环球英语 — 306：Girl Power

　　Voice 1
Hello. I’m Marina Santee.
Voice 2
And I’m Peter Laverock. Welcome to Spotlight¹. This programme uses a special English method of broadcasting. It is easier for people to understand, no matter where in the world they live.
Voice 1
Have you heard the saying, ‘girl power?’ It was very popular at the time of the Spice Girls. This music group was the first of many successful all girl groups in the late nineties. People began to speak of ‘girl power.’ Most people just used the name in a fun way. But empowering women is also a very real and serious issue. It is an issue that people think about particularly during this month of March. March the eighth is International Women’s Day. In today’s ‘Spotlight’ we begin by looking at some of the history behind this international event.
Voice 2
Women’s Day began at a time of great social crisis², in the early nineteen hundreds. At this time, women started to enter paid work. They worked mainly in cloth factories. The women worked for low pay. And the working conditions were very poor. At this time trade unions were developing. Soon industrial disputes³ began. In much of Europe the early signs of a revolution were there.
Voice 1
At the same time, women in the United States were also claiming the right to vote. The Socialist⁴ Political Party formed a women’s national committee. This group called for the party to give one day each year to women. On this day, women would work to improve the conditions for women. National Woman’s Day began the following year, in 1909. By this time, there were mass strikes in protest⁵ of the poor treatment of women factory workers.
Voice 2
In the year 1910, many American women joined in the protests⁶ of Women’s Day. Later that year, chosen women went to the International Conference of Socialist Women in Copenhagen in Denmark. They planned to suggest that Women’s Day become an international event.
Voice 1
But women in other places were also pushing against the political restrictions⁷ around them. They fought for a right to vote. In Europe, two of the main activists⁸ for this were Clara Zetkin and Alexandra Kollontai. These women played an important part in the history of International Women’s Day.
Voice 2
Clara Zetkin was a German socialist leader. She already had a proposal⁹ to put to the Conference of Socialist Women. She proposed¹⁰ that women throughout the world should unite in the struggle for their rights. They should do this on a particular day each year. Over 100 women from 17 countries attended the conference. They approved the idea. The result was International Women’s Day. Many countries celebrated¹¹ the first International Women’s Day on March the eighth, 1911. The day centred on a universal right for women to vote.
Voice 1
Much later, in 1975, the United Nations began celebrating March the eighth as International Women’s Day. Two years later, they urged countries to set aside a day to encourage women’s rights and international peace.
Voice 2
Every year countries hold different events to celebrate the successes of women. Different groups and organisations support the day. Communities and governments also give their support. Here are just some of the ways that countries celebrate Women’s Day.
Voice 1
In Mali, women have the day off work. Women’s groups organise¹³ debates on women’s issues. These include women’s rights, conflicts and education. Throughout the day, television shows talk about women’s issues. At night, people celebrate with parties.
Voice 2
In Kenya, all through the day women attend different conferences. Women’s groups aim to give more economic power to women. Women successfully manage projects. These include water projects, farming and small businesses. The newspapers report stories of successful women. These women are people who have made a difference in the country in some way. They may have influenced the countries politics or economy. Or they may have had a good effect on people through their jobs.
Voice 1
People use two signs to celebrate International Women’s Day - bread and roses. This seems like an unusual combination¹⁴. A kind of flower, a rose - and bread! The bread represents women’s struggle for economic equality. It represents freedom from hunger. And the roses represent women’s continuing efforts for a better quality of life.
Voice 2
One person working hard to gain a better quality of life for women is Dr. Musimbi Kanvoro. People all over the world know this woman for her public speaking and writing. She works¹⁵ to train people on issues that affect young women. She is the General Secretary of the World YWCA - Young Women’s Christian¹⁶ Association¹⁷. This international organisation¹² works in over one hundred countries. The group is founded on its Christian faith. They put this faith into action. They call for justice, women’s rights and peace.
Voice 1
Each local YWCA is a community-based group. Women manage different projects to help the community and their families run them.
Voice 2
One of the local projects in Egypt is an education-based programme for girls. The aim is to teach the local women of Assuit to read and write. The YWCA of Assuit developed the project. They did this after discussions¹⁸ with the local women. The training programme includes health care, family planning and education.
Voice 1
YWCA programmes change to meet the needs of the women in their particular community. The work of the YWCA group can include training, housing¹⁹ for the homeless and shelter for victims of violence. They work in countries all over the world. The YWCA of America states as one of its purposes,
Voice 3
‘The movement, grounded in the Christian faith as known in Jesus, seeks to react to the barrier-breaking love of God in this day. The association brings together into responsible membership²⁰ women of different experiences and faiths.’
‘Together they join the struggle for peace, justice, freedom and dignity for all people.’
Voice 1
The YWCA and others struggle for justice and peace throughout the year. On International Women’s Day, they call for other women to stand with them in their struggle. They call for people to take every chance to work for peace. They believe that together, they will succeed.
 

