Sex prejudices are based on and justified by the ideology that biology is destiny. According to this ideology, basic biological and psychological differences exist between the sexes. These differences require each sex to play a separate role in social life. Women are the weaker sex both physically and emotionally. Thus, they are naturally suited, much more so than men, to the performance of domestic duties. A woman's place, under normal circumstances, is within the protective environment of the home. Nature has determined that women play caretaker roles, such as wife and mother and homemaker. On the other hand, men are best suited to go out into the competitive world of work and politics, where serious responsibilities must be taken on. Men are to be the providers; women and children are "dependents".
The ideology also holds that women who wish to work outside the household should naturally fill these jobs that are in line with the special capabilities of their sex. It is thus appropriate for women, not men, to be employed as nurses, social workers, elementary school teachers, household helpers, and clerks and secretaries. These positions are simply an extension of women's domestic role. Informal distinctions between "women's work" and "men's work" in the labor force, according to the ideology, are simply a functional reflection of the basic differences between the sexes.
Finally, the ideology suggests that nature has worked her will in another significant way. For the human species to survive over time, its members must regularly reproduce. Thus, women must, whether at home or in the labor force, make the most of their physical appearance.
So goes the ideology. It is, of course, not line that basic biological and psychological differences between the sexes require each to play sex-defined roles in social life. There is ample evidence that sex roles vary from society to society, and those role differences that to exist are largely learned.
But to the degree people actually believe that biology is destiny and that nature intended for men and women to make different contributions to society, sex-defined roles will be seen as totally acceptable.
- Women's place, some people think, is within the protective environment of the home because_______
- women can provide better care for the children
- women are too weak to do any agricultural work at all
- women are biologically suited to domestic jobs
- women cannot compete with men in any field
- According to the author, sex roles________
- are socially determined
- are emotionally and physically determined
- can only be determined by what education people take
- are biologically and psychologically determined
- The author points out that the assignments of women's roles in work _______
- are determined by what they are better suited to
- row out of their position inside the home
- reflect a basic difference between men and women
- are suitable to them, but not to men
- Which of the following is NOT tree according to the passage
- The division of sex-defined roles is completely unacceptable.
- Women's roles in work are too limited at present.
- In one society, men might perform what is considered women's duties by another.
- Some of the women's roles in domestic duties cannot be taken over by men.
核心词汇注释
prejudice n．偏见，成见；损害，侵害 u．损害
ideology n．意识形态
destiny n．命运，定数
psychological adj．心理(上)的
domestic adj．家庭的，国内的；与人共处的，驯服的
caretaker n．管理者，看管者，看守者
elementary adj．初步的，基本的；元素的，自然力的
distinction n．区别，差别，级别；特性；声望，显赫
significant adj．有意义的，重大的，重要的
contribution n．捐献，贡献，投稿
长难句剖析
On the other hand, men are best suited to go out into the competitive world of work and politics, where serious responsibilities must be taken on
[结构分析]本句主干是men are best suited to go out into the competitive world of work and politics，where引导的非限定性定语从句修饰the competitive world。
[参考译文]另一方面，男人最适合外面充满竞争的政治与工作世界，在那里他们必须承担严肃的责任。
The ideology also holds that women who wish to work outside the household should naturally fill these jobs that are in line with the special capabilities of their sex．
[结构分析]本句主语是the ideology，谓语动词为holds，由that引导的从句作宾语。在宾语从句中，who引导的定语从句修饰从句的主语women，that引导的定语从句修饰宾语these jobs.
[参考译文]这种观念也认为那些希望出外工作的女性应当从事那些与她们性别特点有关的工作。
It is，of course，not true that basic biological and psychological differences between the sexes require each to play sex defined roles in social life．
[结构分析]本句因为主语结构太复杂，因此用it做形式主语，that后面的成分才是真正的主语。
[参考译文]当然，认为性别间基本的生理和心理差异需要不同性别在社会生活中扮演其由性别决定的角色的想法也是错误的。
全文参考译文
生理就是命运的观念是性别偏见的根据和理由。按照这种思想，两性之间存在着基本的生理和心理差别。这种差别使得两性在社会生活中扮演不同的角色。不论在生理上还是心理上，女性都是弱者。这样，她们就比男性更适合承担家庭义务。通常情况下，一个女人的位置是在家庭这种受到保护的环境中。天性决定了女性要扮演照顾他人的角色，比如做个妻子、母亲或者全职太太；另一方面，男人最适合外面充满竞争的政治与工作世界，在那里男人必须承担严肃的责任。男人是要养家糊口的，女人和孩子则是“被抚养者”。
这种观点也认为那些希望外出工作的女性应当从事那些与她们性别特点有关的工作。因而女性比男性更适合做护士、社工、小学教师、保姆、银行收银员和秘书等工作。这些职位只是女性家庭角色的延伸。按照这种想法，“女性工作”和“男性工作”非正式的区分在劳动力中只是性别基本差异的功能反映。
这种观念最后认为，自然用另一种重要的方式实施它的意愿。因为人类要世代生存下去，其成员必须要繁衍后代。因而无论是在家中还是外出工作，女性都必须展示自己的生理外表。
这种观念就是这样。当然，认为性别间基本的生理和心理差异需要不同性别在社会生活中扮演其由性别决定的角色的想法同样是错误的。有充分的证据可以说明在不同的社会中性别的角色也不尽相同。
但是在一定程度上人们深信生理就是命运，大自然让男人和女人对社会做出不同的贡献。由性别决定的角色完全被认为是可以接受的。
题目答案与解析
1．某些人认为，女性的位置应该是在家庭环境的保护之下，因为_________。 [答案]C
A．女性可以给予孩子们更好的照料 B．女性太弱了，根本不能干农活
C．女性天生就适合家务劳动 D．女性在任何领域都无法和男性竞争
[解析]本题可参照文章的第1段。题目中的some people think和原文第1段第2句话中的According to this ideology…是对应的。第5句话作者又归因到Thus，they are naturally suited， much more so than men，to the performance of domestic duties，从中可知C项是正确答案。
2．按照作者的观点，性别角色 ________。 [答案]A
A．是由社会决定的 B．是由情感和身体决定的
C．只取决于受到的教育 D．是由生理和心理决定的
[解析]本题的依据是文章第6段的So goes the ideology．It is，of course，not true that basic biological and psychological differences between the sexes require each to play sex defined roles in social life．根据上下文可知作者是不同意这种观念的，因此A项是正确答案。
3． 作者指出，在工作中女性角色的分配_________。 [答案]B
A．取决于她们比较适合于做什么 B．是她们在家庭中角色的延伸
C．反映了男性和女性的根本不同 D．适合女性，不适合男性
[解析]这道题与文章的第2段有关。作者在这一段的倒数第2句话中指出These positions are simply an extension of women's domestic role从中可知B项是正确答案。
4．根据本文，以下各项中哪一项是错误的 [答案]A
A．按照性别定义的角色划分是完全不可接受的。
B．现代女性在工作中的角色太有限了。
C 在一个社会中，男性可能从事另一个社会中认为的女性的工作。
D．在家庭责任中，某些女性角色不可能由男性代替。
[解析]本题可参照文章的最后一段。从中可知，这种性别角色在不同的社会里差异很大，但人们还是愿意接受这种男女之间的差异是天生的观念。因此A项为正确答案。