Double Standard英語初級口語輕鬆學
英語初級口語輕鬆學： Double Standard
Publish Date: April 8, 2007
FAMILYIS UNEASYWHEN ONE SISTER DATES OTHER'S EX-LOVER
DEAR ABBY:
My sister, "Jane," and I are both in our mid-50s. Jane has hadnumerousaffairsover the past severAL yearsafter her third porce, and wasinvolved in an "intimate relationship" with a terrific man, "Will," thatlastedabout three months. Jane broke up with Will several months after shedecided he wasn't what she was lookingfor, and she's presently engaged to bemarried to a very nice man ("Sam") and seems very happy.
I dated Will several times before he and Jane became involved. We weren'tintimateat that time, and we start-ed seeing each other again over the lastmonth. This time we have fallen in love.
My problem is Jane is upset that Will and I are together and says I have"betrayed" her. She is worried abouthaving her former and current lovers presentat family gatherings, and our parents are also concerned. They sayit's "justweird." The fact that my sister was intimatewith Will doesn't bother me or Will,but it sure bothersthem.
Abby, I have always been the "good girl" in the family and bowed totheirpressure, but my relationship withWill is more than I could have everimagined, and I don't want to give up my future happiness just to make mysisterand my parents more comfortable. My adult children have all met and approve ofWill and our relation-ship, but Jane and my parents won't budge. Anysuggestions?
-- WANTS WILLIN WALLAWALLA, WASH.
DEAR WANTS WILL: Perhaps it's time to stop being the "good girl," beginacting like a woman who knowswhat she wants, and confrontthe double standardinyour family. If your sister was "sophisticated" enough tohave serial affairs,and your parents have been so worldlythey have turned a blind eye to it, thenthey shouldall be adult enough to realize that you are entitled to yourhappiness, too.
Although this may make for some awkward first few family gatherings, asgrown-ups, everyone should be ableto get past it. But if they can't, you aregoing to have to decide whether you want this man, or to be a people-pleaserforthe rest of your life.
