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Not Just a Mom.
母亲的含义。
A woman named Emily renewing her driver's license at the County Clerk's office was asked by the woman recorder to state her occupation. She hesitated, uncertain how to classify herself. "What I mean is," explained the recorder, "do you have a job, or are you just a ... "
一位名叫埃米莉的妇女在县办事处给驾驶执照续期时，一名女记录员问及她的职业。她犹豫了一下，不敢肯定应如何将自己归类。“我意思是说你有没有工作，”那名记录员解释说，“还是说你只不过是一名……”
"Of course I have a job," snapped Emily. "I'm a mother."
“我当然有工作，”埃米莉马上回答，“我是一名母亲。”
"We don't list 'mother' as an occupation ... 'Housewife' covers it," said the recorder emphatically.
“我们这里不把‘母亲’看成是一个职业……‘家庭主妇’就可以了。”那名记录员断然回答。
I forgot all about her story until one day I found myself in the same situation, this time at our own Town Hall. The Clerk was obviously a career woman, poised, efficient, and possessed of a high sounding title like, "Official Interrogator" or "Town Registrar." "What is your occupation?" she probed.
这个故事听后，我就忘了。直到有一天在市政厅，我也遇到了同样的情况。很显然，那名办事员是位职业女性，自信、有能力，并有着一个类似“官方讯问员”或“镇登记员”之类很堂皇的头衔。“你的职业？”她问道。
What made me say it, I do not know ... The words simply popped out. "I'm a Research. Associate in the field of Child Development and Human Relations."
至今我也不知道，当时是什么因素作怪，我脱口而出：“我是儿童发育和人类关系研究员。”
The clerk paused, ballpoint pen frozen in midair, and looked up as though she had not heard right.
那名办事员愣住了，拿着原珠笔的手也不动了。她抬头看着我，好像没有听清楚我说什么似的。
