While women have for centuries been labelled as the weaker sex, new research suggests the truth is quite the opposite.
據英國《每日電訊報》9月28日報道，幾世紀以來，女性都被打上弱勢性別的標籤，但一項新研究表明，事實可能正好相反。
According to a study, the fairer sex is genetically programmed to better resist infections and cancer, and also have a back-up system for fighting disease.
根據該研究，女性基因更能有效抵抗傳染病和癌症，同時其基因還具備一套抵禦疾病的支持體系。
The discovery sheds light on why members of the so-called stronger sex succumb to "man-flu".
這一發現解釋了所謂的強勢性別——男人總易患流感的原因。
The reason why women are more robust appears to be microRNAs - short strands of RNA encoded on the chromosome, scientists believe. RNA is a genetic cousin of DNA and can have important biological effects.
科學家認爲，女性更健康的原因可能在於微RNA(核糖核酸)，它是染色體上RNA編碼的短片段。而RNA是DNA(脫氧核糖核酸)的基因表親，具有重要的生物學效應。
The microRNAs have the effect of "silencing" immunity genes on X-chromosome, according to the new research. This leaves men at a disadvantage since they only have one X chromosome. Women have two, so that even when immunity genes are silenced on one the other can compensate. So man's immune systems are no match for those of wives and girlfriends.
根據這項新研究，微RNA具有“屏蔽”X染色上的免疫基因的效果。這使只有一條X染色體的男性處於不利地位，而女性擁有兩條，所以即使一條上的免疫基因不能發揮作用，另一條上的也能起到彌補作用。所以，男性的免疫系統無法與他們妻子和女朋友的匹敵。
Study leader Dr Claude Libert, from Ghent University in Belgium, said: "Statistics show that in humans, as with other mammals, females live longer than males and are more able to fight off shock episodes from sepsis, infection or trauma. We believe this is due to the X chromosome. "
來自比利時根特大學的研究領導者克勞德·力博特博士說：“數據表明，在人類和其他哺乳動物中，女性壽命更長，更能抵禦因敗血症發作引起的休克、感染病和創傷。我們認爲這可以歸因於X染色體。”
From a biological point of view, the difference has probably evolved because women are more likely to ensure the survival of the species. They need to be able to resist infection when pregnant and when nuturing a child.
從生物學角度來說，這種差異的演化可能是出於女性更有可能確保種族生存。她們需要在懷孕和養育子女的時具備抵禦傳染的能力。
The research is published today in the journal BioEssays.
該研究發表在今日(28日)的《生物》雜誌上。
英半數女性寧要房子不要小孩Young women put off starting a family for fear it will damage their looks, career and lifestyle
A generation of young women have been putting off starting a family because it will damage their lifestyle, career and looks, a survey shows.
調查顯示，英國年輕女性一代推遲生育是因爲生小孩會影響她們的生活方式、職業生涯和外貌。
One in three childless women quizzed now say they don't ever want to become a mother while increasing numbers of thirty-somethings in stable relationships and with good jobs have different priorities.
現在有1/3無子女的受訪女性稱她們永遠也不想當媽媽，而越來越多感情關係穩定並擁有好工作的三十多歲的女性則把其他事情看得比生育更重要。
Almost half would rather get on the property ladder than have a baby while 28 percent would prefer a ￡100,000 salary, according to a poll of 2,000 women.
根據一項涵蓋了2000名女性的調查，近半數女性寧願要更多的房產而不是要小孩，28%的女性比起要小孩更想要10萬英鎊的年薪。
The Grazia magazine report commissioned to coincide with the release of Sarah Jessica Parker's latest film I Don't Know How She Does It uncovered a whole new tribe dubbed the 'I Don't Know Why She Does It' generation.
《Grazia》雜誌委託開展的這一調查發佈時，恰逢莎拉傑西卡帕克的最新電影《我不知道她怎麼辦到的》上映。該片展示了一個全新的族羣，號稱“我不知道她爲什麼要這麼做”一代。
The film portrays the life of a high-flying professional woman Kate Reddy, who also looks after two children in the evening and is happily married to an out-of-work architect.
這部電影描繪了成功的職業女性凱特蕾迪的生活，她晚上要照顧兩個小孩，而且還和一位失業的建築師擁有美滿的婚姻。
Childless women just aren't willing to make the sacrifices they now see are necessary for motherhood with 44 percent feeling sorry for working mums struggling to have it all, the survey said.
調查稱，無子女的女性就是不願做出那些在她們現在看來爲人母所需做出的犧牲，44%的人很同情那些艱辛地兩頭奔忙的職場母親們。
A quarter think working mothers always look exhausted and one in five say it looks so difficult it makes them think twice about having children.
1/4的受訪女性認爲職場母親看起來總是一副精疲力盡的樣子，1/5的女性說，做職場母親看起來很難，這讓她們在要小孩這個事情上猶豫再三。
Half of childless women over 30 look at stay-at-home mothers and think it will be difficult for them to get back on the career ladder and a fifth believe they've lost their identity.
