PBS高端访谈:法国将禁止儿童选美吗？

 　　WILLIAM BRANGHAM: In the public imagination, France is renowned¹ for many things: its cuisine…its culture… as well as a very open embrace of female beauty.

　　You can't walk a city block in Paris without seeing the scantily² clad models showcasing France’s high fashion industry. This is the nation that gave us Brigit Bardot And Catherine Deneuve, and welcomed former supermodel Carla Bruni as its first lady… this after her many years modeling with very little – or nothing at all -- on.

　　Given all that, it's maybe a bit surprising that a controversy³ has erupted in France over what some argue is the "hyper-sexualization" of young girls…. Girls like 9 year old Anais Agogue… Anais regularly competes in what are called “mini miss pageants⁵”

　　MARTINE AGOGUE: (translated from French) This was her first pageant⁴.

　　WILLIAM BRANGHAM: How old?

　　MARTINE AGOGUE: (translated from French) She was 6 and a half years old.

　　WILLIAM BRANGHAM: Anais lives with her family in a suburb of Paris. Her mom Martine showed me photos of Anais competing.

　　MARTINE AGOGUE: When Anais comes out on stage people stand up and applaud her. I mean of course there isthis feeling, this pride.

　　WILLIAM BRANGHAM: In the pageants, the girls wear formal dresses –no heavy makeup⁶, no high-heels. They walk on stage, say a few words, and a winner is picked for her overall poise⁷ and presentation.

　　Martine makes most of the dresses Anais wears.

　　MARTINE AGOGUE: (translated from French) This one is for Anais's next competition

　　WILLIAM BRANGHAM: She loves that the pageants bring her closer to her daughter, and thinks the awards Anais has won gives her a sense of accomplishment⁸.

　　ANAIS AGOGUE: (translated from French) We arrive in the afternoon, have lunch, talk with our friends. My favorite part is when I'm on stage and when I put on my dress.

　　WILLIAM BRANGHAM: But Anais's favorite activity might be threatened because of what happened with another young French girl. Back in 2010 this photo spread appeared in French Vogue⁹ magazine. The model here is 10 years old.

　　At first, no one in France paid much attention… but women’s groups in the U.S. were outraged¹⁰, and they took their case public.

　　ABC Reporter: When you see these pictures, what do you think?

　　Woman in ABC report (Koa Beck, Mommyish.com) I see a young girl being sexualized.

　　WILLIAM BRANGHAM (to Jouanno): When you saw those photographs, what was your reaction?

　　SEN. CHANTAL JOUANNO: Well, you always think of art. So, you think this is only creation, this is artistic¹¹. So, you don't see the problem.

　　WILLIAM BRANGHAM: Chantal Jouanno is a senator in the French legislature and a member of the center-right ‘UDI’ party. She says the fashion industry gets a lot of leeway in France, but the American reaction to these photos made her and others take a second look.

　　SEN. CHANTAL JOUANNO: But after, when you really look at the-- the photo, the pictures, you say, "Yes, this is a problem." How can we use children just to sell products? How can we use children as sexualizedpeople?

　　WILLIAM BRANGHAM: The Vogue controversy got so big in France that the Minister for Family Affairs asked Jjouanno to investigate whether there was a problem of French children becoming ‘hyper-sexualized,’and if so, what to do about it.

　　SEN. CHANTAL JOUANNO: (to French Parliament)When our children are not with their parents, what do they see? They see cartoons, TV shows, which are all based on hyper-sexualization.

　　WILLIAM BRANGHAM: Jouanno is a mother of three kids… and she was surprised to discover that millions ofkids in France– just like in the U.S. – routinely see images that PBS wouldn't typically put on the air…

　　RHIANNA: (music video)All I see is dollar signs…

　　WILLIAM BRANGHAM: …images of young women portrayed¹² in highly-sexual ways…online, on TV, in music videos…

　　ROBIN¹³ THICKE: (music video)I know you want it

　　BRITNEY SPEARS: (music video)… at my derriere

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　　WILLIAM BRANGHAM: Jouanno found sexualized images infiltrating¹⁴ toys and cartoons aimed at younger kids.

　　SEN. CHANTAL JOUANNO: I was surprised by those things my own children could see. And I was surprised to understand why hyper-sexualization could be a problem for them.

　　WILLIAM BRANGHAM: At the end of her 6 month investigation¹⁵, Jouanno issued this report: it argued that the level of sexualized, unrealistic body images was so pervasive¹⁶ in French society that it amounted to “a form of violence” against kids… one that not only objectifies girls, but causes them to then judge themselves harshly.

　　For example, according to the World Health Organization, 27% of eleven year old European girls think they’re “too fat.” That percentage rises to 40% for fifteen year olds. About a quarter of those girls saythey're now dieting.

