商務英語情景口語:對勞動婦女的歧視現象

A: do you think discrimination against women in the work force is still prevalent even today?
B: from my own experience as a career woman, I would have to say that while things are getting better now than they used to be, it is still a widespread problem. Society is changing, but there is still a glass ceiling for women in many career tracks.
A: do you think the glass ceiling phenomena is because of traditional social customs? Or are there more issues coming into play?
B: I think it's a very complicated issue. A part of the difficulties women have advancing in the work force are due to few opportunities and mane male managers. Don't underestimate the good ole' boy system. Men have power, so it's easier for them to stay in power.
A: what about affirmative action? Hasn't legislation changed a lot of the make hierarchy?
B: affirmative action has given us management quotas and bans sexual discrimination, but it's still a man's world.


你認爲如今對勞動婦女的歧視現象還常見嗎?
從我自己作爲職業婦女的經歷來看,我要說現在的情況雖然比過去好多了,但這個問題仍然普遍存在.社會在變化,但對婦女老說很多職業觀念中仍然存在一道玻璃天花板.
你認爲這種比例天花板現象是由於傳統的社會習俗所致嗎?或者說還有其他的因素在起作用?
我認爲這個問題非常複雜.勞動婦女在工作中很難得到晉升的部分原因是因爲機會少,而且很多主管都是男性.不能低估舊的男人體制.男人有權利,所以他們掌權也容易.
那反歧視行動呢?立法不是已經消弱了很多男人的特權嗎?
反歧視行動已經使我們婦女享有更多參與管理的機會,也禁止了性別歧視現象,但世界還是屬於男人的.


Discrimination: the practice of treating somebody or a particular group in society less fairly than others 區別對待;歧視;偏袒 uncountable ~ (against sb)
racial/sex/sexual discrimination(= because of somebody's race or sex)
種族／性別歧視
discrimination against the elderly
歧視老人
discrimination in favour of the young
厚待年輕人
discrimination on the grounds of race, gender, or sexual orientation
按照種族、性別或性取向給予區別對待

Prevalent: that exists or is very common at a particular time or in a particular place 流行的;普遍存在的;盛行的
a prevalent belief/view
普遍信仰／觀點
These prejudices are particularly prevalent among people living in the North.
這些偏見在北方人中尤爲常見。


glass ceiling: the imaginary barrier that stops women, or other groups, from getting the best jobs in a company, etc. although there are no official rules to prevent them from getting these jobs 無形限制，無形頂障（婦女等在職務升遷上遇到的無形障礙）

come into play:有影響
Personal feelings should not come into play when you are making business decisions.
爲公事作決策不應摻入個人感情成分.