study also found Americans see women as more compassionate and organized leaders than men.
例如：他們相信女性特別擅長尋找妥協(xié)點。換句話說，女性能夠找到人們一致同意或者至少接受的解決辦法。研究還表明美國人認為女性領導者比男性更富同情心，也更有組織能力。
Americans also believe women are better leaders for social issues, such as education and health care. But Americans see men as better leaders on national defense and security.
美國人還相信女性領導人在解決一些教育、健康醫(yī)療等社會問題上比男性做的更好。但是美國人認為相比女性，男性領導人在國防和安全事務方面更能勝任。
Women in business
商界的女性
In the business world, Americans say women still have challenges at the top. Sallie Krawcheck would know. She held top jobs at leading financial companies such as Smith Barney and Merrill Lynch Wealth Management.
在商界。美國人認為女性在高層領導人方面仍面臨很多挑戰(zhàn)。薩莉·克牢切克很清楚這一點。她在首席金融公司擔任高層職務，這些首席公司有美邦公司和梅林國際銀行。
“I never saw overt gender discrimination when I was at these companies, when I was at Bank of America, Citi, which owned Merrill and Smith Barney, but I certainly did see a lot of individuals making choices about promotions, or people to move ahead or new projects to give, in which recipients were people who looked a lot like themselves.”
“在美國銀行——花旗銀行，旗下?lián)碛忻妨趾兔腊钊温殨r，我從未見到過很明顯的性別歧視，但是我確實看到很多個人在選擇升職時或者人們獲得新項目時做出的選擇，接受者認為他們遭遇到一些問題。”
In 2008, the financial company Citigroup dismissed Ms.Krawcheck from her top level job. Ms. Krawcheck says that for years she had said she was not fired because she was a woman. Now, she says maybe that is possible. Because, she explains, she wanted to solve a problem in a different way than the rest of the other leaders, all of whom were men. In time, the other leaders accepted her plan, but the company later dismissed her.
2008年，金融公司花旗集團從高層管理人員的職位上解雇了克牢切克?？死吻锌硕嗄陙硪恢眻苑Q自己并不是因為自己是女性而被解雇?，F(xiàn)在她表示也許是因為她是女性。因為她解釋說：與其他的男性領導層不同，她想用不同的方式來解決問題。最后，其他領導人接受了她的計劃方案，但是不久，公司解雇了她。
Ms. Krawcheck says women often have different approaches than men, and they have different strengths. As a result, she says, teams that include a variety of people are better.
克牢切克表示女性解決問題的手段不同于男性，他們各自有長處。因此，團隊中男女都有的話效果會更好。
"The power of diversity, diversity of all kinds, diversity of gender, of color of thought of perspective, that those are additive, and the diverse teams are actually so powerful that they outperform more intelligent teams. "
“多元化的力量，各種多元化：性別多元化、想法多元化，這些對于問題的解決都會增色不少。多元化的隊伍力量非常強大，能夠發(fā)揮更多的聰明才智。”
Sallie Krawcheck now heads two companies. One company, called Ellevate, connects women with each other and supports their professional and financial success. She says her company is an important part of a bigger trend. People around the world, she says, are talking about how important female leaders are.
薩莉·克牢切克現(xiàn)在領導者兩家公司。一家是艾利威特公司（Ellevate），這家公司將女性聯(lián)合在一起，相互支持幫助，實現(xiàn)她們職業(yè)和金融反面的成功。她說她的公司是大趨勢中一個非常重要的一部分。她表示：世界各地的人們都在談論女性領導人的重要性。
“We are having an absolutely amazing global conversation about the positive impact of the economic and financial engagement of women."
“我們有一個關于女性參與經濟和金融事務中積極影響的一個絕對值得稱贊的全球對話。”
How does the U.S. compare?
美國如何比較？
In another study, the Pew Research Center compared the number of women in the U.S. legislature to the number of women in similar positions in other developed nations. The study found the U.S. was in the lower half.
另一項研究中，佩尤研究中心把美國立法機關的女性數(shù)量同其它發(fā)達國家相似職位的女性進行比較。研究發(fā)現(xiàn)美國女性數(shù)量比其它國家女性數(shù)量低一半。
Drew DeSilver is a senior writer for Pew.
德魯·戴斯威爾是佩尤研究中心的資深作者。
“We stand at almost exactly 20 percent of the membership of the House and Senate are women and that would put the United States in about 29th place out of 49 countries studied, tied with the Czech republic and Saudi Arabia.”