1 spotlight   

n.公众注意的中心，聚光灯，探照灯，视听，注意，醒目

参考例句：

• This week the spotlight is on the world of fashion.本周引人瞩目的是时装界。
• The spotlight followed her round the stage.聚光灯的光圈随着她在舞台上转。

2 crisis   

n.危机，危急关头，决定性时刻，关键阶段

参考例句：

• He had proved that he could be relied on in a crisis.他已表明，在紧要关头他是可以信赖的。
• The topic today centers about the crisis in the Middle East.今天课题的中心是中东危机。

3 disputes   

n.辩论( dispute的名词复数 )；争端；（劳资）纠纷；罢工v.辩论，争论( dispute的第三人称单数 )；争夺；阻止；就…进行辩论

参考例句：

• a legalistic approach to family disputes 死抠法律条文解决家庭纠纷的方法
• a party riven by internal disputes 由于内部分歧而四分五裂的政党

4 socialist   

n.社会主义者；adj.社会主义的

参考例句：

• China is a socialist country,and a developing country as well.中国是一个社会主义国家，也是一个发展中国家。
• His father was an ardent socialist.他父亲是一个热情的社会主义者。

5 protest   

v.反对，抗议；宣称；n.抗议；宣称

参考例句：

• I can't pass the matter by without a protest.我不能对此事视而不见，我要提出抗议。
• We translated his silence as a protest.我们把他的沉默解释为抗议。

6 protests   

n.[体]抗议；抗议，反对( protest的名词复数 )v.声明( protest的第三人称单数 )；坚决地表示；申辩

参考例句：

• The protests have forced the government to back-pedal on the new tax. 抗议活动已迫使政府撤销新的税目。
• Plans to build a new mall were deep-sixed after protests from local residents. 修建新室内购物中心的计划由于当地居民反对而搁浅。

7 restrictions   

约束( restriction的名词复数 )； 管制； 制约因素； 带限制性的条件（或规则）

参考例句：

• I found the restrictions irksome. 我对那些限制感到很烦。
• a snaggle of restrictions 杂乱无章的种种限制

8 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》

9 proposal   

n.提议，建议；求婚

参考例句：

• I feel that we ought to accept his proposal.我觉得我们应该接受他的建议。
• They could not gain over anyone to support their proposal.他们无法争取到支持他们建议的人。

10 proposed   

被提议的

参考例句：

• There is widespread discontent among the staff at the proposed changes to pay and conditions. 员工对改变工资和工作环境的建议普遍不满。
• an outcry over the proposed change 对拟议的改革所发出的强烈抗议

11 celebrated   

adj.有名的，声誉卓著的

参考例句：

• He was soon one of the most celebrated young painters in England.不久他就成了英格兰最负盛名的年轻画家之一。
• The celebrated violinist was mobbed by the audience.观众团团围住了这位著名的小提琴演奏家。

12 organisation   

n.组织，安排，团体，有机休

参考例句：

• The method of his organisation work is worth commending.他的组织工作的方法值得称道。
• His application for membership of the organisation was rejected.他想要加入该组织的申请遭到了拒绝。

13 organise   

vt.组织，安排，筹办

参考例句：

• He has the ability to organise.他很有组织才能。
• It's my job to organise all the ceremonial events.由我来组织所有的仪式。

14 combination   

n.组合，合并，联合；

参考例句：

• He carried on the business in combination with his friends.他与朋友们合伙做生意。
• The materials can be used singly or in combination.这些材料可以单独使用也可以混合用。

15 works   

n.作品，著作；工厂，活动部件，机件

参考例句：

• We expect writers to produce more and better works.我们期望作家们写出更多更好的作品。
• The novel is regarded as one of the classic works.这篇小说被公认为是最优秀的作品之一。

16 Christian   

adj.基督教徒的；n.基督教徒

参考例句：

• They always addressed each other by their Christian name.他们总是以教名互相称呼。
• His mother is a sincere Christian.他母亲是个虔诚的基督教徒。

17 association   

n.联盟，协会，社团；交往，联合；联想

参考例句：

• Our long association with your company has brought great benefits.我方和贵公司的长期合作带来了巨大的利益。
• I broke away from the association ten years ago.我10年前就脱离了那个团体。

18 discussions   

n.讨论( discussion的名词复数 )；商讨；详述；论述

参考例句：

• Discussions are held on an informal basis within the department. 讨论限于在本部门内非正式地进行。
• Her specialist input to the discussions has been very useful. 她在这些讨论中提供的专家建议很有助益。

19 housing   

n.房屋，住宅；住房建筑；外壳，外罩

参考例句：

• Do you think our housing sales will turn around during this year?你认为今年我们的住宅销路会好转吗？
• The housing sales have been turning down since the summer.入夏以来，房屋的销售量日趋减少。

20 membership   

n.成员资格，会员全体，从属关系

参考例句：

• I must renew my membership of the sailing club.我必须延续我的航海俱乐部会员的资格。
• He made up his mind to apply for membership in the Party.他决心申请入党。