女性能顶国际政治半边天的时代

 　　“We’ve had enough of these boys messing about.” This is what Anna Soubry, UK’s former business minister, said earlier last month, offering her backing of Theresa May in the running to become the UK’s next prime minister.

　　“我们受够了这些男生们的捣乱了。”英国前商务大臣安娜?索布里在上月早些时候如是说道，对于特蕾莎?梅参选下一任英国首相表示支持。

　　Soubry was indicating that it was time for women to step up to “clear up the mess created by the men”.

　　索布里指出，是时候让女性们走到台前，收拾这些男性们制造出来的混乱了。

　　Women are starting to take power in more and more important positions in recent years.

　　近几年，女性在职场中逐渐身居要职。

　　According to a new list compiled by Agence France Presse (AFP), the world’s 10 most powerful women who made their way above the “glass ceiling”–the invisible barrier that keeps women from rising beyond a certain level in hierarchy¹

　　法新社最近就列出了突破“玻璃天花板”（在社会阶层中阻碍女性晋升的无形壁垒）的世界十大女强人，

　　includes the US’ first female presidential nominee² Hillary Clinton, head of the US Federal Reserve Janet Yellen, and Director-General of the World Health Organization, Margaret Chan.

　　美国首位女性总统候选人希拉里?克林顿、美国联邦储备委员会主席珍妮特?耶伦，世界卫生组织总干事陈冯富珍都位列其中。

　　There is something interesting with the AFP list though: A majority of the 10 women are over 60, the rough age when some women become grandmothers.

　　在法新社给出的榜单中，一个很有趣的现象是：在这10位女性中，大部分人都年过六旬，正是一些人当祖母的年纪。

　　In fact, this might be the best proof of how aging–a factor that has always been considered as a disadvantage, especially for women–has begun to turn into an edge, for women.

　　事实上，这或许能最好地证明，上了年纪逐渐成为女性的一大优势。而在过去，这一直被认为是一项劣势，尤其对于女性而言。

　　According to The Atlantic, the reasons behind the phenomenon may include that today’s older women are better educated and experienced than any generations before.

　　据美国《大西洋月刊》报道，这种现象背后的原因在于，如今这些年长的女性，或许比以往任何一代人都更有经验，受过更好的教育。

　　It is also because of society’s changing perceptions about what women can achieve–after being held back in their middle age years raising kids and running domestic lives, older women are now more likely to start again instead of retiring into a peaceful life of cooking and gardening.

　　这也源于整个社会在女性成就的观念上有所改变——在度过了照顾孩子和操持家务的忙碌中年后，如今的年长女性更愿意重新开始自己的事业，而不是赋闲在家，享受做饭、养花的退休生活。

　　Also, according to the UK’s Conservative peer, Baroness³ Jenkin of Kennington, people are growing to be more trusting toward female leaders compared to their male counterparts, especially during periods of instability.

　　除此之外，英国保守党人，肯宁顿的詹金男爵夫人还认为，和男性领导人相比，现在的人们对于女性领导人更为信任，尤其在动荡时期。

　　“They feel that at a time of turmoil⁴, a woman will be more practical and a bit less testosterone in their approach.

　　“人们认为，在动荡时期女性会更为务实，而在行为方式上，也会更少地被男性激素所影响。

　　More collaborative, more willing to listen to voices around the table, less likely to have an instantly aggressive approach to things,” she told The Guardian⁵.

　　女性会更愿意合作，愿意去倾听周围的声音，而不太会采取一些激进的手段，”她在接受英国《卫报》采访时表示。

　　In fact, this changing atmosphere in gender⁶ equality is spreading all over the world and across women of all ages.

　　事实上，这种在性别平等方面有所改变的社会风尚，已经扩散到了世界各地各个年龄层的女性当中。

　　In the just-ended Rio Olympics, for example, among the 121 medals under the belt of the US team, 55 were won by men while 61 were captured by women. The rest five were in mixed events.

　　比如，在刚刚结束的里约奥运会上，美国代表队将121块奖牌收入囊中。其中，55块奖牌由男性摘得，61块奖牌由女性斩获，而剩下的5块则在男女混合项目中获得。

　　When US gymnast Simone Biles sealed four golds and a bronze, she said, “I’m not the next Usain Bolt or Michael Phelps. I’m the first Simone Biles.”

　　美国体操女运动员西蒙?拜尔斯在囊括了四枚金牌和一枚铜牌后说道，“我不是下一位尤塞恩?博尔特或是迈克尔?菲尔普斯。我是第一位西蒙?拜尔斯。”

1 hierarchy   

n.等级制度；统治集团，领导层

参考例句：

• There is a rigid hierarchy of power in that country.那个国家有一套严密的权力等级制度。
• She's high up in the management hierarchy.她在管理阶层中地位很高。

2 nominee   

n.被提名者；被任命者；被推荐者

参考例句：

• His nominee for vice president was elected only after a second ballot.他提名的副总统在两轮投票后才当选。
• Mr.Francisco is standing as the official nominee for the post of District Secretary.弗朗西斯科先生是行政书记职位的正式提名人。

3 baroness   

n.男爵夫人，女男爵

参考例句：

• I'm sure the Baroness will be able to make things fine for you.我相信男爵夫人能够把家里的事替你安排妥当的。
• The baroness,who had signed,returned the pen to the notary.男爵夫人这时已签过字，把笔交回给律师。

4 turmoil   

n.骚乱，混乱，动乱

参考例句：

• His mind was in such a turmoil that he couldn't get to sleep.内心的纷扰使他无法入睡。
• The robbery put the village in a turmoil.抢劫使全村陷入混乱。

5 guardian   

n.监护人；守卫者，保护者

参考例句：

• The form must be signed by the child's parents or guardian. 这张表格须由孩子的家长或监护人签字。
• The press is a guardian of the public weal. 报刊是公共福利的卫护者。

6 gender   

n.（生理上的）性，（名词、代词等的）性

参考例句：

• French differs from English in having gender for all nouns.法语不同于英语，所有的名词都有性。
• Women are sometimes denied opportunities solely because of their gender.妇女有时仅仅因为性别而无法获得种种机会。