半數年過三十的無子女的女性認爲全職媽媽難以重回職場，1/5的女性認爲她們已經失去了自己的身份。
Body issues are also a factor with three in ten worried about the effect pregnancy would have on their appearance.
形體問題也是她們擔心的一個方面，十分之三的受訪女性擔心懷孕會對她們的容貌產生影響。
Almost a third think having a baby would make them less body confident while almost one in three mothers miss their pre-baby figure and feel judged by society thanks to coverage of glamorous celebrity mums.
近1/3的人認爲生小孩會讓她們對自己的身材失去信心。近1/3的媽媽們懷念她們生育前的身材，看着鏡頭前那些光彩照人的明星媽媽們，感覺社會也投來了指摘的目光。
Four in ten childless women say they're not ready to give up their lifestyle - and a quarter still feel too young for a child.
十分之四的無子女的女性說她們還沒準備好放棄自己的生活方式，四分之一的女性覺得自己還很年輕，不到要小孩的時候。
Meanwhile 26 percent admit they are fearful of the effect motherhood would have on their career.
與此同時，26%的女性承認她們害怕養育兒女會影響職業生涯。
Almost half think having a child would make them poorer and over half say they couldn't afford a baby even if they wanted one.
近半數的女性認爲要小孩會讓她們變窮，超過半數的女性說就算她們想要小孩，也養不起。
The survey also identifies a rise in the 'emotionally infertile' - childless women who feel they have left it too late to have a baby with women admitting they put their career first or they didn't meet the right man.
調查還發現，越來越多的女性有“不育情緒”，即那些無子女的女性覺得自己耽誤了要小孩的時機，她們承認自己過去將事業放在首位或沒有遇到對的人。
“大腳”問題日益困擾英國女性英國一家百貨商店新近調查顯示，英國女性對大號鞋的需求在不斷增加，而同時很多女性又羞於讓別人看到自己的“大腳”。
“大腳”問題日益困擾英國女性
Bigger feet a growing shoe problem for UK women
英國一家百貨商店新近調查顯示，英國女性對大號鞋的需求在不斷增加，而同時很多女性又羞於讓別人看到自己的“大腳”。在受訪的.1000名穿8號鞋的女性中，有82％表示因爲腳大而覺得不好意思，超過半數的人承認在商店買鞋時讓售貨員拿大號的鞋會很尷尬。該調查報告指出，過去十年間，英國女性的平均鞋碼已加大到6號（相當於國內的40號），而9號女鞋的需求量則增加了80％。有專家表示，女性的鞋碼變大並不是因爲腳變長了，而是她們的腳變寬了，女性平均體重增加可能是導致這一結果的主要原因。
Demand for larger shoe sizes is growing among women -- but big-footed females are ashamed of stepping out in their shoes, according to a survey by British department store Debenhams.
The study questioned 1,000 women with size eight (U.S. 10.5) or nine feet about their shoe buying, with 82 percent admitting they are ashamed of their shoe size.
Over half of the women said asking the shop assistant for their size was the part of shoe-shopping they found most uncomfortable, and 36 percent said they hated taking their shoes off in public.
"Buying shoes online can be a tricky feat which is why we decided to ask women why they were shopping behind closed doors. We were surprised to learn a case of cold feet was behind it all," Carie Barkhuizen, Debenhams spokeswoman, said in a statement.
The problem is not uncommon as average female shoe size has increased to a size six over the last 10 years, and demand for size nines has triggered an 80 percent increase in stocks at the department store, Debenhams reports.
The change is attributed to women's feet becoming broader rather than longer - experts believe this may be due to an increase in average body weight.
But big is not necessarily bad, as shoemakers begin to adapt fashionable show designs for larger feet, with celebrities Nicole Kidman, Michelle Obama and Paris Hilton sporting larger footwear on the red carpet.
"High fashion shoes such as stilettos in larger sizes have to be made much stronger with sturdier load bearing points, able to cope with greater levels of stress and wear," Barkhuizen. "The materials and techniques now available means that the majority of shoes can made strong and comfortable enough in larger sizes which would have been unimaginable just 10 years ago."
英中年女性模仿女兒時尚裝扮似姐妹最近一項研究證實，現在的媽媽們會從自己的女兒那裏尋求時尚和打扮的靈感。
英中年女性模仿女兒時尚裝扮似姐妹
30 going on 13: How mothers copy their daughters' fashion
Carole Middleton, Sarah Ferguson and Demi Moore could often be mistaken for their daughters. From their trendy clothing to their groomed tresses the similarities are uncanny.
人們常把卡羅爾米德爾頓、莎拉菲戈斯、黛米摩爾誤認成她們的女兒。不管是她們時尚流行的穿着，還是精心修飾的長髮，都和女兒們有驚人的相似。
Now a study confirms that mothers today look to their daughters for fashion and beauty inspiration.
