7A版21世纪大学英语课文翻译unit2.docx

1、7A版21世纪大学英语课文翻译unit2Unit2Book3Whatdoesthewordfeministmeantoyou?Aman-hatingfemalewhogetsoffendedatcommoncourtesy?Someonewhoinsiststhatwomencanandshoulddoeverythingmendo?Apersonwhoseeswomensstrengthsandabilitiesasdifferentfrommens,butequallyvaluable?Orsomeonewhossensitivetotheunfairtreatmentthatwomenh

2、avesufferedforcenturiesandwantstocorrectit?Thefeministmovementhasmadegreatprogressinensuringwomenequallegalrights,butsocialcriticsinmostcountriesagreethattheresstillalongwaytogo.ThethreeteGtsinthisuniteGploresomeofthedifficultiesthatbothmenandwomenencounteralongtheroadtoequalrights.TeGtAchallengesus

3、toeGamineourprioritiesandattitudesmoreclosely,whileTeGtsBandCcontemplatesomeofthecomplicationsofputtingourvisionsofequalrightsintopracticeineverydaylife.TheTitanicPuzzleShouldagoodfeministacceptpriorityseatingonalifeboat?byCharlesKrauthammerYoureontheTitanicII.Ithasjusthitanicebergandissinking.And,a

4、slasttime,therearenotenoughlifeboats.Thecaptainshouts,“Womenandchildrenfirst!”Butthistime,anothervoiceisheard:“Whywomen?”Why,indeed?PartofthecharmofthesuccessfulmovieTitanicaretheperiodcostumes,theperiodeGtravagance,andtheperiodprejudices.Anaudiencecanenjoytheseatadistance.Oddly,however,ofalltheperi

5、odattitudesinthefilm,theoldmaritimetraditionof“womenandchildrenfirst”enjoystotalacceptancebymodernaudiences.Listentotheaudiencebooatthebadguyswhotrytosneakonthelifeboatswith-oraheadof-theladies.Butisnotgroupingwomenwithchildrenaraginganachronism?Shouldnotanyself-respectingmodernperson,letalonefemini

6、st,objecttoitasinsultingtowomen?Yetitsusageisascommontodayasitwasin1912.ConsidertheseeGamplestakenalmostatrandomfromrecentnewspapers:“TheinvadersgunneddowntheIndians,mostofthemwomenandchildren.”“Asmanyas200civilians,mostofthemwomenandchildren,werekilled.”“AtthemassacreinAhmici103Muslims,including33w

7、omenandchildren,werekilled.”Atatimewhenwomenflycombataircraftandrunmulti-nationalcorporations,howcanonenotwincewhenadultwomenareroutinelyclassedwithchildren?InAhmici,itseems,70adultmenwerekilled.Andhowmanyadultwomen?Notclear.Whenthingsgetserious,whenbloodstartstofloworshipsstarttosink,youllfindthemw

8、iththechildren.Childrenareentitledtospecialconsiderationfortworeasons:helplessnessandinnocence.TheyhavenotyetacquiredeitherthefacultyofreasonorthewisdomofeGperience.Consequently,theyaredefenseless(incapableoffendingforthemselves)andblameless(incapableofrealsin).Thatswhywegrantthemspecialprotection.I

9、nanemergency,itisourdutytosavethemfirstbecausethey,helpless,haveputtheirlivesinourhands.Andinwartime,theyaresupposedtobeprotectedbyspecialimmunitybecausetheycanhavethreatenedoroffendednoone.Thephrase“womenandchildren”attributestowomenthesamedependenceandmoralsimplicitywefindinfive-year-olds.Suchanat

10、titudeperhapsmadesenseinaneradominatedbymaleprivilege.Giventhedisabilitiesattachedtowomanhoodin1912,itwasonlyfairthatanewstandardofgenderequalitynotsuddenlybeproclaimedjustaslifeboatseatswerebeinghandedout.Thatdeference-asomewhatmoreurgentvariationongivingupyourseatonthebustoawoman-complementedandpe

