常春藤生活英语【19】Breaking Gender Stereotypes

Years ago, the roles of men and women were very typical. Men were supposed to bring home the bacon. They would go to work and earn money for their loved ones. During this time, some men would also leave their families in times of war. There were very few jobs and opportunities available for women. Most of them would take over the housework and look after the children because they were expected to stay at home.

As the years have gone by, many things have changed. Nowadays, plenty of women work and have successful careers. The traditional stereotype¹ of a woman at work in her home is gone. Women are also breaking gender² stereotypes³ with their job choices. There are many women working in what used to be traditional male professions. Examples of this would be the police officers and the soldiers in the army. Not only are they popular choices for men, but for modern women as well. Women now have the ability to fight crime and defend their countries in war.

多年以前，男女的角色都非常典型。男人应该担负起家庭生计。他们会去工作，赚钱给亲人。这段时期，有些男人也会离家去打仗。妇女很少有工作机会。大部分女性会接管家务、照顾小孩，因为一般人都期望她们待在家里。

随着岁月流逝，许多事情也改变了。现在，许多妇女都在工作，并且有着成功的事业。妇女在家工作这种传统的刻板印象已不复见。妇女也以其所选择的职业来打破性别的窠臼。许多妇女在传统上属于男性的职业领域中工作。警察和军人便是很好的例子。它们不仅是男性的热门行业，也是现代女性的。女性如今有能力打击犯罪，更能在战时保家卫国。

Building Your Vocabulary

1.typical　a. 典型的
Those are typical interview questions.
那些是典型的面试问题。

2.expect　vt. 期待，盼望
I expect you to be here on time.
我希望你可以准时到这里。

3.defend　vt. 保卫，保护
Many people joined the march to defend their freedom of speech.
许多人参加这次游行来捍卫他们的言论自由。

Phrases for Learning⁴

1.bring home the bacon　赚钱养家
Who brings home the bacon in your family?
你家里是谁在负责生计？

2.take over...　接管……
After Edward quit, Doris took over his work.
艾德华离职后，桃乐丝接手他的工作。

3.go by　（时间）过去
Time went by quickly and the little girl has turned into a beautiful woman.
时间转眼消逝，小女孩已变得亭亭玉立了。

参考字词

1.stereotype　n. 刻板印象；陈规

2.gender　n. 性别

3.profession　n. 职业

Tips In Use

...working in what used to be traditional male professions.
（……在传统上属于男性的职业领域中工作。）

1.句中的"used to"为助动词，表『过去曾……』，之后接原形动词。
例：
There used to be a parking lot here.
（这里以前有个停车场。）

2."人 + be used to"后接名词或动名词，表『某人习惯于……』，此时 used 非助动词，而是作形容词用，译成『习惯的』。
例：
I am used to traveling alone.
=I am accustomed to traveling alone.
（我习惯自助旅行。）

1 stereotype   

n.固定的形象，陈规，老套，旧框框

参考例句：

• He's my stereotype of a schoolteacher.他是我心目中的典型教师。
• There's always been a stereotype about successful businessmen.人们对于成功商人一直都有一种固定印象。

2 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。

3 stereotypes   

n.老套，模式化的见解，有老一套固定想法的人( stereotype的名词复数 )v.把…模式化，使成陈规( stereotype的第三人称单数 )

参考例句：

• Such jokes tend to reinforce racial stereotypes. 这样的笑话容易渲染种族偏见。
• It makes me sick to read over such stereotypes devoid of content. 这种空洞无物的八股调，我看了就讨厌。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》

4 learning   

n.学问，学识，学习；动词learn的现在分词

参考例句：

• When you are learning to ride a bicycle,you often fall off.初学骑自行车时，常会从车上掉下来。
• Learning languages isn't just a matter of remembering words.学习语言不仅仅是记些单词的事。