新视野三版 读写B2 U7 Text A
Woman at the management level
1 When Monica applied for a job as an administrative assistant in 1971, she was asked whether she would rather work for a male or a female attorney. \immediately said a man,\she says. \ felt that a male-boss/female-employee relationship was more natural, needing no personal accommodation whatsoever.\said, \was pleasantly surprised that female bosses are much more accessible to their employees; they're much more sensitive and intimate with their employees.\
2 Female bosses today are still finding they face subtle resistance. There is still a segment of the population, both men and, surprisingly, women who report low tolerance for female bosses. The growing presence of female bosses has also provoked two major questions that revolve around styles: Do men and women manage differently, and, if so, is that a good thing?
3 Monica is disposed to think so, on both counts. Now a 40-year-old mother of four, she is president of a public sector labor union with 45,000 members. \with my employees are probably different from those of male managers preceding me,\say my kid got the mumps so I won't be coming in. I have a more flexible style — not soft, just more understanding.\The man who is Monica's assistant agrees, \People are happy and flourish because they have an input into decisions and they are not mere bystanders; their energies are harnessed. On the other hand, consensus takes longer.\
4 So, are the differences symbolic or real? Plausible studies suggest that men are typically hierarchical, goal-oriented and feel entitled. Women, by contrast, manage diplomatically, and share power. That point of view is often challenged and argued. Some proclaim that men and women of similar backgrounds, experience and aspirations basically manage in the same way. This view is echoed by younger women, especially those who have encountered little gender discrimination. That was certainly the lesson for Nicole. When her father died of a heart attack, she was an employee at a petroleum products export company. She quit and took over her family's 160-acre fruit farm in St.David's County. On her first day in the field, a worker
called her \Nicole, now 34. \father darling and you're not going to take that liberty with me. If you do, I'll fire you.'\5 When women work for women, a different dynamic often takes over. Susan, a cashier in a Toronto auction house, says that she has explored friendships with some of her female bosses and feels she can rely on them more. While women may feel more at ease with a female boss, men often have to make concessions to the new working styles. Brian, a marine biologist, says, \female manager. In fact, my relations with her were much more businesslike.\6 To some extent, the male-female differences come down to conflicting styles. One female vice-president discussed the time she burst into tears during a meeting. \war. They take exception to a woman crying, inferring that she's feeling unhappy or violated.\The men failed to understand that what prompted her tears was not hurt but genuine rage. \this valid rage that has no appropriate release,\she says.\cry; men get relief by going on with the offense or by veiling their feelings to appear composed.\
7 Deborah, president of a firm with its headquarters in Toronto, says that even if men do understand, they sometimes react differently to the identical information and to her cooperative management style.
8 Deborah says that her authority is sometimes undermined by perceptions about her gender. \men and women,\wouldn't take as much notice as when Dad told you to do things. Men also have a stronger urge to control,\
9 For female bosses, the great expectation of some female employees is one more obstacle. Junior women assume a female boss will promote them more quickly than a man would. But, they also expect female bosses to be more self-sufficient. \you do your own filing?'\
10 On the other hand, there is no dispute that a few decades ago they would rarely have had a female boss in the workplace.Nina, a management consultant says she's vaguely optimistic. \the day, before I die, when we recognize that the best management styles will
be composed of the best that both genders bring to the table ...\pauses, maybe not before she dies, perhaps in her daughter's lifetime.
Language Points:
1 When Monica applied for a job as an administrative assistant in 1971, she was asked whether she would rather work for a male or a female attorney. (Para. 1) Meaning: Monica was asked if she would like to work for a male or a female lawyer when she applied for a managing job at a law firm in 1971. Sentence structure note: ―would rather‖句型
1 would rather 的意思是―宁愿；宁可；更；最好；还是…为好‖，后接动词原形，表示优先选择的一种方式。其否定形式是 would rather not do sth., would rather 没有人称和数的变化， 所有的人称一律用 would rather。例如：
If you/he would rather be alone, we‘ll all leave here. 如果你/他宁愿独自呆着，那我们会都离开这儿。
2 would rather 后接从句时，从句中的谓语动词用一般过去时，表示希望或宁愿某人按某特定的方式做某事，这个结构常常表达的是现在或将来的行为。例如：
I‘d rather you didn‘t make any comment on the issue for the time being. 我想目前你还是不要对此事发表任何评论。
2 “I felt that a male-boss/female-employee relationship was more natural, needing no personal accommodation whatsoever.” (Para. 1)
Meaning: I felt that there was no need to compromise in a relationship between a male boss and a female employee since it was more natural.
