英国打造更年期友好型工作环境

直到最近，讨论更年期和围更年期的症状（女性生育期结束前的一段长达数年的时期）在很大程度上都是禁忌。

双语精读

In the last few years, managers at Nvidia, the global computer graphics company, began hearing a new kind of complaint: Some of their female employees were struggling with hot flashes, fatigue and brain fog -- common symptoms of the menopause transition -- and their regular doctors weren't offering guidance or relief.

过去几年，计算机图形跨国公司英伟达的经理们开始听到一种新的抱怨：他们的一些女员工患有潮热、疲劳和脑雾，这些都是更年期过渡的常见症状，而平常给她们看病的医生没有提供应对指导或缓解办法。

"They came to us and said, 'Who do I go to?'" Denise Rosa, the company's head of U.S. medical programs, said. "They were like, 'We have fertility support, we have egg freezing, we have surrogacy and adoption. What about me?'"

"她们来找我们说，'我该去找谁？'英伟达公司的美国医疗项目负责人丹尼斯·罗莎说，"她们会说，'我们有生育支持，有冻卵技术，有代孕和领养，那我呢？'"

Some women's health concerns, like fertility struggles and postpartum depression, have already been acknowledged as issues that employers can address. But until recently, discussing the symptoms of menopause and perimenopause, the years-long stretch that precedes the end of a woman's reproductive years, was largely taboo.

女性的一些健康问题，如生育困难和产后抑郁症，已经被认为是雇主可以处理的问题。但直到最近，讨论更年期和围更年期的症状（女性生育期结束前的一段长达数年的时期）在很大程度上都是禁忌。

That is beginning to change. A new movement to create "menopause-friendly workplaces" is catching on, beginning in Britain, where menopausal women are believed to be the fastest growing work force demographic.

这种情况正在开始改变。一场创造"更年期友好型工作环境"的新运动正在流行，这场运动从英国开始，在英国，更年期女性被认为是增长最快的劳动人口群体。

More than 50 British organizations, including HSBC UK, Unilever UK, and the soccer club West Ham United, are now certified as "menopause-friendly" through an accreditation developed by Henpicked: Menopause in the Workplace, a British professional training firm.

包括英国汇丰银行、联合利华英国公司和西汉姆联队足球俱乐部在内的50多家英国组织现在被认证为"更年期友好"，这一认证是由英国职业培训公司Henpicked"职场更年期项目"开发的。

One recent poll estimated that three in 10 workplaces in Britain now have some kind of menopause policy in place. There is even an awards ceremony, held in London, for the most menopause-friendly companies.

最近的一项民意调查估计，英国十分之三的工作场所现在都有某种形式的更年期政策。甚至还有一个颁奖典礼，在伦敦举行，以表彰对更年期最友好的公司。

The British Parliament, which held multiple hearings on menopause in the workplace over the last two years, is calling for such policies -- which include training about symptoms, physical accommodations like desk fans and modified uniforms, and more flexible schedules -- to be even more widespread.

英国议会在过去两年里就职场的更年期问题举行了多次听证会，呼吁更广泛地推广此类政策，包括应对症状的培训、办公桌小风扇和改良制服等物理调节措施，以及更灵活的工作时间安排。

Now, the effort is arriving in the United States. New York City Mayor Eric Adams promised earlier this year "to change the stigma around menopause in this city," and to "create more menopause-friendly workplaces for our city workers through improving policies and our buildings."

现在，这种努力正在美国发生。今年早些时候，纽约市长埃里克·亚当斯承诺"改变纽约市对更年期的污名化"，并"通过改进政策和建筑，为城市工作人员创造更多更年期友好型工作环境"。

There are many reasons for the shift. Female leaders and celebrities -- including Oprah and Michelle Obama -- are increasingly bringing what Oprah calls "the Big M" into the cultural conversation. Gen X-ers, now in their 40s and 50s, are more willing to talk about their menopause experiences and request support than previous generations.

这一转变的原因很多。女性领导者和名人--包括奥普拉和米歇尔·奥巴马--正越来越多地将奥普拉所称的"大写M"带入文化讨论。与前几代人相比，现在40多岁和50多岁的X世代更愿意谈论自己的更年期经历，并寻求支持。

A growing number of "fem-tech" companies and other entrepreneurs focused on women's health are seeking profit opportunities in everything from prescribing hormones to selling menopause-themed energy bars.

越来越多的关注女性健康的"女性科技"公司和其他创业者正在寻找商机，包括开激素药物和销售以更年期为主题的能量棒。

And employers are realizing that offering help is a way to retain experienced women in the work force, as more evidence shows that menopause symptoms are hurting productivity and causing women to leave or consider leaving their jobs.

