VOA常速英语2016--沙特女性体育努力打破刻板印象

沙特女性体育努力打破刻板印象

JEDDAH, SAUDI ARABIA— One of the richest countries in the Middle East, Saudi Arabia is, in many ways, as advanced as any place on Earth in terms of infrastructure¹ and modern conveniences.

作为中东最富有国家之一，沙特在基础设施和现代化程度等很多方面可以说和世界其他地区一样发达。

But activists² say the kingdom has a long way to go in terms of women’s rights.

但活动人士称在妇女权利方面，这个王国还有很远的路要走。

In this coastal³ city, they say that by encouraging women and girls to play basketball and other sports, they chip away at the image of Saudi women as virtually silent members of their society.

在这个滨海城市，他们说通过鼓励妇女和女孩打篮球等其他体育活动摈弃沙特女性在社会中沉默的形象。

“We played in the United States, Malaysia, in Jordan and the U.A.E., as well as Riyadh and other cities in Saudi Arabia," said Lina K. Almaeena of the Jeddah United Sports Company. "So, we do that locally to promote sports and internationally to try to change stereotypes⁴ and show a different segment in Saudi Arabia.”

“我们参加美国、马来西亚、约旦、阿联酋、利雅得和沙特其他城市的体育赛事，这样可以促进当地体育事业的发展，还改变了国际上的刻板印象，展示沙特不同的一面。”

At a sports event for handicapped children — both boys and girls — female basketball players said defying stereotypes in Saudi Arabia requires pushing boundaries, without breaking them.

在为残疾男孩和女孩们举办的体育赛事上，女性篮球运动员称打破沙特的刻板印象需要推动边界而无需打破它。

Opposed by some

Women’s basketball in Saudi Arabia is played without male fans. Even though the players are covered, many people still feel it is improper⁵.

沙特女子篮球场上没有男性关注，即使球员们身上裹得严严实实，还是有很多人认为女人打球不恰当。

“It is not even against the law or against the religion," said Nour Gary, a baskeball player with Jeddah United. "It is just people having their own beliefs and trying to close [force] it on other people. So, yes, being open towards sports, they have more flexibility⁶ towards other things.”

“这不是在违法或违背宗教信条，而是人们有自己的看法并试图影响他人。所以一旦对体育有了开放的心态，他们对其他事情也就更灵活了。”

Players say women’s rights in Saudi Arabia have come far in recent years, but many basic freedoms, like the right to drive cars, are still elusive⁷.

球员们说最近几年来沙特在女性权利方面取得了很大进步，驾驶权等基本的权利仍难有进步。

Last year, women in Saudi Arabia voted for the first time, some were voted into office. Like politicians, female athletes say they believe women’s’ sports will eventually be accepted more publicly.

去年，沙特妇女首次参加投票，还有女性被选出担任公职，女性运动员们说，就像政客一样，女性运动最终会被更多公众所接受。

“We have great athletes here in Saudi Arabia, some of them," said Deborah Parkwood, the women's basketball coach for Jeddah United. "The girls, they want to play harder, they want to train harder and they would love to compete for their country internationally.”

“我们沙特有一些出色的运动员，这些女孩们希望更努力拼搏，努力训练，从而能在国际上为国争光。”

 

In the meantime, players say promoting the health benefits of women’s sports locally is having an immediate⁸ impact on society by showing mothers the benefits of exercise for themselves and for their children.

同时，运动员们说，通过向母亲们展示健身对她们自己和孩子的健康益处，在当地宣传妇女体育的健康益处会对社会产生立竿见影的影响。

1 infrastructure   

n.下部构造，下部组织，基础结构，基础设施

参考例句：

• We should step up the development of infrastructure for research.加强科学基础设施建设。
• We should strengthen cultural infrastructure and boost various types of popular culture.加强文化基础设施建设，发展各类群众文化。

2 activists   

n.（政治活动的）积极分子，活动家( activist的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• His research work was attacked by animal rights activists . 他的研究受到了动物权益维护者的抨击。
• Party activists with lower middle class pedigrees are numerous. 党的激进分子中有很多出身于中产阶级下层。 来自《简明英汉词典》

3 coastal   

adj.海岸的，沿海的，沿岸的

参考例句：

• The ocean waves are slowly eating away the coastal rocks.大海的波浪慢慢地侵蚀着岸边的岩石。
• This country will fortify the coastal areas.该国将加强沿海地区的防御。

4 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》

5 improper   

adj.不适当的，不合适的，不正确的，不合礼仪的

参考例句：

• Short trousers are improper at a dance.舞会上穿短裤不成体统。
• Laughing and joking are improper at a funeral.葬礼时大笑和开玩笑是不合适的。

6 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。

7 elusive   

adj.难以表达(捉摸)的；令人困惑的；逃避的

参考例句：

• Try to catch the elusive charm of the original in translation.翻译时设法把握住原文中难以捉摸的风韵。
• Interpol have searched all the corners of the earth for the elusive hijackers.国际刑警组织已在世界各地搜查在逃的飞机劫持者。

8 immediate   

adj.立即的；直接的，最接近的；紧靠的

参考例句：

• His immediate neighbours felt it their duty to call.他的近邻认为他们有责任去拜访。
• We declared ourselves for the immediate convocation of the meeting.我们主张立即召开这个会议。