《英語輕鬆學》學好中級口語 #Lesson 47：The Glass Ceiling Effect 玻璃天花板效應

延伸閱讀 >> 【英文感謝用語大全】從「表達感謝」到「回覆感謝」一次學會！

 中級口語 

搭配筆記聆聽短文 Listen to the text with the help of the notes given

 

再次聆聽並回答問題 Listen again and answer the questions below

Questions for discussion:

1. What is the glass ceiling effect?

2. What groups of people are affected by the glass ceiling effect the most?

3. What is one of the reasons that caused the glass ceiling effect?

 

短文聽讀 Text 

               We use the glass ceiling metaphor to describe the phenomenon where certain groups of people are unable to reach the top in an organization. In most cases, these people are women (or minorities) who can only rise to the level of middle management in a company. They can see the top and they hope they can reach it. But, in fact, there is an invisible barrier that keeps them from getting there. We all wish that there were no glass ceiling; unfortunately, however, it’s still quite common.

               But what causes it? One reason is that, because many senior management positions in companies are already occupied by men, there is an unconscious prejudice against women joining their “boys’ club.” Another possible reason is that women have more family commitments, so are less likely to compete for higher-paying jobs with better perks. We must all work together and hope that the glass ceiling can be shattered soon!

               我們用玻璃天花板來比喻某些群體在某組織中無法晉升到高階職位的現象。大部分的情況中，這些人是女性（或少數族群），她們只能在公司晉升到中階管理職位。她們可以望見高階職位，也期許自己能攀升上去。但事實卻是有一道隱形的障礙阻攔她們升遷。我們都期望沒有玻璃天花板這種現象；然而不幸的是，它仍普遍存在。

               那是什麼因素造成的呢？其中一個原因是，因為公司內大多的高階管理職位已由男性擔任，而這些人對於女性加入他們的｢男子俱樂部｣產生隱性偏見。另一個可能的原因為女性在家庭照顧上有更多責任，所以不太會去爭取待遇更好的高薪工作。我們一定要一起努力，並冀望可以早日打破玻璃天花板的現象！

 

單字片語 Vocabulary and Phrases

 1  the glass ceiling (effect)　 玻璃天花板 （效應）
     ceiling     n. 天花板
     effect.     n. 效應；影響；結果

 2  metaphor 　  n. 隱喻，暗喻
     simile     n. 明喻

 3  top      n.（公司、組織中）最重要的職位；最高的地位

 4  minority　 　n. 少數民族 / 群體；少數

 5  middle management　 　中階管理階層
     management        n. 管理階層

 6  invisible       a. 無形的；肉眼看不見的
     visible       a. 顯而易見的；肉眼可見的

 7  barrier　 　n. 障礙 （物）
     the language barrier 語言障礙
     be a barrier to... 是……的障礙 / 絆腳石
 =  be an obstacle to...
 =  be a hindrance to...
     Being too arrogant is the biggest barrier to success.
     過於自傲是成功最大的絆腳石。

 8  senior management　 　高階管理階層
 =  top management
     senior       a. 地位較高的

 9  occupy　 　vt. 擔任（職位）；占據
     （三態為：occupy, occupied, occupied）
     Mr. White occupies an important position in the company.
     懷特先生在該公司身居要職。

 10  unconscious　 　a. 未意識到的；不省人事的

 11  prejudice　 　n. 偏見，成見
     have a prejudice against...        對……有偏見

 12  commitment　 　n. 承諾要做的事；必須要做的事
     family / work commitments        家庭義務 / 工作承諾

 13  compete　 　vi. 競爭
     compete (with sb) for sth
     （與某人） 競爭某物
     An estimated 200 contestants will compete for the championship.
     預估將有兩百名參賽者角逐冠軍。

 14  shatter　 　vt. & vi.（使）粉碎，（使）破碎
     Jonathan dropped the picture frame by accident and shattered the glass.
     強納森不小心把相框摔在地上，打碎了玻璃。

延伸閱讀 >> 替別人加油打氣，千萬別再說 You’re tired 啦，來學「辛苦了! 」英文該怎麼說！