雇主们正在意识到，提供帮助是让有经验的女性留在职场的一种方式，有更多的证据表明，更年期症状正在损害生产力，并导致女性离职或考虑离职。

词汇预习

increasingly [高考]
美[ɪnˈkriːsɪŋli] | 英[ɪnˈkriːsɪŋli]
adv. 逐渐地；越来越多地
fatigue [高考]
美[fəˈtiːɡ] | 英[fəˈtiːɡ]
n. 疲劳；疲乏；劳务杂役 v. （使）疲劳 adj. 疲劳的
largely [高考]
美[ˈlɑːrdʒli] | 英[ˈlɑːdʒli]
adv. 大部分；主要地
shift [高考]
美[ʃɪft] | 英[ʃɪft]
v. 移动；改变；换挡；字型转换 n. 轮班；变化；移动；计谋；轮班职工
transition [高考]
美[trænˈzɪʃn] | 英[trænˈzɪʃn]
n. 转变；过渡
stretch [高考]
美[stretʃ] | 英[stretʃ]
v. 伸展；延伸；伸出；舒展 n. 伸展；弹性；舒展；一片 adj.有弹力的
complaint [高考]
美[kəmˈpleɪnt] | 英[kəmˈpleɪnt]
n. 抱怨；疾病；诉苦；控告；投诉
productivity [高考]
美[ˌprɑːdʌkˈtɪvəti] | 英[ˌprɒdʌkˈtɪvəti]
n. 生产率；生产力
multiple [高考]
美[ˈmʌltɪpl] | 英[ˈmʌltɪpl]
adj. 多种多样的；许多的 n. 倍数；并联
poll [高考]
美[poʊl] | 英[pəʊl]
n. 民意测验；投票；票数 v. 做民意测验；获得 ... 票
depression [高考]
美[dɪˈpreʃn] | 英[dɪˈpreʃn]
n. 沮丧；萧条
retain [高考]
美[rɪˈteɪn] | 英[rɪˈteɪn]
vt. 保持；保留；记住；聘请
evidence [高考]
美[ˈevɪdəns] | 英[ˈevɪdəns]
n. 证据；证词；根据；迹象 v. 证明；证实
previous [高考]
美[ˈpriːviəs] | 英[ˈpriːviəs]
adj. 以前的；先于；在 ... 之前
flexible [高考]
美[ˈfleksəbl] | 英[ˈfleksəbl]
adj. 柔韧的；灵活的；易弯曲的；可变通的
profit [高考]
美[ˈprɑːfɪt] | 英[ˈprɒfɪt]
n. 利润；收益；利益 vi. 得益；获利 vt. 有益于
relief [高考]
美[rɪˈliːf] | 英[rɪˈliːf]
n. 减轻；解除；轻松；浮雕；救济(品)；安慰；替代 adj. 提供救济的；文本的
guidance [高考]
美[ˈɡaɪdns] | 英[ˈɡaɪdns]
n. 指导；引导；导航
freezing [高考]
美[ˈfriːzɪŋ] | 英[ˈfriːzɪŋ]
adj. 冰冻的；严寒的；冷冻用的 n. 冰冻
widespread [高考]
美[ˈwaɪdspred] | 英[ˈwaɪdspred]
adj. 分布(或散布)广的；普遍的
fog [高考]
美[fɑːɡ] | 英[fɒɡ]
n. 雾；朦胧；迷惑 v. 以雾笼罩；使模糊；迷惑
taboo [高考]
美[təˈbuː] | 英[təˈbuː]
n. 禁忌；禁止接近；禁止使用 adj. 禁忌的 vt. 禁忌
workplace [高考]
美[ˈwɜːrkpleɪs] | 英[ˈwɜːkpleɪs]
n. 工作场所
hearing [高考]
美[ˈhɪrɪŋ] | 英[ˈhɪərɪŋ]
n. 听力；听觉；说话或申辩的机会；审讯；听证会
where [高考]
美[wer] | 英[weə(r)]
adv. 在哪里；在那个地方 conj. 在 ... 地方
adoption [四级]
美[əˈdɑːpʃn] | 英[əˈdɒpʃn]
n. 采用；采纳；收养
tech [四级]
美[tek] | 英[tek]
n. 技术学校；技术；技术人员
demographic [四级]
美[ˌdeməˈɡræfɪk] | 英[ˌdeməˈɡræfɪk]
adj. 人口统计学的，人口的 n. 具有统计学特征的人群（一般指根据年龄、性别等进行统计的人群）
reproductive [四级]
美[ˌriprəˈdʌktɪv] | 英[ˌri:prəˈdʌktɪv]
adj. 复制的；生殖的 n. (尤指群居昆虫的)母体
accreditation [四级]
美[ əˌkredɪˈteɪʃn] | 英[əˌkredɪˈteɪʃn]
n. 认证；委派
in place [四级]
美[ɪn pleɪs] | 英[ɪn pleɪs]
在适当的位置
experienced [四级]
美[ɪkˈspɪriənst] | 英[ɪkˈspɪəriənst]
adj. 有经验的
offering [四级]
美[ˈɔːfərɪŋ] | 英[ˈɒfərɪŋ]
n. 供品；作品；出售物
fertility [六级]
美[fərˈtɪləti] | 英[fəˈtɪləti]
n. 【C】肥沃；(人)繁殖力；(思想等的)丰富
kind of [六级]
美[kaɪnd ʌv] | 英[kaind ɔv]
adv. 有点儿
menopause [专八]
美[ˈmɛnəˌpɔz] | 英[ˈmenəpɔ:z]
n. 停经期；更年期
graphics [托福]
美[ˈɡræfɪks] | 英[ˈgræfɪks]
n. 制图法；绘图学 n. 【计算机科学】图解计算 n. 【语】书法；字体