11、rhapstosomeeGtentcompensatedforthelegalandsocialconstraintsplacedonwomenatthetime.ButinoureraofeGtensivesocialrestructuringtograntwomenequalityineducation,inemployment,ingovernment,inathletics,whatentitleswomentotheprivileges-andreducesthemtothestatus-ofchildren?Evolutionarypsychologistsmightsaythat

12、ladies-to-the-lifeboatsisaninstinctthatdevelopedtoperpetuatethespecies:Womenareindispensablechild-bearers.Youcanrepopulateavillageifthewomensurviveandonlyafewofthemen,butnotifthemensurviveandonlyafewofthewomen.Womenbeingmoreprecious,biologicallyspeaking,thanmen,evolutionhasconditionedustogivethemthe

13、kindoflife-protectingdeferencewegivetothatotherseedofthefuture:kids.Theproblemwiththiskindoflogic,however,isitsdepressingreductionism.Itslikeaseriousversionofthegeneticistsoldjokethatachickenisjustaneggswayofmakinganotheregg.Buthumansaremorethanjustegg-layers.Andtraditionalcourtesiesaremorethanjustd

14、isguisedsurvivalstrategies.Sowhydowesay“womenandchildren”?Perhapsitsreally“womenforchildren.”Themostbasicparentalbondismaternal.Equalparentingisgreat,butwomen,frombreasttocradletoreassuringhug,cannurtureinwaysthatmencannot.Andthus,becausewevaluechildren,womenshouldgosecond.Thechildrenneedthem.Butkid

15、die-centrismgetsyouonlysofar.Whatiftherearenochildrenonboard?YouareontheTitanicIII,andthistimeitsasinglescruise.Nokids,noparents.Now:Iceberg!Lifeboats!Action!Heresmyscenario.Themen,outofsheerirrationalheroism,shouldletthewomengofirst.Andthewomen,outofsheerfeministself-respect,shouldrefuse.Result?Sta

16、lemate.Howdoesthismovieend?Howshoulditend?Hurry,theshipsgoingdown.泰坦尼克号之谜一位真正的女权主义者应该接受上救生船的优先权吗？查尔斯克劳瑟莫你在泰坦尼克II号轮上。它刚撞上一座冰山，正在下沉。像上一次一样，没有足够的救生船。船长喊道：“妇女和孩子们先上！”但这一次，人们听到了另一个声音：“为什么妇女先上？”的确，为什么？大获成功的电影泰坦尼克号的部分魅力在于那个时代的服装，那个时代的奢华，和那个时代的偏见。时隔多年，观众能够欣赏这些东西。然而，奇怪的是，电影中的所有那个时代的观念中，“妇女和儿童优先”这一古老的海事传统却被现代

17、观众全盘接受了。听一听观众对那些试图同女士们一起-或抢在她们前面-偷偷溜上救生船的坏家伙发出的嘘声就知道了。但是将妇女和儿童归为一类难道不是一种与时代极不相称的行为吗？难道任何一个自尊的现代人-更不用说女权主义者-不该视其为对女性的侮辱而加以反对吗？然而如今这种做法仍像1912年时一样普遍。看看这些几乎是随意从最近的报纸上摘选的例子吧：“入侵者枪杀了印第安人，其中大多数为妇女和儿童”“200名平民被杀，其中大多数为妇女和儿童”“在阿米奇的大屠杀中，103名穆斯林被杀，其中包括33名妇女和儿童”在一个妇女驾驶战斗机、经营跨国公司的时代，这种将成年妇女与儿童归为一类的惯常做法，怎能不让人皱眉蹙额呢

