阅读材料

Women Are Free to Make a Choice

“Toward the end of World War II，” reports economist Dr. Eli Ginzberg， “large numbers of wives entered the labor force. But the experts were sure that when peace came， the mothers would return to their traditional ways， leaving the work force to devote themselves exclusively to child-rearing， homemaking， and volunteer activities.” Time proved the experts wrong. The percentage of working wives and mothers kept on accelerating through the 50s， 60s， and 70s. “Today，” he says， “about two out of every five women with a child under six are working at an outside job market， and are dealing successfully with responsibilities as parents， workers， and homemakers.”

It is easy， however， to understand the feelings of many mothers who refuse to work， mothers who quit their jobs to stay at home and devote their full time to raising children. Some women assume it is their sole responsibility as wife and mother to take care of their children， their husband and their home. They believe if they quit their job， they could devote more time and energy to being a good wife and mother than they could if they dont. Many women like the freedom of being at home. They can do things they had no time for when they worked. They may read for an hour on a living room chair， take courses in tennis， dance at the neighborhood health club， walk around in the shops leisurely， or relax in the park on a nice sunny day without worrying about being late for work all the time.

Although many women choose to stay home and care for their families， increasing numbers of working mothers have made new lives for themselves outside the home. They like a life filled with an active， money-making job. Though very busy， they lead a full fruitful life. “We werent born with silver-spoons in our mouth，” one working mother says. “We want certain things for our family and we have to struggle to achieve them.” These women feel that their jobs make them more attractive and more interesting to their husbands. With the money earned by a working mother the family enjoys things they otherwise could not： a shiny new piano， a summer vacation on the famous resorts， an assured college education for the children. These mothers believe that carefully selected day-care centers， nursery schools or at-home sitters enrich the childs life with experiences no parents alone can offer. Perhaps children have much less time with a working mother than they do with a mother close by all day long； but the quality of the time is what is important. In a single hour a thoughtful working mother can give to her child as much love and attention as a mother at home all the time can give to her child on a full day.

Because of the attention to womens rights， many mothers who in the past might have felt trapped in their homes have seized opportunities to use their energy and potential in stimulating careers. Yet there are women at home who see their work there as more important than anything. The point on all this， as I see it， is that the society must be made to tolerate choices so that no one is locked into a hateful life simply because someone expects him or her to behave in a required way. People must be free to choose the lives which they believe are best for themselves and must have enough opportunities to change their minds if they make mistakes.

妇女自由做出选择

“第二次世界大战快结束的时候，”经济学家艾力·金兹贝博士说，“大批妇女进入劳动大军。但是专家们确信，和平到来时，这些母亲会回到传统的生活方式，离开劳动队伍，专心专意照管孩子、料理家务，以及从事一些自愿参加的活动。”时间证明专家们错了。在20世纪50、60及70年代，劳动妇女的百分比不断增长。金兹贝博士说：“今天，每五个带有一个不滿六岁小孩的妇女中，约莫有两个在劳务市场工作，而且正在出色地履行母亲、职工和家务能手这三者的多种职责。”

然而，为数不少的母亲不愿意参加工作，辞职待在家里，全力以赴养育子女。要理解她们的感情和想法并不难。一些妇女认为，作为妻子和母亲，照顾孩子、丈夫和家庭是她们唯一的责任。她们相信，辞掉工作比没辞能有更多的时间和精力料理家务，做一个贤妻良母。许多妇女喜欢待在家里，享受家中的自由，做一些在工作时没有时间做的事。她们可以坐在起居室的椅子上看一小时的书，可以学习网球课程，可以到邻近的健身俱乐部跳舞，也可以悠闲自在地逛逛商店，或者，在一个阳光明媚的大好日子去公园放松放松，而不必总是担心工作迟到。

尽管许多妇女做出待在家里照顾家人的抉择，但是，越来越多的职业妇女在外面给自己开创了新生活。她们喜欢从事富有成效地赚钱的工作，虽然很忙，但生活很充实。一位职业妇女说：“我们并非出生在富贵人家。我们希望为子女做些事，而只有艰苦奋斗才能办到。”这些妇女认为正是工作使她们对丈夫更具有吸引力，使丈夫对她们更感兴趣。有一位职业母亲赚钱，子女可以享受到母亲不挣钱便无法享受到的东西：一台闪闪发亮的新钢琴，去著名的胜地度过一个暑假，以及确定无疑的大学教育等。这些母亲相信，精心挑选的日托中心、托儿所或家庭保姆能丰富孩子们的生活，提供一些父母不能提供的经历。也许孩子们和一位职业母亲聚在一起的时间比和一位整天待在家里的母亲相聚的时间要少很多，但重要的是相聚时间的质量。一位关心孩子的职业母亲在一个小时之内给予孩子的爱和关怀，比得上一位居家母亲全天之内给予孩子的爱和关怀。

由于妇女权益受到关注，许多在过去可能认为自己陷入了家庭陷阱的妇女抓住了机会，把自己的精力和潜能投入到催人奋发的事业中，而一些居家妇女则认为家庭工作比任何其他事情都重要。我认为，最主要的则是应当使全社会容许不同选择，这样没有任何人会仅仅因为某人希望他/她按要求行事而陷入讨厌的生活。人们应当自由选择他们认为对自己最好的生活方式，如果犯了错误，必须让他们有足够的机会改变想法。