重点讲解

In the last few years, managers at Nvidia, the global computer graphics company, began hearing a new kind of complaint: Some of their female employees were struggling with hot flashes, fatigue and brain fog -- common symptoms of the menopause transition -- and their regular doctors weren't offering guidance or relief.

过去几年，计算机图形跨国公司英伟达的经理们开始听到一种新的抱怨：他们的一些女员工患有潮热、疲劳和脑雾，这些都是更年期过渡的常见症状，而平常给她们看病的医生没有提供应对指导或缓解办法。

regular adj.

1. 通常的；平常的

【例】On Monday he would have to return to his regular duties.

星期一，他就得回去正常上班了。

2. （人）经常做某事的

【例】a regular customer/offender/visitor 老主顾/惯犯/常客

"她们来找我们说，'我该去找谁？'英伟达公司的美国医疗项目负责人丹尼斯·罗莎说，"她们会说，'我们有生育支持，有冻卵技术，有代孕和领养，那我呢？'"

surrogacy n. 代孕

【例】She came to motherhood through surrogacy.

她通过代孕成了母亲。

【拓展】surrogate n./adj. 替身/替代的

【例】She saw her uncle as a surrogate of her father.

她把她叔叔看成是父亲的替身。

Some women's health concerns, like fertility struggles and postpartum depression, have already been acknowledged as issues that employers can address. But until recently, discussing the symptoms of menopause and perimenopause, the years-long stretch that precedes the end of a woman's reproductive years, was largely taboo.

女性的一些健康问题，如生育困难和产后抑郁症，已经被认为是雇主可以处理的问题。但直到最近，讨论更年期和围更年期的症状（女性生育期结束前的一段长达数年的时期）在很大程度上都是禁忌。

stretch n. 连绵的一片；一段时间

【例】a stretch of green field/work for long stretches 一片绿地/长时间连续工作

【搭配】at a stretch 连续地

【例】She used to read for hours at a stretch.

她以前看书常常连看几个小时。

taboo n. （文化或宗教方面的）禁忌；忌讳

【例】a taboo on using a dead man's name/break a taboo/a taboo ground 避免使用亡人名字的忌讳/打破禁忌/禁地

That is beginning to change. A new movement to create "menopause-friendly workplaces" is catching on, beginning in Britain, where menopausal women are believed to be the fastest growing work force demographic.

这种情况正在开始改变。一场创造"更年期友好型工作环境"的新运动正在流行，这场运动从英国开始，在英国，更年期女性被认为是增长最快的劳动人口群体。

catch on

1. 变得流行

【例】The video game caught on with young people immediately.

这个电脑游戏立即在年轻人中流行开了。

2. 理解；领会

【例】We were teasing Tom, but he was slow to catch on that we were joking.

我们在取笑汤姆，但他反应很慢，没明白我们在开玩笑。

More than 50 British organizations, including HSBC UK, Unilever UK, and the soccer club West Ham United, are now certified as "menopause-friendly" through an accreditation developed by Henpicked: Menopause in the Workplace, a British professional training firm.

包括英国汇丰银行、联合利华英国公司和西汉姆联队足球俱乐部在内的50多家英国组织现在被认证为"更年期友好"，这一认证是由英国职业培训公司Henpicked"职场更年期项目"开发的。

accreditation n. 认证；证明合格

【例】He emphasized the five-star accreditation of the hotel.

他强调这家酒店得到了五星认证。

【拓展】accredit v. 正式认可 certificate/credential n. 证书

One recent poll estimated that three in 10 workplaces in Britain now have some kind of menopause policy in place. There is even an awards ceremony, held in London, for the most menopause-friendly companies.