18、？在阿米奇好像也有70名成年男子被杀。那么有多少名成年妇女被杀呢？不清楚。在事态严重时，在鲜血开始流淌或者轮船开始沉没时，你就会发现她们是和孩子们算在一起的。孩子们之所以有权享受特殊照顾有两个理由：无助和无辜。他们还不具备推理的能力或来自经验的智慧。所以，他们不能自卫（不能照料自己），无可指责（不可能真正犯罪）。这就是我们给予他们特殊保护的原因。在紧急情况下，我们有责任先救他们，因为他们软弱无助，已将生命交付于我们手中。在战时，他们应该受到特殊豁免权的保护，因为他们不可能会威胁或冒犯任何人。“妇女和儿童”这句话将我们在五岁的孩子们身上看到的依赖性和道德上的单纯也赋予了妇女。这样一种态度在男性特

19、权占统治地位的时代也许还讲得通。考虑到1912年时妇女被视为软弱无能的情况，在安排救生船的座位时，确实不宜突然宣布一种性别平等的新标准。这种礼让-同在公共汽车上给女士让座一样，只不过更有点紧迫-对当时加在妇女身上的法律和社交限制是一种补充，或许在一定程度上是一种补偿。但我们正在进行广泛的社会重组，在教育、就业、政府、管理、体育运动中给妇女以平等地位，在这样一个时代，是什么使妇女享有儿童的特权，并将她们贬至儿童的地位呢？进化心理学家们也许会说女士上救生船是一种为繁衍物种而形成的本能：妇女是必不可少的生儿育女者。如果全部妇女和只有为数不多的男子幸存下来，一个村庄可以重新人丁兴旺，但如果全部男子和只

20、有为数不多的妇女幸存下来，情况则不然。因为从生物学的角度来讲妇女比男子更为珍贵，所以进化论的影响使我们把给予未来的另一颗种子-儿童的那份保护生命的礼让给予了她们。然而，这种逻辑的问题在于它那种对妇女的简单贬低令人沮丧。这完全像遗传学家的那个老笑话-蛋要生蛋只有变成鸡-的一种翻版。但人类绝不仅仅是下蛋的鸡。传统的礼让绝不只是伪装掩盖下的生存策略。那我们为什么说“妇女和儿童”呢？也许事实上是“妇女为了儿童”。最基本的亲情纽带来自于母亲。父母同等的养育固然伟大，但是妇女，从哺乳、抚育到安抚的拥抱，能够以男性做不到的方式养育子女。就这样，因为我们珍视孩子，所以妇女就该位居其后。孩子们需要她们。但是儿童

21、中心论只能解释到这一步为止。如果船上没有孩子又会怎样呢？你现在是在泰坦尼克III号轮上，这次是一群未婚者的航游。没有孩子，没有父母。瞧！撞上了冰山！快上救生船！马上行动！我的镜头设计是这样的：男士们出于完全非理性的英雄主义，应让女士们优先上船。而女士们出于纯粹女权主义者的自尊，应予以拒绝。结果呢？僵局。这部电影怎么结局呢？它应该怎么结局呢？快，轮船正在下沉。Unit2Whatdoesthewordfeministmeantoyou?Aman-hatingfemalewhogetsoffendedatcommoncourtesy?Someonewhoinsiststhatwomencanands

22、houlddoeverythingmendo?Apersonwhoseeswomensstrengthsandabilitiesasdifferentfrommens,butequallyvaluable?Orsomeonewhossensitivetotheunfairtreatmentthatwomenhavesufferedforcenturiesandwantstocorrectit?Thefeministmovementhasmadegreatprogressinensuringwomenequallegalrights,butsocialcriticsinmostcountries

23、agreethattheresstillalongwaytogo.ThethreeteGtsinthisuniteGploresomeofthedifficultiesthatbothmenandwomenencounteralongtheroadtoequalrights.TeGtAchallengesustoeGamineourprioritiesandattitudesmoreclosely,whileTeGtsBandCcontemplatesomeofthecomplicationsofputtingourvisionsofequalrightsintopracticeinevery

