听力文摘《女性经济》

在现代，已经越来越多的人意识到了女性对于经济的左右能力。越来越多人注重女性的消费。

The flood of women into the job market boosted economic growth and changed U.S. society in many ways. Many in-home jobs that used to be done primarily by women — ranging from family shopping to preparing meals to doing voluntary work — still need to be done by someone.

大量妇女涌入职场促进了经济的发展，而且从很多方面改变了美国社会。很多以前大部分由妇女完成的家务活——从家庭采购、准备三餐到义务工作——现在仍然需要有人来完成。

Husbands and children now do some of these jobs, a situation that has changed the target market for many products. Or a working woman may face a crushing "poverty of time" and look for help elsewhere, creating opportunities for producers of frozen meals, child care centers, dry cleaners, financial services, and the like.

于是现在丈夫和孩子开始做其中的一些工作，这个状况已经改变了很多产品的目标市场。或者说一个职业女性可能面临严重的时间匮乏，并从其他地方寻找帮助，从而给速冻食品制造商、托儿所、干洗店、金融服务以及类似机构创造了机会。

Although there is still a big wage gap between men and women, the income working women generate gives them new independence and buying power. For example, women now purchanse about half of all cars. Not long ago, many cars dealers insulted women shoppers by ignoring them or suggesting that they come back with their husbands.

虽然说男女之间的工资水平仍有很大差距，但是职业妇女的收入给她们带来了新的独立性以及购买力。例如，目前市场上有近一半的汽车是妇女购买的。而在不久之前，很多汽车商还这样侮辱女性消费者：他们忽视女性或是建议她们和丈夫一块儿来看。

Now car companies have realized that women are potential customers. It's interesting that some leading Japanese car dealers were the first to really pay attention to women customers. In Japan, fewer women have jobs or buy cars — the Japanese society is still very much male-oriented. Perhaps it was the extreme contrast with Japanese society that prompted American firms to pay more attention to women buyers.

现在汽车公司意识到了妇女也是潜在消费者。更有趣的是，正是一些日本主要的`汽车公司首先开始关注女性消费者的。在日本，很少有妇女工作或者购买汽车——日本社会仍然很大程度上是以男性为主导的。也许正是由于日本社会这种极端的对比促使了美国公司更加注重女性购买者。

英语词汇整理：

1. boost v. 促进;推进

eg：Lower interest rates can boost the economy by reducing borrowing costs for consumers and businesses.

低利率可以通过为消费者和商家降低借贷成本来促进经济发展。

短语：

be in high(low) boost 处于良好(不佳)状态;[英军俚语](飞机发动机)处于(不)正常工作状态，工作(不)顺当

boost up 向上推

2. voluntary adj. 自愿的，志愿的

eg: Some voluntary organizations run workshops for disabled people.

一些志愿组织为残障人士开办讲习班。

短语：

voluntary muscle 横纹肌

voluntary agreement 自愿协议

3. crush vt. 压碎;被压坏

eg: Eggs crush easily.

鸡蛋易碎。

短语：

get a crush on = have a crush on 迷恋

do not crush 请勿挤压

crush in 压成，碾成;挤进

crush a cup 一饮而尽