3 But 20 years later, when she was asked the same question, she said, “I was pleasantly surprised that female bosses are much more accessible to their employees; they?re much more sensitive and intimate with their employees.” (Para. 1)
Meaning: However, when she was asked the same question 20 years later, She
responded that it was a nice surprise to find out that female bosses had been much easier to approach, more understanding, and closer to their workers.
Meaning beyond words: Her answer was entirely different from what she had responded 20 years before. It can be assumed that she gained this particular feeling gradually.
4 Female bosses today are still finding they face subtle resistance. (Para. 2) Meaning beyond words: Female bosses today are still experiencing gender discrimination, though it may not always be obvious or noticeable.
5 There is still a segment of the population, both men and, surprisingly, women who report low tolerance for female bosses. (Para. 2)
Meaning: A portion of people, men and, unexpectedly, even women state that they can hardly bear working with female bosses.
6 The growing presence of female bosses has also provoked two major questions that revolve around styles: Do men and women manage differently, and, if so, is that a good thing? (Para. 2)
Meaning: With the number of female bosses increasing, two questions have been raised in terms of styles: Do men and women work differently? Are the differences good for management if there are any?
7 Monica is disposed to think so, on both counts. Now a 40-year-old mother of four, she is president of a public sector labor union with 45,000 members. (Para. 3) Meaning: Monica, a 40-year-old mother of four children and president of a public sector labor union with 45,000 members, is inclined to look at these two points positively: Women do manage differently from men and that is a good thing.
Note: ―A public sector labor union‖ (also public sector trade union) refers to a labor union which primarily represents the interests of employees within public sector
(government-owned, supported or regulated) organizations. Public sector unions have become some of the larger or more influential unions in certain areas of the world in recent times as private sector union membership has declined sharply.
8 “Relations with my employees are probably different from those of male
managers preceding me,” she says. “I know what it?s like to have to call and say my kid got the mumps so I won?t be coming in. I have a more flexible style — not soft, just more understanding.” (Para. 3)
Meaning: She said that she was perhaps different form the previous male managers in relation with the employees because she knew what it meant when someone had to make a phone call telling her that he or she wouldn‘t go to work due to the illness of their child. She added that she was more flexible and understanding but not weaker in terms of working style.
Meaning beyond words: In a broad sense, female bosses are better than male bosses in boss-employee relations because they are more understanding and tend to show more consideration to their employees.
9 The man who is Monica?s assistant agrees, “She tends to delegate more and is always looking for a consensus. People are happy and flourish because they have an input into decisions and they are not mere bystanders; their energies are harnessed. On the other hand, consensus takes longer.” (Para. 3)
Meaning: The man who is Monica‘s assistant holds the same opinion that she usually gives people more rights and is always seeking agreement. Since people have their voice heard in decision-making and are not playing the role of a witness only, they feel happy and successful. In this way, their energies are utilized. However, it takes more time to reach an agreement.
Meaning beyond words: Again, female bosses would seek more accommodation and agreement than male bosses, which helps to bring employees‘ initiative into full play.
10 So, are the differences symbolic or real? Plausible studies suggest that men are typically hierarchical, goal-oriented and feel entitled. Women, by contrast, manage diplomatically, and share power. (Para. 4)
Meaning: So, the question is whether the differences between male and female managers are representative or real? According to acceptable studies, men like to seek social status, work for goals and be given authority. On the other hand, women manage with skill and flexibility and like to share authority.
Meaning beyond words: In terms of management skills, this part highlights the differences between male and female bosses. The plausible reasons may possibly be traced to the respective character traits of both sexes.
Note: Goal-oriented is a compound adjective. A goal-oriented person or team works hard to achieve good results in the tasks that they have been given; a goal-oriented plan or activity is based on a number of things that must be achieved. The word oriented means giving a lot of time, effort and attention to one particular thing. It can be combined with different nouns to derive different meanings such as family-oriented and export-oriented.
11 That point of view is often challenged and argued. Some proclaim that men and women of similar backgrounds, experience and aspirations basically manage in the same way. (Para. 4)
Meaning: The real differences between male and female managers often spark arguments. Some people declare that generally speaking, men and women of similar backgrounds, experience and ambitions manage in the same way.
12 This view is echoed by younger women, especially those who have encountered little gender discrimination. That was certainly the lesson for Nicole. (Para. 4)
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