Suffering to Be beautiful Elizabeth: I think it's up to everyone to decide what is right for them, but I do feel that there is too much emphasis on appearance these days. And I think there are real dangers here there are dangers from eating disorders, like anorexia, and from having cosmetic surgery. And there are a lot of people who are unhappy because they just dont happen to fit societys current ideas about what is beautiful Mary: Yes, you're a historian; perhaps you could give us a brief historical perspective on this Elizabeth: Well, there are lots of examples of societies in which people have done some horrendous things so instance, foot-binding used to be common in China, as to make themselves more beautiful in quotes. F
Elizabeth: I think it’s up to everyone to decide what is right for them, but I do feel that there is too much emphasis on appearance these days. And I think there are real dangers here. There are dangers from eating disorders, like anorexia, and from having cosmetic surgery. And there are a lot of people who are unhappy because they just don’t happen to fit society’s current ideas about what is beautiful. Mary: Yes, you’re a historian; perhaps you could give us a brief historical perspective on this. Elizabeth: Well, there are lots of examples of societies in which people have done some horrendous things so as to make themselves more “beautiful” in quotes. For instance, foot-binding used to be common in China. Suffering to Be Beautiful
Suffering to Be beautiful In Europe, some women had their bottom ribs removed so that they would have thin waists. Neck-stretching was the fashion in some parts of Burma. In Africa, there were tribes which went in for stretching the ear lobes or the lips or even changing the shape of the skull itself These are all cases in which people---usually women have been forced by society to endure considerable physical pain and suffering Sue: Yes, I would agree with you that that is all ridiculous but we re talking here about people who are free to choose. No one forced people to come along to my health studios. After a course at one of my studios, they look as if they were ten years younger. They re free to come, and they enjoy coming. So I dont see there is any real point in looking back at all these quaint old customs
Suffering to Be Beautiful In Europe, some women had their bottom ribs removed so that they would have thin waists. Neck-stretching was the fashion in some parts of Burma. In Africa, there were tribes which went in for stretching the ear lobes, or the lips, or even changing the shape of the skull itself. These are all cases in which people---usually women--- have been forced by society to endure considerable physical pain and suffering… Sue: Yes, I would agree with you that that is all ridiculous, but we’re talking here about people who are free to choose. No one forced people to come along to my health studios. After a course at one of my studios, they look as if they were ten years younger. They’re free to come, and they enjoy coming. So I don’t see there is any real point in looking back at all these quaint old customs
Suffering to Be Beautifue Elizabeth Well, unfortunately some of them still go on today. It's not just history. And surely you can see the link with cosmetic surgery! I mean, it's a trend that just keeps on increasing. Thousands of women, having breast implants, eye operations, face-lifts, men having hair transplants Sue: Yes but it's their own choice Elizabeth I'm sorry, I dont think it is a free choice. Society is still pushing them into it. Judging people by their appearance is silly. We should judge the whole person Mary: Well, I think we' ve had a very good start of the discussion. Now. we'd like to find out what our listeners think about this issue
Suffering to Be Beautiful Elizabeth: Well, unfortunately some of them still go on today. It’s not just history. And surely you can see the link with cosmetic surgery! I mean, it’s a trend that just keeps on increasing. Thousands of women, having breast implants, eye operations, face-lifts, men having hair transplants… Sue: Yes, but it’s their own choice. Elizabeth: I’m sorry, I don’t think it is a free choice. Society is still pushing them into it. Judging people by their appearance is silly. We should judge the whole person. Mary: Well, I think we’ve had a very good start of the discussion. Now, we’d like to find out what our listeners think about this issue
emphasis:n. special attention or importance; special importance that is given to a word or phrase by saying it louder or higher, or by printing it in a special way 1. n Japan there is a lot of emphasis on politeness 在日本特别强调/重视礼貌。 2. You put too much emphasis on the last syllable 你把最后一个音节读得太重
e.g. 1. In Japan there is a lot of emphasis on politeness. 在日本特别强调/重视礼貌。 2. You put too much emphasis on the last syllable. 你把最后一个音节读得太重。 emphasis: n. special attention or importance; special importance that is given to a word or phrase by saying it louder or higher, or by printing it in a special way