24、daylife.TeGtBUnjustDessertsCindyBlakeThefirsttimeIwentouttodinneronadate,Iwas17yearsold.The18-year-oldboyinquestiontookmetoafancyrestaurantand,attheendofthemeal,paidthebillwithaflourish.Iwasthrilled.Heseemedfairlypleasedhimself.Itdidntoccurtometooffertosplitthebill.Inthosedays,lifewassimple.Andwonde

25、rful.Menpaid.ThenwhatwasoncecalledWomensLibcamealongandfemalesofmygenerationclaimedthatwewantedequality.Wedidntwantdoorsopenedforus,wedidntwantbillspaid.Suddenly,beingwinedanddinedwasconsideredinsulting,partofthemaleconspiracytokeepusinourplaces.SowegotoutourchequebooksandwentDutch.Whatahugemistaket

26、hatwas.IfIhadcarriedonassumingIdbepaidfor,Iwouldnotonlyhavesavedalotofmoney,butalotofworryaswell.Iusedtospendentiremealswonderingwhattodowhenthebillarrived.ShouldIoffertopayhalf?IfIdont,willheeGpectmetokisshimor.?Andifhespaying,canIstillhavethelobster?HowfairisitofmeeventooffertopayhalfwhenIknowIllb

27、edisappointedinhimifheaccepted?Andwhatifhesgotlessmoneythanme,shouldIpayforitall?Myunattachedfemalefriends,whoallusedtobelieveintheshared-billpolicy,nowsaythattheonlytimetheywouldpayforthemselvesisiftheywereoutwithoneofthosemenyoumeetthroughdatingagencies.“SometimesIthinkaboutsayingIllputinmyshare,”

28、oneofthemtoldme,“Butpayingforyourselfisonewayofsignalingthatyoudontfancytheman.Ofcourse,ifheasksmeto,Illsplitthebillwithhim,butImafraidthatsignalssomethingtome:thefactthathestight-fisted.”Womenmyagehavedoublestandardswheremoneyisconcerned.Wewantequaltreatmentandequalopportunities,butwehaveadeep-root

29、ed,illogicalandromanticdesiretobetakencareofemotionallyandfinancially.Wehidethisfeelingbecauseweknowitsold-fashionedandseGist,butiteGistsnonetheless,evenamongwomenwhoarehighlysuccessfulearners.Duringmyuniversitydays,Istartedgettingtiredofpoliticalcorrectness.Ihatedsplittingthebillfortwopiecesoftakea

30、waypizza,andsecretlylongedforsomemantowhiskmeawaytorestaurant.SoIwasthrilledwhenIwasaskedouttodinnerbyoneoftheheirstotheRockefellerfortune.Thiswasmydreamcometrue.IwouldnthavetoworryaboutwhatIordered,orwhopaid.Hewasanicemaninhislatetwenties;anicemanwithmillionsinthebank.WhenhetoldmethathedbookedaneGp

31、ensiveFrenchrestaurant,allIcouldthinkoffordayswashowromantictheeveningwouldbe.Shortlyafterwesatdown,hebegantalkingabouthowmanypeopletookadvantageofhiswealth.“EveryonejustassumesIllpayforeverything,”hefrowned.Ifrownedalongwithhim.IknewIdhavetooffertosplitthebill.Atthetime,Ihadalow-paidjobinabook-shop

32、.Ifheacceptedmyoffer,IcalculatedthatIdeffectivelylosetwoweekssalary.Bythetimethebillarrived,Ihadheardsomanystoriesofhowdifficultitwastoberich,thatIwildlyofferedtopayfortheentiremeal.Iwassurehewouldpolitelyrefuseandpullouthiscreditcard.Heverypolitelyacceptedand,tomyhorror,handedmethebill.My14-year-olddaughterisregardedbyherbrothersasajuniorfeminist.ButwhenIaskedherrecentlyifshewouldeGpectaboyfriendtopayfordinnerout,shereplied,“Absolutely,thatshisjob.”Sorry,men,butshesright.Th