VOA慢速英语--“水手服”不再需要穿裙子

AS IT IS 2016-02-26 'Middies' No Longer Have to Wear Skirts “水手服”不再需要穿裙子

For the first time, men and women graduating from the U.S. Naval¹ Academy will wear the same uniforms at graduation in May.

The women of the Naval Academy’s Class of 2016 will wear trousers, not skirts, it was announced this week. Marine² Colonel Stephen Liszewski, the commandant of midshipmen, announced the change Monday.

At the Navy-Marine Corps³ Memorial Stadium at Annapolis, Maryland, 266 female seniors will graduate May 27. Women make up close to 25 percent of the 1,077 graduating class.

The decision was made to improve gender⁴ equality at the academy. The USNA, also called “Annapolis,” is one of four that offers a university education followed by military service.

Academy spokesman Commander John Schofield said the new policy on wardrobes is putting “shipmate before self.”

Schofield also said: “The graduation and commissioning ceremony at the U.S. Naval Academy is not about individuals.”

The rule change comes following Navy Secretary Ray Mabus' emphasis on the equal role women will have in the military.

Mabus recently told a group of midshipmen, also called “middies,” “In the Navy and in the Marine Corps, we are trending toward uniforms that don’t divide us as male or female, but rather unite us as Sailors or Marines.”

The Navy equality campaign will also examine job titles that include the word “man” in the description. Even the term “midshipman” will be under review and could be changed.

Words in This Story

graduating – v. earning a degree or diploma from a school, college, or university

uniforms – n. a special kind of clothing that is worn by all the members of a group or organization 

trousers – n. a piece of clothing that covers your body from the waist to the ankle and has a separate part for each leg

commandant – n. an officer who is in charge of a group of service members in the military

wardrobe – n. a collection of clothes that a person owns or wears

midshipman – n.  someone who is being trained to become an officer in the U.S. Navy

senior – n.  a student in the final year of college

1 naval   

adj.海军的，军舰的，船的

参考例句：

• He took part in a great naval battle.他参加了一次大海战。
• The harbour is an important naval base.该港是一个重要的海军基地。

2 marine   

adj.海的；海生的；航海的；海事的；n.水兵

参考例句：

• Marine creatures are those which live in the sea. 海洋生物是生存在海里的生物。
• When the war broke out,he volunteered for the Marine Corps.战争爆发时，他自愿参加了海军陆战队。

3 corps   

n.(通信等兵种的)部队；(同类作的)一组

参考例句：

• The medical corps were cited for bravery in combat.医疗队由于在战场上的英勇表现而受嘉奖。
• When the war broke out,he volunteered for the Marine Corps.战争爆发时，他自愿参加了海军陆战队。

4 gender   

n.（生理上的）性，（名词、代词等的）性

参考例句：

• French differs from English in having gender for all nouns.法语不同于英语，所有的名词都有性。
• Women are sometimes denied opportunities solely because of their gender.妇女有时仅仅因为性别而无法获得种种机会。