　　So Jouanno's report came out and it contains 12 recommendations to protect kids. It would prohibit companies from using children as their spokesmodels… it would create a website to ‘name and shame'companiesthatdon't go along. It would create an educational program for parents... And it proposed banning those childhood beauty pageants, saying they offer a “degraded or tarnished” image of girls.

　　Jouanno -- who is not just a senator but is a 12-time karate¹⁷ champion and a former national minister for sports – says she's not against competitions for kids, she just objects to ones that put a premium¹⁸ on their looks.

　　SEN. CHANTAL JOUANNO: This was just one recommendation, to ban beauty pageants, so that the society will give a very clear message to medias, to companies, that our children are not object of beauty, and are not-- object of seduction. And that, we agree on any other kind of competitions based on talents, as singing, as dancing, but not only based on your physical appearance.

　　WILLIAM BRANGHAM: Nine-year-old Anais was not happy when she heard about Jouanno's proposed ban. She thinks the senator is confusing the pageants she does with the kind that happen in the U.S. -- like those seen in TLC’s hit show‘Toddlers and Tiaras’

　　ANAIS AGOGUE: (translated from French)There is this woman–I'm not sure what her name is – but she wants to forbid the Mini Miss pageants because she believes it's just like in the U.S. and that we put on make-up and show our butts¹⁹, show our mouth and teeth and breasts.

　　WILLIAM BRANGHAM: Her mother Martine agrees that kids are often exposed to too much, too soon… she says she and her husband Phillipe work very hard to protect their kids from that… but she doesn't think pageants are part of the problem, and she’s furious at the senator's suggestion that by letting Anais compete, she’s somehow harming her daughter.

　　MARTINE AGOGUE: (translated from French) I was angry for sure. Because essentially²⁰ what she's saying iswe’re dumb and we can't take care of our kids. We don't let our kids wear anything indecent. She can come and have a look -- I want her to come and see! Our daughters are not Barbies.

　　WILLIAM BRANGHAM: The parents who support the pageants argue that it's not nearly as extreme as what wesee in the United States – it's not so much makeup, high heels, and they think of it as a harmless, simple competition.

　　SEN. CHANTAL JOUANNO: Yes, but the aim of this competition is still the same, with or without makeup. The only way you can tell where--this is the winner, or this is not the winner, is to make a comparison between young girls, and between their physical appearance. This is the same issue, indeed. There is no difference, with makeup or no makeup.

　　WILLIAM BRANGHAM: Sociologist²¹ Michel Fize studies adolescent development. He says, yes, hyper-sexualization is real, and that it can rob kids of their childhood. But he's not convinced that pageants–at least as they're practiced in France--are that harmful. He thinks they're simply young girls showing pride in their femininity.

　　MICHEL FIZE: (translated from French)For some people like Jouanno, the moment this femininity is exaggerated it's a sign that we're returning to male domination over females in society, with woman as ‘object’ in society. But little girls don't see themselves as objects. They don't see themselves as unequal to boys. They are just proud to be feminine.

　　WILLIAM BRANGHAM: But Jouanno argues pageants are just the beginning of a process where young girls are objectified by society, and often turn that objectification inwards…

　　WILLIAM BRANGHAM(to Jouanno): You're talking about something that is so broad in the culture-- affecting everything from parents to education, to the media, to our values. Do you think that going after pageantsis the best approach to dealing²² with this enormous issue?

　　SEN. CHANTAL JOUANNO: No. The ban of beauty pageants was only one recommendation among 12 big recommendations. And that's a shame that the only recommendation which has been nearly adopted today is a ban of beauty pageants.

　　WILLIAM BRANGHAM: Anais is continuing to compete in pageants…she just did another one last week weeks ago. Jouanno's proposed ban on those pageants will likely be voted on early next year…. Anais obviously hopes the measure fails.

　　ANAIS AGOGUE: It's our passion so if she takes it away, we're going to be really sad.

1 renowned   

adj.著名的，有名望的，声誉鹊起的

参考例句：

• He is one of the world's renowned writers.他是世界上知名的作家之一。
• She is renowned for her advocacy of human rights.她以提倡人权而闻名。

2 scantily   

adv.缺乏地；不充足地；吝啬地；狭窄地

参考例句：

• The bedroom was scantily furnished. 卧室里几乎没有什么家具。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• His room was scantily furnished. 他的房间陈设简陋。 来自互联网

3 controversy   

n.争论，辩论，争吵

参考例句：

• That is a fact beyond controversy.那是一个无可争论的事实。
• We ran the risk of becoming the butt of every controversy.我们要冒使自己在所有的纷争中都成为众矢之的的风险。

4 pageant   

n.壮观的游行；露天历史剧

参考例句：

• Our pageant represented scenes from history.我们的露天历史剧上演一幕幕的历史事件。
• The inauguration ceremony of the new President was a splendid pageant.新主席的就职典礼的开始是极其壮观的。

