I started questioning gender-based assumptions when ateight I was confused at being called “bossy,” because I wanted to direct theplays we would put on for our parents—but the boys were not。 8岁时,我开始质疑某些基于性别的假设。我不明白,为什么我想在为家长上演的戏剧里担任导演,就会被说成“专横”,而男孩们则不会; When at 14 I started being sexualized by certainelements of the press。 14岁时,我开始被媒体报道的某些元素性别化; When at 15 my girlfriends started dropping out oftheir sports teams because they didn’t want to appear “muscly。” 15岁时,我的女性朋友们开始退出各自的运动队,因为她们不希望显得“肌肉发达”; When at 18 my male friends were unable to expresstheir feelings。 18岁时,我的男性朋友们无法表达他们的感受。 I decided I was a feminist and this seemeduncomplicated to me. But my recent research has shown me that feminism hasbecome an unpopular word。 我认为自己是一名女权主义者,这(身份认定)对我来说并不难。但我最近的调查发现,女权主义已经成为一个不受欢迎的词。 Apparently I am among the ranks of women whoseexpressions are seen as too strong, too aggressive, isolating, anti-men and,unattractive。 显然,我成了那些言辞看起来过于强势、过于激进、孤立、反男性、不吸引人的女性行列中的一员。
Why is the word such an uncomfortable one? 为什么这个词如此令人不安? I am from Britain and think it is right that as awoman I am paid the same as my male counterparts. I think it is right that Ishould be able to make decisions about my own body. I think it is right thatwomen be involved on my behalf in the policies and decision-making of mycountry. I think it is right that socially I am afforded the same respect asmen. But sadly I can say that there is no one country in the world where allwomen can expect to receive these rights。 我来自英国,我认为身为女性,我应该和男性同行获得一样的报酬。我认为我应该自己为自己的身体做决定。我认为应该有女性代表我参与政治,以及我的国家的决策制定。我认为在社会上,我应该和男性获得相同的尊重。但遗憾的是,世界上没有一个国家能使所有的女性都能获得上述权利。 No country in the world can yet say they have achievedgender equality。 世界上没有一个国家能说,他们已经实现了性别平等。 These rights I consider to be human rights but I amone of the lucky ones. My life is a sheer privilege because my parents didn’tlove me less because I was born a daughter. My school did not limit me becauseI was a girl. My mentors didn’t assume I would go less far because I might givebirth to a child one day. These influencers were the gender equalityambassadors that made who I am today. They may not know it, but they are theinadvertent feminists who are. And we need more of those. And if you still hatethe word—it is not the word that is important but the idea and the ambitionbehind it. Because not all women have been afforded the same rights that Ihave. In fact, statistically, very few have been。 这些权利,我认为是每个人都该享有,然而(事实是)我只是众多幸运儿中的一个。我的生活是完完全全的特例,因为我的父母没有因为我生为女儿而减少对我的爱,我的学校没有因为我是女孩而限制我,我的导师没有因为我将来可能要生孩子而认为我会走不远。这些影响了我的人,都是性别平等大使,是他们造就了今天的我。他们也许并不知道,但他们是无心的女权主义者。而我们现在,则需要更多这样的人。所以,如果你仍然憎恨这个词——重要的不是这个词,而是它背后的想法和抱负。因为并不是所有女性都能够享有我所拥有的权利。事实上,从统计数据看,真的非常少。
如果你相信平等,你可能是我前头说到的那些无心的女权主义者的一员。 And for this I applaud you。 为此,我为你鼓掌喝彩。 We are struggling for a uniting word but the good newsis we have a uniting movement. It is called HeForShe. I am inviting you to stepforward, to be seen to speak up, To be the he for she. And to ask yourself ifnot me, who?if not now when?我们 正在努力争取一个团结的世界,好消息是,我们已经有了一个团结的运动。它叫做“他为她”。我邀请你站出来,展示自己,畅所欲言,成为一个为女性权益奋斗的男性。以及,问自己:如果不是我,那又该是谁;如果不是现在,那又该是何时! Thank you。 谢谢。