VOA常速英语2007年-Central Asian Women Still Struggle for Politica
时间:2019-02-02 作者:英语课 分类:VOA常速英语2007年(十一月)
Washington
16 November 2007
In most of Central Asia women are still struggling to find their place in the political arena 1. Despite the Soviet 2 legacy 3 of gender 4 equality, women are still underrepresented in the highest levels of government. VOA's Navbahor Imamova looks at the political situation for women in Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan.
In many parts of Central Asia gender stereotypes 5 continue to hinder women's opportunities to pursue some careers outside the home.
While women are increasingly active in healthcare, education, culture and non-governmental organizations, in politics there are more suits than skirts. Finance, policy-making, and legislating 6 are still controlled by men.
The highest political position held by a woman in recent years in the region has been in Kyrgyzstan where Roza Otunbayeva served as foreign minister. But today Kyrgyzstan - described by Freedom House as the most democratic in Central Asia - has no female parliamentarians.
Societal challenges are just some of the obstacles Kyrgyz women face in breaking into politics. Erica Marat, a Kyrgyz analyst 7 based in Washington, D.C., says the cost of campaigns has also been a barrier. "(The) Kyrgyz constitution, adopted two years ago, was based on the majoritarian electoral system in which only wealthy and those with informal networks got elected. And they usually tend to be men. Now, with the newly amended 8 constitution we will have an electoral system based on party lists. So there is hope that women who were squeezed out from the political process will be able to gain some support."
In neighboring Uzbekistan, where women represent 45 percent of the work force, only 10 women serve in the 100 member Senate and slightly more are members of the lower chamber 9.
Uzbek gender issues expert Marfua Tokhtakhojayeva worries that these politicians are not doing enough for Uzbek women. "We need women policymakers and lawmakers who truly represent their people by talking to them, by listening to them. Our parliamentarians and public servants do not serve the public. We do not know them. We get to see them only before the elections. We could have a 100 percent women representation but if they do not care about the people, then it is irrelevant 10."
Some observers believe progress is being made, as Dilorom Tashmukhamedova - a pro-government politician - becomes Uzbekistan's first female presidential candidate. However, with little chance of winning, political analysts 11 do not expect major political gains for women.
One of the greatest obstacles facing women across Central Asia is the lack of economic opportunity. Nazima Nurmukhamedova, an international aid specialist from Tajikistan, says women in her country have little time for politics because they are generally just trying to survive. "Men have left the country seeking jobs abroad. Women do everything in rural areas. Farming is mainly women's work today. They are not paid well. Gender inequality is rampant 12. Women do not own much. They have no financial security," she said.
Women are often regarded as the agents of change, especially in transitional political environments. But in Central Asia, many experts believe change will take time and require strong support by the international community to create opportunities for women in the political process.
- She entered the political arena at the age of 25. 她25岁进入政界。
- He had not an adequate arena for the exercise of his talents.他没有充分发挥其才能的场所。
- Zhukov was a marshal of the former Soviet Union.朱可夫是前苏联的一位元帅。
- Germany began to attack the Soviet Union in 1941.德国在1941年开始进攻苏联。
- They are the most precious cultural legacy our forefathers left.它们是我们祖先留下来的最宝贵的文化遗产。
- He thinks the legacy is a gift from the Gods.他认为这笔遗产是天赐之物。
- French differs from English in having gender for all nouns.法语不同于英语,所有的名词都有性。
- Women are sometimes denied opportunities solely because of their gender.妇女有时仅仅因为性别而无法获得种种机会。
- Such jokes tend to reinforce racial stereotypes. 这样的笑话容易渲染种族偏见。
- It makes me sick to read over such stereotypes devoid of content. 这种空洞无物的八股调,我看了就讨厌。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》
- Why are the senators sitting there without legislating? 为什么那些议员们做在那里不立法? 来自互联网
- From legislating and protecting peasant's interests organizationally. " 从立法和组织上保护农民利益。 来自互联网
- What can you contribute to the position of a market analyst?你有什么技能可有助于市场分析员的职务?
- The analyst is required to interpolate values between standards.分析人员需要在这些标准中插入一些值。
- For many,the dentist's surgery remains a torture chamber.对许多人来说,牙医的治疗室一直是间受刑室。
- The chamber was ablaze with light.会议厅里灯火辉煌。
- That is completely irrelevant to the subject under discussion.这跟讨论的主题完全不相关。
- A question about arithmetic is irrelevant in a music lesson.在音乐课上,一个数学的问题是风马牛不相及的。
- City analysts forecast huge profits this year. 伦敦金融分析家预测今年的利润非常丰厚。
- I was impressed by the high calibre of the researchers and analysts. 研究人员和分析人员的高素质给我留下了深刻印象。