Growing up on Long Island with a father who gave me dieting tips at 13, a mother who taught me to use makeup as I left for middle school, and peers (同龄人) who shared weight-loss tips on the bus, I developed an unusual self-image. By the time I became a teenager, I felt horror when I encountered photos of myself and saw a huge stomach in the mirror even though I was never overweight.
Throughout my early 20s, I’d wear lipstick and mascara (睫毛膏) and hold my mouth in a half-smile as I walked down the street in order to look more attractive to others. Following popular body-positive advice, I’d flip through Facebook photos of myself, trying to identify at least one desirable feature in each. I’d stare at my reflection, hoping to blink and see a different shape when I opened my eyes. Instead, I’d just fall further into the glass like Alice, deep in the darkest places of my imagination.
A year and a half ago, to escape this personal Wonderland, I decided not to put a mirror in my room when I moved into a new apartment. The small one above my bathroom sink would be enough. I was burnt out from attempts at body positivity. Rather than make peace with my reflection, photographs and scale, I’d avoid them altogether.
As I stopped trying to like my appearance, it no longer tortured (折磨) me. I stopped wearing makeup daily. Instead, I developed a sense of identity from my unfailing punctuality (准时性), my sharp analyses of movies, and my ability to pay rent in New York City as a freelance writer. I looked up to Amy Schumer and Lena Dunham instead of women who tried to diet, noticing that the most powerful women seemed undistracted by weight. Since I wasn’t always disappointing myself by trying to love my body and failing, I became happier.
【小题1】Why did the author develop an unusual self-image when she was young?| A．She hated to wear makeup. |
| B．She suffered from being overweight. |
| C．She was influenced by people around her. |
| D．She wanted to have a huge stomach. |
| A．She was attracted by others’ photos on Facebook. |
| B．She paid too much attention to her appearance. |
| C．She felt ashamed of her appearance. |
| D．She was addicted to taking selfies. |
| A．Her good personal qualities. |
| B．Her newly published books. |
| C．Her new apartment in New York City. |
| D．Her relationship with powerful women. |
| A．It’s important to eat healthily. |
| B．We should never disappoint ourselves. |
| C．It’s important to know others’ abilities. |
| D．We shouldn’t be distracted by our weight. |
