刘欣的演讲——The Mirror and I
2012-04-29 10:47阅读：
刘欣的演讲——The Mirror and I
I like to look into the mirror.
I remember when I was a little girl, I often stood on my toes,
trying to find my face in the mirror of the dressing table which
was nearly as high as I was. Now I still like to look into the
mirror. Only now, the dressing table is to low for me. As I bend
down, I see the face of a young woman, growing with maturity,
confident in her future and fascinated with her own
reflection.
The fact that I like to look
into the mirror has to do with my granny with whom I spent most my
childhood. I remember clearly that one night I heard her
murmuring,” Women can't be seen. Women can't be seen.' I was very
confused as to look into the mirror the next morning to check if I
co
uld indeed see myself. Only now as a young woman myself, can I
understand that it was not physical visibility that granny had on
her mind.
Granny spent all her life
taking care of the family, day in and day out. She cooked for her
husband and 10 children. But whenever guests came, she and other
female family members had to eat by the stove in the small kitchen.
At family discussions, she was never asked for her opinion. After
grandpa passed away, she had to listen to my uncle, her eldest son,
who became master of the house. Though years of toil, she fulfilled
her duty as daughter, wife, and mother; yet as a person, she
remained little noticed. Even though she could see herself in the
mirror of the dressing table, she was never visible in the mirror
of society.
I had been living a different
life. At home, I made decisions together with the rest of the
family. In school, I often take charge of various activities the
same as other boys and girls. Not only that, I can see something
granny could not have dreamed of--making decisions for my own
future. My life has been a series of decisions. I could choose from
several universities as I came out of high school. At university
could choose from a range of subjects from English literature to
business law. And now upon graduation, I am again faced
decisions--to further my study or go to work; to stay in China or
go abroad; to get married right away or to remain single for a bit
longer. It does not matter whether or not I will become famous or
rich, but I will treasure the chance to demonstrate my potential
and to help other women demonstrate theirs as full members of
society ,full visible in the mirror in the history. I will treasure
it because the abundance of choice that I enjoy came only after
decades of effects made by my granny, my mum, and millions of other
Chinese women.
However the choices to be made
by me and others of my generation are a great challenge. The
misconception of men are superior to women is still dominating many
people's minds. Will men are encouraged to compete and to assert
themselves, we are expected to be quiet, loyal and obedient. This
is not very different form what is expected of us as good wives and
good mother. The challenge we face calls for a higher level of our
personal development and self-determination.
The story of my grandmother and
myself mirrors the lives of millions of other women in China and
perhaps in the world. Many of them still lead the life of my
grandmother. Their worth is not yet recognized. It is the
responsibility of a young person like me to work hard and struggle
hard so that they will see themselves and will be seen in the
mirror of society.
This is my dream. This dream, I
believe, is not only share by our grandmothers, mothers and
sisters, but also by our mothers, brothers, husbands and male
colleagues. It will not come true until everyone fully realizes
that women can contribute to society and should be guaranteed the
right to do so. Women hold half the sky.
