VOA标准英语2015--女性在美国政治界面临独特的挑战

Women Face Unique Challenges in US Politics 女性在美国政治界面临独特的挑战

LOS ANGELES—

The number of women in the U.S. Congress has reached a record high.  Women make up 20 percent of the House of Representatives and Senate, but the number is not reflective of the U.S. population, which is 50 percent women.  At the Milken Institute Global Conference held in Los Angeles this week, some political insiders explained why a gender¹ gap in U.S. politics exists.  

The U.S. Congress is a place of power that is still dominated by men.

“Women only got the right to vote since 1920 and government moves very slow," said Congresswoman Mimi Walters.

Walters, however, says women are making gains.  She was part of a panel at the Milken Institute Global Conference that identified some of the reasons more women are not in public office.  Hawaii Congresswoman Tulsi Gabbard says one problem is many people have a negative image of the government.

“I think there is a disconnect, especially from the millennial² generation from highly successful highly talented people, great innovators, who are saying why should I get involved with this dysfunctional entity³ called government," said Gabbard.

The women who are interested in running for office may not have the tools to hold a successful election campaign, says Walters.

“You can’t get your message out if you don’t have any money and I think part of the problem for women in raising money is a lot of times women will be in the workforce⁴ and do what I did, leave their job and stay home with their kids and then they lose that network of people," she said.

She says those networks fund a campaign.  While some challenges women face may not have a simple solution, these panelists say there are things that can be done to get more qualified⁵ women to run for office and win.  

Lobbyist Laura Cox Kaplan with PricewaterhouseCoopers works with government, regulatory affairs and public policy.  

“Talk to your organization about ways in which you can invest in a pipeline⁶ of young people.  We have created a program in the summer that brings in young college age women that exposes them to people like Mimi and Tulsi, shows them this great example, teaches them a bit about Washington, and helps them realize that this is a dream that can actually be their dream," said Kaplan.

And having women mentors⁷ is critical to having more women in politics, says Walters.

“Women have to lead by example and we have to look at the future of our country, and I think it is our responsibility to mentor⁸ those young women," she said.

There is the hope that mentorship will show young women what government can be and inspire them to run for office.  

1 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。

2 millennial   

一千年的，千福年的

参考例句：

• Both Russia and America looked to the future to fulfill their millennial expectations. 俄国和美国都把实现他们黄金时代的希望寄托于未来。
• The millennial generation is celebrating the global commons every day, apparently unmindful of Hardin's warning. 千禧一代显然对哈丁的警告不以为然，每天都在颂扬全球“公地”。

3 entity   

n.实体，独立存在体，实际存在物

参考例句：

• The country is no longer one political entity.这个国家不再是一个统一的政治实体了。
• As a separate legal entity,the corporation must pay taxes.作为一个独立的法律实体，公司必须纳税。

4 workforce   

n.劳动大军，劳动力

参考例句：

• A large part of the workforce is employed in agriculture.劳动人口中一大部分受雇于农业。
• A quarter of the local workforce is unemployed.本地劳动力中有四分之一失业。

5 qualified   

adj.合格的，有资格的，胜任的，有限制的

参考例句：

• He is qualified as a complete man of letters.他有资格当真正的文学家。
• We must note that we still lack qualified specialists.我们必须看到我们还缺乏有资质的专家。

6 pipeline   

n.管道，管线

参考例句：

• The pipeline supplies Jordan with 15 per cent of its crude oil.该管道供给约旦15%的原油。
• A single pipeline serves all the houses with water.一条单管路给所有的房子供水。

7 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

8 mentor   

n.指导者，良师益友；v.指导

参考例句：

• He fed on the great ideas of his mentor.他以他导师的伟大思想为支撑。
• He had mentored scores of younger doctors.他指导过许多更年轻的医生。