最近的一项民意调查估计，英国十分之三的工作场所现在都有某种形式的更年期政策。甚至还有一个颁奖典礼，在伦敦举行，以表彰对更年期最友好的公司。

in place

1. 在合适的位置

【例】Put the book back in place after finishing it.

书读完了就把它放回原位。

2. 准备就绪的；安排好的

【例】The arrangements are all in place for the concert next Thursday.

下周四的演唱会都安排就绪了。

The British Parliament, which held multiple hearings on menopause in the workplace over the last two years, is calling for such policies -- which include training about symptoms, physical accommodations like desk fans and modified uniforms, and more flexible schedules -- to be even more widespread.

英国议会在过去两年里就职场的更年期问题举行了多次听证会，呼吁更广泛地推广此类政策，包括应对症状的培训、办公桌小风扇和改良制服等物理调节措施，以及更灵活的工作时间安排。

accommodation n.

1. 住处；住宿

【例】board and accommodation 食宿

2. 提供方便的措施；满足需求的安排

【例】The hotel tries to make accommodations for people with small children.

酒店尽力为带小孩的人提供方便/照顾带小孩的人的需求。

3. 和解；调解

【例】reach an accommodation with one's political rivals 与政治上的竞争对手达成和解

【拓展】accommodate v. 提供住宿；顾及需要；提供方便

accommodating adj. 乐于助人的；与人方便的

Now, the effort is arriving in the United States. New York City Mayor Eric Adams promised earlier this year "to change the stigma around menopause in this city," and to "create more menopause-friendly workplaces for our city workers through improving policies and our buildings."

现在，这种努力正在美国发生。今年早些时候，纽约市长埃里克·亚当斯承诺"改变纽约市对更年期的污名化"，并"通过改进政策和建筑，为城市工作人员创造更多更年期友好型工作环境"。

stigma n. 耻辱；污名

【例】the stigma attached to AIDS 与艾滋病相关的污名

【拓展】stigmatize v. 污名化；带来侮辱

【近义词】shame n. 耻辱；羞耻

这一转变的原因很多。女性领导者和名人--包括奥普拉和米歇尔·奥巴马--正越来越多地将奥普拉所称的"大写M"带入文化讨论。与前几代人相比，现在40多岁和50多岁的X世代更愿意谈论自己的更年期经历，并寻求支持。

request v. & n.

1. 作动词：（礼貌或正式地）请求

【例】She went to the manager and requested the afternoon off.

她到经理那里请了下午的假。

2. 作名词：请求；要求

【例】I'm singing this next song by request of Mr. Li.

应李先生的要求，我准备唱下面这支歌。

【辨析】require v. 需要；要求

【例】The occasion requires formal dress.

这一场合要求穿礼服。

越来越多的关注女性健康的"女性科技"公司和其他创业者正在寻找商机，包括开激素药物和销售以更年期为主题的能量棒。

request v. & n.

1. 作动词：（礼貌或正式地）请求

【例】She went to the manager and requested the afternoon off.

她到经理那里请了下午的假。

2. 作名词：请求；要求

【例】I'm singing this next song by request of Mr. Li.

应李先生的要求，我准备唱下面这支歌。

【辨析】require v. 需要；要求

【例】The occasion requires formal dress.

这一场合要求穿礼服。

And employers are realizing that offering help is a way to retain experienced women in the work force, as more evidence shows that menopause symptoms are hurting productivity and causing women to leave or consider leaving their jobs.

雇主们正在意识到，提供帮助是让有经验的女性留在职场的一种方式，有更多的证据表明，更年期症状正在损害生产力，并导致女性离职或考虑离职。

retain v. 保持；继续持有

【例】retain her championship/control of the situation/memory of her childhood 保住冠军头衔/保持对局势的控制/保留对童年的回忆

【辨析】maintain v. 维持；维护

【例】maintain one’s health/world peace/friendly relations 保持健康/维持世界和平/维持友好关系

课后练习

What kind of problem do female workers at Nvidia have?
A. Their health breaks down under the pressure of work.
B. Effective treatments for menopause are not available.
C. They are confused about the cause of their symptoms.
D. There is discrimination against menopause in workplaces.
What has happened in Britain?
A. Women of older age are encouraged to enter the labor force.
B. Organizations show more care about menopausal women.
C. Institutions are researching on the medications for menopause.
D. Companies offer financial subsidies for menopausal employees.
New York City Mayor promised to ____.
A. protect the rights of menopausal women through legislation
B. shorten the working hours of those with menopausal symptoms
C. eliminate people’s bias against menopause in workplaces
D. divert more resources to the upgrade of city facilities
The change of attitude towards menopause is partly caused by ____.
A. more public discussions about menopause
B. technological advancement of treatments
C. workplace reforms by female leaders
D. widespread layoff of menopausal workers