question of sentence comprehension

[japanjapan]

Dear teachers,
Read the following sentence first please.
Unmarried men are not wanted in the Sales Department,not even widowers,for the company has learned from experience that it is difficult and dangerous for unmarried salesmen to mix socially with prominent executives and their wives or participate with them in responsible civic affairs.

What's the meaning of "mix socially with prominent executives and their wives"? Can u give me some examples?

What's the meaning of " responsible civic affairs"? Can u give me some examples?

Thanks

[yara84]

Originally Posted by japanjapan

Dear teachers,
Read the following sentence first please.
Unmarried men are not wanted in the Sales Department,not even widowers,for the company has learned from experience that it is difficult and dangerous for unmarried salesmen to mix socially with prominent executives and their wives or participate with them in responsible civic affairs.

What's the meaning of "mix socially with prominent executives and their wives"? Can u give me some examples?

What's the meaning of " responsible civic affairs"? Can u give me some examples?

Thanks

This phrase means that unmarried men are likely to to get involved with the wives of executives - meaning that illicit or intimate relationships are not wanted/allowed within the retail or sales departement only because it causes more havoc and chaos.
and especially to the executive's wives for they are mainly the ones to be messed with !

[susiedqq]

Unmarried men are not wanted in the Sales Department,not even widowers,for the company has learned from experience that it is difficult and dangerous for unmarried salesmen to mix socially with prominent executives and their wives or participate with them in responsible civic affairs.


This looks like a corporate policy that has the opinion that "company salesmen" who are not married are a threat to the company.

The policy was based on past experiences showing that at social engagements(events) or civic affairs (out in public representing the company) those unmarried salesmen were socially inept and probably mis-behaved. Apparently married couples were uncomfortable around these unmarried men.

Some companies think that married men are more stable and settled down. The executives (usually older) tend to be married.

(Hopefully, this is not current thinking for modern corporations today)