I don’t ever want to talk about being a
woman scientist again. There was a time in my life when people asked constantly
for stories about what it’s like to work in a field dominated by men. I was
never very good at telling those stories because truthfully I never found them
interesting. What I do find interesting is the origin of the universe, the
shape of space-time and the nature of black holes.
At 19, when I began studying astrophysics,
it did not bother me in the least to be the only woman in the classroom. But
while earning my Ph.D. at MIT and then as a post-doctor doing space research,
the issue started to bother me. My every achievement—jobs, research papers,
awards—was viewed through the lens of gender (性别) politics. So were my failures. Sometimes, when
I was pushed into an argument on left brain versus (相对于) right brain, or nature
versus nurture (培育),
I would instantly fight fiercely on my behalf and all womankind.
Then one day a few years ago, out of my
mouth came a sentence that would eventually become my reply to any and all
provocations: I don’t talk about that anymore. It took me 10 years to get back
the confidence I had at 19 and to realize that I didn’t want to deal with
gender issues. Why should curing sexism be yet another terrible burden on every
female scientist? After all, I don’t study sociology or political theory.
Today I research and teach at Barnard, a
women’s college in New York City. Recently, someone asked me how may of the 45
students in my class were women. You cannot imagine my satisfaction at being
able to answer, 45. I know some of my students worry how they will manage their
scientific research and a desire for children. And I don’t dismiss those
concerns. Still, I don’t tell them “war” stories. Instead, I have given them
this: the visual of their physics professor heavily pregnant doing physics
experiments. And in turn they have given me the image of 45 women driven by a love
of science. And that’s a sight worth talking about
51. Why doesn’t the author want
to talk about being a woman scientist again?
A. She feels unhappy working in
male-dominated fields.
B. She is fed up with the issue of gender
discrimination.
C. She is not good at telling stories of
the kind.
D. She finds space research more important.
52. From Paragraph 2, we can
infer that people would attribute the author’s failures to ________.
A. the very fact that she is a woman
B. her involvement in gender politics
C. her over-confidence as a female
astrophysicist
D. the burden she bears in a male-dominated
society
53. What did the author
constantly fight against while doing her Ph.D. and post-doctoral research?
A. Lack of confidence in succeeding in
space science.
B. Unfair accusations from both inside and
outside her circle.
C. People’s stereotyped attitude toward
female scientists.
D. Widespread misconceptions about nature
and nurtured.
54. Why does the author feel
great satisfaction when talking about her class?
A. Female students no longer have to bother
about gender issues.
B. Her students’ performance has brought
back her confidence.
C. Her female students can do just as well
as male students.
D. More female students are pursuing
science than before.
55. What does the image the
author presents to her students suggest?
A. Women students needn’t have the concerns
of her generation.
B. Women have more barriers on their way to
academic success.
C. Women can balance a career in science
and having a family.
D. Women now have fewer problems pursuing a
science career.
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