Track 4

by Meaghan Ramsey翻译：德孟

自轻容貌害处多

Track 4

by Meaghan Ramsey
翻译：德孟

你对自己的外貌感到满意吗？你是否知道对自身外貌的不自信，会导致学习成绩退步、自尊心低下、健康损害严重，甚至还会影响到整个经济大环境？

Ten thousand people every month google， “Am I ugly？” What's leading them to do this？

Well， today's teenagers are rarely alone. And the social pressures that go along with that are1）relentless. Size zero注1models still2）dominate our3）catwalks.4）Airbrushing is now routine. And5）trends like “thinspiration注2，” “thigh gap注3” and “pro ana注4.”It is not hard to see what girls are6）benchmarking themselves against. But boys7）are not immune to this either，8）aspiring to the9）chiseled jaw lines and10）ripped six packs of superhero-like sports stars and Playboy music artists.

But， what's the problem with all of this？ Well，surely we want our kids to grow up as healthy， well balanced11）individuals. But in an12）image-obsessed culture， we are training our kids to spend more time and13）mental effort on their appearance14）at the expense of all of the other15）aspects of their16）identities. So， things like their relationships， the development of their physical abilities， and their studies and so on begin to sufer. So to be super clear，we're talking about the way you think you look， not how you actually look.

1） relentless ［rI'lentlIs］ adj. 残忍的，无情的

2） dominate ［'dɒmIneIt］ v. 支配，控制，统治

3） catwalk ［'kætwɔːk］ n.（时装表演时模特走的）天桥

4） airbrush ［'eəbrʌʃ］ v. 用喷枪修饰（照片），粉饰

5） trend ［trend］ n. 趋势，流行

6） benchmark ［'bentʃmaːk］ v. 用标准衡量评估

7） be immune to 对……有免疫力，不受……的影响

8） aspire ［ə'spaIə］ v. 渴望，立志

9） chiseled ［'tʃIzəld］ adj. 轮廓分明的

10） ripped ［rIpt］ adj. 有明显肌肉线条的

12） image-obsessed 沉迷于外貌的

13） mental efort 脑力

14） at the expense of 以……为代价

15） aspect ［'æspekt］ n. 方面

16） identity ［aI'dentItI］ n. 个性，特性

注1：即零号，美国服装标准中的最小号。“零号身材”是指身形极其瘦削的人，或由这些人引发的追求瘦削、骨感的风潮。

注2：即由“thin”和“inspiration”合成的生造词，励瘦，又称瘦之愿，是指鼓励厌食症患者坚持挨饿从而达到不可能达到的“理想骨感”目标的图片及语录、诗歌、歌词、流行语等文字。

注3：即大腿间距，指女性体重在95英镑以下、体脂含量在2%以下才有的腿间间隙。

注4：安娜运动，即pro-anorexia（支持厌食症）的拟人化缩写，是指为提倡与厌食症相关的行为而发起的运动。该运动宣扬厌食症并非一种疾病，而是自我控制的成果。

Low body confidence is17）undermining academic achievement. But it's also damaging health. Teenagers with low body confidence do less physical activity， eat less fruits and vegetables，18）partake in more unhealthy weight control practices that can lead to19）eating disorders. They have lower20）self-esteem. They're more easily influenced by people around them and they're at greater risk of depression. Seventeen percent of women would not show up to a job interview on a day when they weren't feeling confdent about the way that they look. Have a think about what this is doing to our economy. If we could overcome this，what that opportunity looks like.

If you actually want to make a difference， you have to do something. We have to educate for body confdence. We have to help our teenagers develop21）strategies to overcome image-related pressures and build their self-esteem. An education is critical，but22）tackling this problem is going to require each and everyone of us to step up and be better role models for the women and girls in our own lives. Challenging the23）status quo of how women are seen and talked about in our own circles.

We can all start by taking responsibility for the types of pictures and comments that we post on our own social networks. We can compliment people based on their efort and their actions and not on their appearance.

17） undermine ［,ʌndə'maIn］ v. 削弱，逐渐破坏

18） partake ［paː'teIk］ v. 参与，分享

19） eating disorder 进食障碍，饮食紊乱（症）

20） self-esteem 自尊

21） strategy ［'strætIdʒI］ n. 策略

22） tackle ［'tækl］ v. 应付，处理，解决

23） status quo 现状

每个月都有一万人在谷歌上搜索“我长得丑吗？”是什么原因导致他们这么做呢？

嗯，如今的青少年很少独处，随之而来的社会压力也是残酷的。“零号身材”的模特仍然统治着T型台。修图也是常规步骤。“励瘦”“大腿间距”和“安娜运动”也是当下的潮流。从中不难看出女孩们用什么标准衡量自己。