5 pageants   

n.盛装的游行( pageant的名词复数 )；穿古代服装的游行；再现历史场景的娱乐活动；盛会

参考例句：

• It is young people who favor holding Beauty pageants. 赞成举办选美的是年轻人。 来自互联网
• Others say that there's a fine line between the pageants and sexual exploitation. 其他人说，选美和性剥削之间只有非常细微的界线。 来自互联网

6 makeup   

n.组织；性格；化装品

参考例句：

• Those who failed the exam take a makeup exam.这次考试不及格的人必须参加补考。
• Do you think her beauty could makeup for her stupidity?你认为她的美丽能弥补她的愚蠢吗？

7 poise   

vt./vi. 平衡，保持平衡；n.泰然自若，自信

参考例句：

• She hesitated briefly but quickly regained her poise.她犹豫片刻，但很快恢复了镇静。
• Ballet classes are important for poise and grace.芭蕾课对培养优雅的姿仪非常重要。

8 accomplishment   

n.完成，成就，（pl.）造诣，技能

参考例句：

• The series of paintings is quite an accomplishment.这一系列的绘画真是了不起的成就。
• Money will be crucial to the accomplishment of our objectives.要实现我们的目标，钱是至关重要的。

9 Vogue   

n.时髦，时尚；adj.流行的

参考例句：

• Flowery carpets became the vogue.花卉地毯变成了时髦货。
• Short hair came back into vogue about ten years ago.大约十年前短发又开始流行起来了。

10 outraged   

a.震惊的，义愤填膺的

参考例句：

• Members of Parliament were outraged by the news of the assassination. 议会议员们被这暗杀的消息激怒了。
• He was outraged by their behavior. 他们的行为使他感到愤慨。

11 artistic   

adj.艺术(家)的，美术(家)的；善于艺术创作的

参考例句：

• The picture on this screen is a good artistic work.这屏风上的画是件很好的艺术品。
• These artistic handicrafts are very popular with foreign friends.外国朋友很喜欢这些美术工艺品。

12 portrayed   

v.画像( portray的过去式和过去分词 )；描述；描绘；描画

参考例句：

• Throughout the trial, he portrayed himself as the victim. 在审讯过程中，他始终把自己说成是受害者。
• The author portrayed his father as a vicious drunkard. 作者把他父亲描绘成一个可恶的酒鬼。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》

13 robin   

n.知更鸟，红襟鸟

参考例句：

• The robin is the messenger of spring.知更鸟是报春的使者。
• We knew spring was coming as we had seen a robin.我们看见了一只知更鸟，知道春天要到了。

14 infiltrating   

v.（使）渗透，（指思想）渗入人的心中( infiltrate的现在分词 )

参考例句：

• Be vigilant against the danger of enemy agents infiltrating the government and boring from within. 要警惕敌特渗入政府内部进行暗中破坏。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》
• The metastatic melanoma is seen here to be infiltrating into the myocardium. 图示转移性黑色素瘤浸润到心肌。 来自互联网

15 investigation   

n.调查，调查研究

参考例句：

• In an investigation,a new fact became known, which told against him.在调查中新发现了一件对他不利的事实。
• He drew the conclusion by building on his own investigation.他根据自己的调查研究作出结论。

16 pervasive   

adj.普遍的；遍布的，(到处)弥漫的；渗透性的

参考例句：

• It is the most pervasive compound on earth.它是地球上最普遍的化合物。
• The adverse health effects of car exhaust are pervasive and difficult to measure.汽车尾气对人类健康所构成的有害影响是普遍的，并且难以估算。

17 karate   

n.空手道(日本的一种徒手武术)

参考例句：

• Alice's boyfriend knew a little karate.艾丽斯的男朋友懂一点儿空手道。
• The black belt is the highest level in karate.黑腰带级是空手道的最高级别。

18 premium   

n.加付款；赠品；adj.高级的；售价高的

参考例句：

• You have to pay a premium for express delivery.寄快递你得付额外费用。
• Fresh water was at a premium after the reservoir was contaminated.在水库被污染之后，清水便因稀而贵了。

19 butts   

笑柄( butt的名词复数 )； （武器或工具的）粗大的一端； 屁股； 烟蒂

参考例句：

• The Nazis worked them over with gun butts. 纳粹分子用枪托毒打他们。
• The house butts to a cemetery. 这所房子和墓地相连。

20 essentially   

adv.本质上，实质上，基本上

参考例句：

• Really great men are essentially modest.真正的伟人大都很谦虚。
• She is an essentially selfish person.她本质上是个自私自利的人。

21 sociologist   

n.研究社会学的人，社会学家

参考例句：

• His mother was a sociologist,researching socialism.他的母亲是个社会学家，研究社会主义。
• Max Weber is a great and outstanding sociologist.马克斯·韦伯是一位伟大的、杰出的社会学家。

22 dealing   

n.经商方法，待人态度

参考例句：

• This store has an excellent reputation for fair dealing.该商店因买卖公道而享有极高的声誉。
• His fair dealing earned our confidence.他的诚实的行为获得我们的信任。