大学英语听力听说教程3Unit 14 Women.docVIP

Unit 14 Women Part B Exercise 1 Most women in France work. Their average salary is about 75% that of their male co-workers, even though laws passed in 1972 require professional equality between the sexes. The good news is that women are increasingly moving into middle management. A handful are top executives. The higher their position, the harder it is to balance family and career. A 38-year-old woman who graduated from the prestigious National School of Administration remembers that when she took a senior post in a ministry, her male colleagues assured her, You are one of us, one of the guys. But when she became a mother, they stuck to age-old traditions that she couldnt follow ?a long lunches and late-night meetings. It was too much pressure and I felt like I was being sabotaged, she says. For those who want to balance family with a job, as opposed to a high-pressure, high-visibility career, France is a haven. Women marry later, on average, than in America ?a at age 25. And they stay in the workforce. Part-time jobs are easy to find. Maternity benefits are generous, with over six months of paid leave. Women whove raised three or more children are entitled to a state-funded pension. The quality of publicly funded education for children is high. And abortion is not only legal, but its paid for by the state. French businesswomen dress elegantly, argue intelligently and play hardball at the negotiating table. They show their wit, intellect, ability to make puns and understanding of politics, history and literature. Unlike most American female executives who dress conservatively in a dark, not particularly flattering suit, with no jewelry and little makeup, Frenchwomen see no need to abandon femininity and elegance in the business world. They prefer soft colors, stylish clothes, silk scarves, manicured nails, light makeup, and simple but elegant jewelry. Questions 1. What do you know about French businesswomen? 2. What does the speaker intend to say through the passa