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  3. Poetry & Literature

par une pirouette facile

English translation: spun (so easily), which spin (so easily) presents as

11:58 Jan 12, 2007
French to English translations [PRO]
Art/Literary - Poetry & Literature
French term or phrase: par une pirouette facile
To be honest I'm finding it hard to phrase the entire sentence...
"S'arc-boutant contre le scandale d'une oppression masculine transmuée par une pirouette facile en fantasme féminin de servitude volontaire, deux féministes parviennent à faire voter..."

As I read it, these two women "rose up against" the ease with which male oppression was interpreted as a female fantasy of willing submission and (as the text goes on to explain) successfully campaigned for the passing of an anti-pornography law. This was in the 1980s in the US.

Many thanks for your help.
Sandra Petch
Local time: 07:43
English translation:spun (so easily), which spin (so easily) presents as
Explanation:
In the political sense of telling someone that black is in fact white.

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Note added at 36 mins (2007-01-12 12:35:06 GMT)
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Maybe "which FACILE spin presents as" to denigrate the whole idea.
Selected response from:

Bourth (X)
Local time: 07:43
Grading comment
I think all the answers have merit. Bourth's is the one that most inspired me. The sentence came out as, "Spurred into action by the scandalous ease with which male oppression could be spun into the willing female victim's fantasy, two feminists successfully campaigned..."

Thank you everyone, your help is always greatly appreciated and, well, helpful!
4 KudoZ points were awarded for this answer



Summary of answers provided
3 +4so easily twisted..(see answer)
Rob Grayson
4spun (so easily), which spin (so easily) presents as
Bourth (X)
4in one short step
Carol Gullidge
4by some fancy footwork
Dr Sue Levy (X)
4in a cunning move
Tommy Beavitt
3Skilfully introduced as woman's fantasm
Philippe ROUSSEAU


  

Answers


5 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 3/5Answerer confidence 3/5 peer agreement (net): +4
so easily twisted..(see answer)


Explanation:
I think your own suggestion comes pretty close

"Rising up against/In reaction against the scandalous way in which male oppression was so easily twisted into a female fantasy of willing submission, two feminists..." or something along those lines....

Rob Grayson
United Kingdom
Local time: 06:43
Native speaker of: English
PRO pts in category: 8

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  Odette Grille (X)
10 mins
  -> Merci, Odette
agree  Ingeborg Gowans (X)
13 mins
  -> Thanks, Ingeborg
agree  ormiston
4 hrs
  -> Thanks, ormiston
agree  Gina W
13 hrs
  -> Thanks, gad
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27 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 3/5Answerer confidence 3/5
Skilfully introduced as woman's fantasm


Explanation:
*

Philippe ROUSSEAU
France
Local time: 07:43
Native speaker of: Native in FrenchFrench
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11 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5
spun (so easily), which spin (so easily) presents as


Explanation:
In the political sense of telling someone that black is in fact white.

--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 36 mins (2007-01-12 12:35:06 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

Maybe "which FACILE spin presents as" to denigrate the whole idea.

Bourth (X)
Local time: 07:43
Native speaker of: Native in EnglishEnglish
PRO pts in category: 110
Grading comment
I think all the answers have merit. Bourth's is the one that most inspired me. The sentence came out as, "Spurred into action by the scandalous ease with which male oppression could be spun into the willing female victim's fantasy, two feminists successfully campaigned..."

Thank you everyone, your help is always greatly appreciated and, well, helpful!
Login to enter a peer comment (or grade)

1 hr   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5
in one short step


Explanation:
or "in one all-too-easy easy step"
or just "all too easily"

Carol Gullidge
United Kingdom
Local time: 06:43
Specializes in field
Native speaker of: Native in EnglishEnglish
PRO pts in category: 80
Login to enter a peer comment (or grade)

9 hrs   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5
by some fancy footwork


Explanation:
---

Dr Sue Levy (X)
Local time: 07:43
Works in field
Native speaker of: Native in EnglishEnglish
PRO pts in category: 27
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2 days 2 hrs   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5
in a cunning move


Explanation:
I would translate the section: "transmuée par une pirouette facile en fantasme féminin de servitude volontaire" as "in a cunning move metamorphosed into a phantasm of willing female servitude"



Tommy Beavitt
Local time: 06:43
Specializes in field
Native speaker of: Native in EnglishEnglish
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