在这个问题背后是一整部妇女受歧视的历史。
A history of prejudice lies behind that question.
为什么被看成是秘书而不是管理者？为什么被看成是图书管理员和教师而不是律师？
Why are women thought of as secretaries， not administrators？Librarians and teachers， but not doctors and lawyers？
因为她们被认为是不一样的，低人一等的。
Because they are thought of as different and inferior.
快乐的家庭主妇和心满意足的黑鬼都是由歧视产生的典型人物。
The happy homemaker and the contented darky are both stereotypes produced by prejudice.
妇女甚至还没有达到黑人所达到的象征性的平等水平。
Women have not even reached the level of tokenism that blacks are reaching.
最高法院中没有妇女，只有两名妇女曾担任内阁的职位，但现在一个也没有。
No women sit on the Supreme Court. Only two have held Cabinet rank， and none do at present.
只有两位妇女担任大使。
Only two women hold ambassadorial rank.
妇女主要从事工资低、伺候人、没有前途的工作。即使她们获得较好的职位，他们的工资也总是比同样工作的男人低。
But women predominate in the lower-paying， menial， unrewarding， dead-end jobs， and when they do reach better positions， they are invariably paid less than a man for the same job.
这不是歧视又是什么？
If that is not prejudice， what would you call it？
几年前，我与一位政治领袖谈论有关一个有前途的青年妇女做候选人的事。
A few years ago， I was talking with a political leader about a promising young woman as a candidate.
“为什么要花费时间和精力去树立这个女孩的威信？”他问道，“你很清楚她只会在我们打算让她竞选市长时退出竞选去而生孩子。”
“Why invest time and effort to build the girl up？” he asked me. “You know she'll only drop out of the game to have a couple of kids just about the time we're ready to run her for mayor.”
对于我，许多人说了类似的话。
Plenty of people have said similar things about me.
每次当我试图向上迈一步时，许多人劝我回去教书，说那才是妇女的职业，把政治留给男人。
Plenty of others have advised me， every time， I tried to take another upward step， that I should go back to teaching， a woman's vocation and leave politics to the men.
我热爱教书，只要我确信这个国家再也不需要女人作贡献时，我就会去教书。
I love teaching， and I am ready to go back to it as soon as I am convinced that this country no longer needs a women's contribution.
当在这个富足的国家里，当没有孩子饿着肚子上床睡觉时，我可能会回去教书。
When there are no children going to bed hungry in this rich nation， I may be ready to go back to teaching.
当每一个孩子都能上好学校时，我也许会回去教书。
When there is a good school for every child， I may be ready.
当我们不再将钱财耗费在武器装备上来杀人时，当我们不再容忍对少数民族的歧视时，当惩治住房和雇佣不公行为的法律得以实施而不是被束之高阁时，那么我在政治上也就再没什么可做的了
When we do not spend our wealth on hardware to murder people， when we no longer tolerate prejudice against minorities， and when the laws against unfair housing and unfair employment practices are enforced instead of evaded， then there may be nothing more for me to do in politics.
但是在那以前——我们都知道那不是今年或是明年——我们需要的是更多的妇女投身于政治，因为妇女可以作出特殊的贡献。
But until that happens – and we all know it will not be this year or next – what we need is more women in politics， because we have a very special contribution to make.
我希望自己成功的例子能使其他的妇女愿意参与政治活动——不仅仅是装信封，而是竞选政府职位。
I hope that the example of my success will convince other women to get into politics – and not just to stuff envelopes， but to run for office.
妇女能将同情、宽容、远见、忍耐和毅力带到政府中——这是我们与生俱有的品质或是在男人的压制下不得不培养出来的品质。
It is women who can bring empathy， tolerance， insight， patience， and persistence to government – the qualities we naturally have or have had to develop because of our suppression by men.
一个国家的妇女通过她们在生活中的行为来塑造这个国家的道德、宗教和政治。
The women of a nation mold its morals， its religion， and its politics by the lives they live.
目前， 我们国家在政治上也许比其他任何方面更需要妇女的理想主义和决心。
At present，our country needs women's idealism and determination，perhaps more in politics than anywhere else.
上一篇：《高级英语》课文逐句翻译（6）
下一篇：《高级英语》课文逐句翻译（3）
