A few companies, of course, have fair, transparent, performance-based compensation systems that eliminate gender inequities.

当然，一些公司拥有公正、透明、基于工作表现的奖励系统，消除了性别歧视。

But at most employers, expecting to be devalued can exact a big toll. A friend of mine says she underestimated her standing at work for years and paid a high price in her paycheck. She started at a low-paid entry-level job at her company and advanced quickly up the ladder. But she didn't ask for a raise for several years, only to find out later that she was making 50% less than peers with similar or less experience.

但在大多数公司里，觉得自己受低估可能会付出很高的代价。我的一位朋友说，她多年来一直低估自己在工作中的地位，为此在薪资方面损失惨重。她在公司从低薪的入门级职位干起，升职很快。但她几年都没有要求加薪，最后才发现资历跟她相同或不如她的同事挣得比她多一半。

It came as a shock when I discovered how underpaid I was,' she says. 'I really shot myself in the foot by not being a self-promoter.' The lesson: If your employer lacks a systematic comp policy, 'you really have to self-promote and lobby for yourself if you care about your career or salary advancement,' my friend says.

她说，当我发现自己的薪水有多低时，简直太吃惊了，我自己不去要求，这真是自作自受。我朋友说，这件事的教训是：如果你的雇主没有系统的薪酬制度，那你要是关心自己的事业或薪水长进，就得自力更生，替自己说话。

My male peers have pointed out my own blind spots in this regard. Years ago, when I first learned how much a female executive at my company was paid, I marveled, 'Wow, that's a lot.' The male colleague who told me roared with laughter. 'You think that's a lot?' he asked me incredulously. 'That's half what men at her level make.'

我的一些男同事曾经指出我在这方面的盲点。多年前我首次得知公司里的女性管理人员的薪水时，我惊叹道，哇，真是太高了。告诉我这件事的男同事大笑起来。他怀疑地问，你真觉得很多吗？这只是她那个级别的男主管薪水的一半
。

Readers, do you have trouble promoting yourselves? Do you see women around you undervaluing their contributions? Does your workplace have transparent, performance-based advancement or compensation systems that help eliminate gender inequities? Or do workers of both genders have to do a lot of self-promotion to get ahead?

读者们，你在宣传自己这方面遇到过问题吗？你周围的女性有没有低估自己的成就？你所在的公司是否有可帮助消除性别歧视的透明的、基于工作表现的晋升或薪资体系？抑或无论男女，员工都必须进行大量的自我宣传才能成功？

BEC初、中级下半年考试冲关班温暖上线，和网校一起成长！
商务英语BEC【初级5月班】
商务英语BEC【中级6月班】
2010年9月英语口译【高口春季班】
2010年9月英语口译【中口春季班】