France's cheek-kissing controversy 法国女市长拒行贴面礼引来争议

France's cheek-kissing controversy 法国女市长拒行贴面礼引来争议

法国莫雷特市市长拒绝延续以亲吻同事脸颊来打招呼的这个传统。皮卡德（Aude Picard-Wolff）说她不想再继续行“贴面礼”（la bise），而希望能用握手替换这个传统的问候方式。她还说自己曾在参加会议时故意晚到，以躲过这个法式的“亲脸问候”。以下是更多报道。

Aude Picard-Wolff says she's long been troubled by this French habit of the 'bise' – that is the systematic way among people who don't necessarily know each other very well at all, notably in the workplace, of kissing each other or at least feigning to, one, two or three times on the cheek.

The problem is not so much that it's a gross waste of time or a germ hazard, it's more that as a woman, she feels uncomfortable. Mainly in France, men do not give the bise to other men, except in the close family, but women feel automatically obliged to give and receive it with everyone.

So for Aude Picard-Wolff, in a very small way, it's an indicator of sexual inequality. What started as a personal initiative, has now gained nationwide coverage in France and Aude Picard-Wolff says she's been overwhelmed by the emails of support, mainly from women who say that they too have had enough of the bise and want the option, especially at work, of a frank, friendly handshake.

In many countries, like the UK, the handshake has given ground over the years to the continental kiss, French style. It would be irony indeed if the French now started the process in reverse.

词汇表 troubled 被…所困扰

systematic 一贯的，约定俗成的

feigning 假装

gross 严重的

obliged 必须做某事

indicator 迹象，指示

sexual inequality 性别的不平等

overwhelmed 激动得不知所措

frank 真诚坦率的

given ground 腾出地方，让位

irony 具有讽刺意味的情况

测验 请听报道并回答下列问题。

1. Which people did Aude Picard-Wolff not want to kiss on the cheeks?

2. Why did Aude Picard-Wolff not want to give the bise (kiss on the cheeks) to her work colleagues?

3. How would Aude Picard-Wolff and her supporters, prefer to greet people at work?

4. True or false? It is currently law for women to give the bise to everyone but not for men.

答案 1. Which people did Aude Picard-Wolff not want to kiss on the cheeks?

She did not want to kiss on the cheeks with people she worked with.

2. Why did Aude Picard-Wolff not want to give the bise (kiss on the cheeks) to her work colleagues?

She felt it was sexist and she wants both men and women to greet each other in the same way.

3. How would Aude Picard-Wolff and her supporters, prefer to greet people at work?

She wants to greet her work colleagues with a handshake.

4. True or false? It is currently law for women to give the bise to everyone but not for men.

False. It is not law but women feel automatically obliged to give and receive the bise with everyone.