I think the cause is more complicated.I think，as a society，we put more pressure on our boys to succeed than we do on our girls.I know men that stay home and work in the home to support wives with careers，and it‘s hard.When I go to the Mommy-and-Me stuff and I see the father there，I notice that the other mommies don’t play with him.And that‘s a problem because we have to make it an important job，because it’s the hardest job in the world to work inside the home，for people of both genders，if we‘re going to even things out and let women stay in the workforce.Studies show that households with equal earning and equal responsibility also have half the divorce rate.And if that wasn’t good enough motivation for everyone out there，they also have more-how shall I say this on this stage？-they know each other more in the biblical sense as well.
Message number three：don‘t leave before you leave.I think there’s a really deep irony to the fact that actions women are taking-and I see this all the time-with the objective of staying in the workforce actually lead to their eventually leaving.Here‘s what happens：We’re all busy.Everyone‘s busy.A woman’s busy.And she starts thinking about having a child，and from the moment she starts thinking about having a child，she starts thinking about making room for that child.“How am I going to fit this into everything else I‘m doing？”And literally from that moment，she doesn’t raise her hand anymore，she doesn‘t look for a promotion，she doesn’t take on the new project，she doesn‘t say，“Me.I want to do that.”She starts leaning back.The problem is that-let’s say she got pregnant that day，that day-nine months of pregnancy，three months of maternity leave，six months to catch your breath-fast-forward two years，more often-and as I‘ve seen it-women start thinking about this way earlier-when they get engaged，when they get married，when they start thinking about trying to have a child，which can take a long time.One woman came to see me about this，and I kind of looked at her-she looked a little young.And I said，“So are you and your husband thinking about having a baby？”And she said，“Oh no，I’m not married.”She didn‘t even have a boyfriend.I said，“You’re thinking about this just way too early.”
But the point is that what happens once you start kind of quietly leaning back？Everyone who‘s been through this-and I’m here to tell you，once you have a child at home，your job better be really good to go back，because it‘s hard to leave that kid at home-your job needs to be challenging.It needs to be rewarding.You need to feel like you’re making a difference.And if two years ago you didn‘t take a promotion and some guy next to you did，if three years ago you stopped looking for new opportunities，you’re going to be bored because you should have kept your foot on the gas pedal.Don‘t leave before you leave.Stay in.Keep your foot on the gas pedal until the very day you need to leave to take a break for a child-and then make your decisions.Don’t make decisions too far in advance，particularly ones you‘re not even conscious you’re making.
My generation really，sadly，is not going to change the numbers at the top.They‘re just not moving.We are not going to get to where 50percent of the population-in my generation，there will not be 50percent of[women]at the top of any industry.But I’m hopeful that future generations can.I think a world that was run where half of our countries and half of our companies were run by women，would be a better world.And it‘s not just because people would know where the women’s bathrooms are，even though that would be very helpful.I think it would be a better world.I have two children.I have a five-year-old son and a two-year-old daughter.I want my son to have a choice to contribute fully in the workforce or at home，and I want my daughter to have the choice to not just succeed，but to be liked for her accomplishments.
Thank you.
译文参考
为什么女性领导那么少？
——雪莉·桑德伯格在TED的演讲
今天在座的各位，我们首先要承认的是我们是幸运的。我们没有出生在我们母亲和祖母生活过的那个时代，在那时女性可选择的职业是非常有限的。而你们今天能够在此就座，大多数人都拥有基本的公民应享有的权利。令人惊讶的是我们还生活在一个有些女性还无法得到这些权利的世界。但撇下这些不谈，我们还面临着一个问题，一个实际问题，这问题是：在世界各地，女性无法得到部分职业的高管职位。这些数据很清楚地说明了一切。190个国家元首里，只有9位是女性领导人。在世界上各国议会的总人数中，女性议员只占13%。在公司部门，女性占据高位，如部门主管，公司董事等高管职位占15%或16%。自从2002年起这数据就没有变化过，且有下降趋势。即使在非营利性的领域，有时我们认为这一行业会有更多女性领导者，但女性领导人也只占20%。
我们还面临着另一个问题，那就是职业女性在事业和家庭中面临着艰难选择。美国最近一项研究表明，在已婚高管人员中，三分之二的已婚男性有孩子，只有三分之一的已婚女性有孩子。几年前，我到纽约去谈一笔生意，坐在一间华丽的私募基金公司的办公室中，你们可以想象一下那种会议有时会长达3小时，过了2小时后有人就需要去洗手间了，需要休息一下，全体的人都站了起来，这时候会议的组织者开始露出尴尬的神色了。我意识到，那是因为他不知道办公室的女盥洗室在哪里？于是我就开始四处寻找可移动卫生间，想着他们可能刚搬的新办公室。但是我还是没有找到。然后我就问了：“你是刚搬的办公室吗？”他说：“不是，我们在这里已经有一年了。”我说：“你的意思是，我是一年以来唯一一位来到这里谈生意的女性喽！”他看看了我说：“是，或者说您是唯一一位要去卫生间的女性。”
所以问题是，我们该怎样解决这样的尴尬问题？我们怎样改变女性在高管中的比例？我们怎样使这件事有所改观？我首先想说是，要让女性留在职场中，因为我认为这就是答案。对于高收入人群，或者在500强企业担任首席执行官的，或者其他行业的佼佼者，我相信女性已然被排除在外了。当下人们对此谈了很多，他们谈论最多的是弹性工作制、指导和培训女性的计划。但是今天我不想谈这些，尽管这些都非常重要。今天我想谈的是作为个人我们能做什么。我们要告诉自己什么？我们要告诉女同事和女员工什么？我们要告诉女儿的事是什么？
现在首先，我想澄清，这个演讲不带有任何评判。我也没有正确答案。连我自己都没有正确的答案。在周一，我离开旧金山——那是我的家，我坐上飞机赶赴这次会谈，当我送我三岁的女儿到幼儿园时，她紧紧抱紧我的腿，哭喊着“妈咪，不要上飞机”之类的话。那感觉很难受。有时我感到内疚。我知道无论是家庭主妇，还是职业女性，有时她们都会对比感同身受。所以我不会对所有人说，留在职场是件正确的事。