“美國參議院和眾議院議員中大概有20%的女性，在49個研究的國家中，美國排名第29位，與捷克共和國和沙特阿拉伯并列。”
Even getting to that 20 percent of the Congress has taken a long time, Mr.DeSilver says.
戴斯威爾說國會中即使女性只占有20%的比例，也是經過很長時間才有這樣的一個結果。
"It’s taken almost a century for the United States to go from one woman from the very first woman in Congress to having 20% of women in Congress, and that, most of that, most of the increase has taken place in the last 20 years."
“美國用了接近100年的時間，讓國會中從第一位女議員增加到女議員所占20%的比例，而這一比例的增長大部分都是過去20年發(fā)生的。”
When it comes to women in high-level presidential cabinet jobs, America has done better. Now, close to one-third of President Obama’s advisors in his cabinet are women. That percentage places the United States at 13 among the 49 countries studied.
不過，女性在總統(tǒng)內閣中獲得的高層職位方面，美國做的更好。現(xiàn)在，奧巴馬總統(tǒng)的內閣中，三分之一的顧問是女性。這一比例讓美國在49個研究國家中排名第13位。
But of course, America has yet to elect a woman president. In contrast, women have served as president or prime minister in countries from Great Britain to Brazil, from Israel to India, and Ireland to Argentina.
當然，美國還沒有選出一位女總統(tǒng)。相比之下，女性擔任首相\總統(tǒng)或者總理的國家有英國、巴西、以色列、印度、愛爾蘭、阿根廷。
Researcher Drew DeSilver said in some parts of the world, such as in Scandinavia, political parties are required to nominate an equal number of women and men. Therefore, women and men can hold an equal number of seats in the parliament. Such requirements can help women reach more cabinet level positions as well.
研究員德魯·戴斯威爾說在世界上的一些國家，比如：斯堪的納維亞，政黨被要求提名相同數(shù)量的女性和女性議員。因此，女性和男性在議會中占有相同的席位。這樣的要求可以幫助女性獲得內閣的席位。
The U.S. has no similar requirements for political parties. But even so, Pew researchers found most Americans think they will see a woman president in their lifetimes. Some observers say that person might be Hillary Clinton.
美國的政黨沒有類似的要求。但是盡管如此，佩尤研究中心的研究員發(fā)現(xiàn)很多美國人認為在他們的一生中還是能夠看到出現(xiàn)一位女總統(tǒng)。一些觀察者認為這個人也許是希拉里·克林頓。
While it is difficult to predict the future, Professor Larry Sabato from the University of Virginia Center for Politics said in January he thinks Hillary Clinton will run for president with the Democratic Party.
預見未來有點困難，弗吉尼亞大學政治中心的拉里·薩博特教授表示，在1月份，希拉里·克林頓將會代表民主黨競選國家總統(tǒng)。
"She is a heavy, heavy favorite to be the Democratic nominee. She hasn’t formally announced. Some people think she might not run. That would be an enormous shock. I think she will run, she will be the nominee."
“她是民主黨最最中意的候選人。她還沒有正式宣布參與競選。一些人認為她也許不會參加競選。那將給人一個巨大的沖擊。我認為她會參與競選，她會成為候選人。”
With or without a woman president, an increasing number of women in the U.S. are already serving in their state legislatures. And, researcher Kim Parker says that across the country, more women than men hold managerial and professional jobs. In time, those women may also rise to the top in politics and business.
不管有沒有女總統(tǒng)，美國越來越多的女性在各州立法機構任職。研究員吉米·帕克表示，縱觀全國，女性多于男性參與管理層職位或者專業(yè)職位的職務。隨著時間的推移，那些女性也會在政界和商界獲得高層職務。
I’m Anne Ball.
我是安妮·鮑爾。
Anne Ball reported and wrote this story for VOA Learning English. Kelly JeanKelly was the editor.
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Words in This Story
trend -n. a general direction of change: a way of behaving, proceeding, etc., that is developing and becoming more common
compassionate – adj. feeling or showing concern for someone who is sick, hurt, poor, etc.: having or showing compassion
challenge –n. a difficult task or problem : something that is hard to do
overt –adj. easily seen : not secret or hidden
approach –n. a way of dealing with something : a way of doing or thinking about something.
diversity –n. the quality or state of having many different forms, types, ideas, etc.
Do women in your country have many high level jobs in business or politics? Why or why not? Tell us what you think in the comments section below. We want to hear from you.