最近一項研究證實，現在的媽媽們會從自己的女兒那裏尋求時尚和打扮的靈感。
Researchers from Temple University, Philadelphia also say that children - although they might appear to act older than their years - are far less likely to take style notes from their parents.
同時，費城天普大學的研究者們還稱，雖然孩子們的舉止可能會顯得比實際年齡成熟些，但是他們卻不太會聽取父母給他們的着裝建議。
Coined as 'reverse socialisation', many middle-aged women are becoming 'consumer dopplegangers' striving to regain their youthful appearance as they buy into the same products as their offspring.
很多中年女性現在變成了“影子消費者”，她們購買和女兒一樣的東西，努力重拾自己的年輕美貌，這種現象被稱爲“逆社會化”。
Journalist Amanda Platell commented that it is a pattern that has become more noticable in recent years, with high fashion becoming more accessible on the high street.
記者阿曼達普萊特爾評論道，最近這些年來，人們從商業街上能更容易地買到各種高級時裝，這種行爲模式也越來越引人注意。
'The trend for good-looking mothers to compete with their daughters in the glamour stakes seems to be creeping into all sections of society.
“漂亮媽媽和女兒們比拼魅力的潮流，似乎正在潛進社會的各個階層。
'It's known as the 15/50 phenomenon — because the woman may look like a teenager from behind, but she is decidedly middle-aged from the front.'
“於是出現了所謂的15/50現象——背後看上去像是十多歲的小女孩，正面看才知道是如假包換的中年人。
Researchers questioned 343 mother and daughter pairings, with an average age of 44 for mums and 16 for the daughter.
研究者們訪問了343對母女，母親們的平均年齡是44歲，女兒們的平均年齡是16歲。
It discovered that if a mum is young at heart and fashion conscious she is more likely to view her daughter as a style expert and copy her.
研究發現，那些心態年輕、愛趕時髦的媽媽們更可能將自己的女兒視爲時尚達人，然後模仿她的風格。
Dr Ayalla Ruvio, of Temple University, Philadelphia, said: 'This finding provides initial support for the notion of reverse socialization and suggests that the impact adolescents have on their parents is much more profound than has been credited to them.'
費城天普大學的阿亞拉盧維歐博士說：“這一研究結果爲逆社會化概念提供了初步的支持，它表明，青少年對其父母的影響，遠比人們之前認爲的更加深遠。”
越減越肥？多數女性減肥後體重反彈減肥失敗的人們早就懷疑：胖人真的減不了肥。
越減越肥？多數女性減肥後體重反彈
Once you're fat, you never go back: Scientists say dieters' bodies rarely return to their former shape
It is what failed dieters have long suspected: fat people really can't keep the weight off.
減肥失敗的人們早就懷疑：胖人真的減不了肥。
Scientists have confirmed that the majority of overweight people who try to lose weight either by cutting calories or exercising will return to their former size.
科學家日前證實，絕大多數嘗試節食或運動減肥的肥胖人羣體重都會反彈。
Fewer than 10 percent of the 12million Britons who go on a diet each year succeed in losing significant amounts of weight and most of those who do put it all back on again within a year.
在英國每年的1200萬節食減肥人羣中，只有不到10%能成功減去大量體重，而其中絕大多數人會在一年內反彈。
The study of 25,000 people provides further evidence of the prevalence of 'yo-yo dieting' where slimmers get into a cycle of losing weight and regaining it.
該研究進一步印證了“溜溜球節食效應”的流行，它是指減肥者陷入反覆減肥的惡性循環。共有2.5萬人參與了此項調查。
The scientists, from the Medical Research Council's National Survey of Health and Development, have concluded it is better to avoid getting fat in the first place.
醫學研究理事會國家衛生與發展調查機構的科學家得出結論，最好從開始就不要長胖。
They followed 5,362 men and women from their birth in 1946 and 20,000 from birth in 1958, measuring their weight and blood pressure and assessing their lifestyles. The researchers found both groups began gaining weight in the 1980s and have steadily increased in size ever since.
受訪者中有5362人於1946年出生，另有兩萬人於1958年出生，研究人員自其出生後就開始跟蹤調查，包括測量體重、血壓，並評估他們的生活方式。研究發現，兩組人羣都在20世紀80年代開始增重，且此後體重持續增加。
Dr Rebecca Hardy, the council's programme leader on body size, said: 'Once people become overweight, they continue relentlessly upwards. They hardly ever go back down.
理事會體型研究項目負責人麗貝卡哈代博士說：“人們一旦超重，就會不可收拾地胖下去。很難瘦回來。”
'A few lose weight but very few get back to normal. The best policy is to prevent people becoming overweight.
“有些人可以減掉一些體重，但很少有人減到正常。最好的辦法就是從開始就不要長胖。”
'For men [weight] goes up steadily through life. For women it starts slowly and accelerates in the mid-thirties.'
“對男性而言，年齡越大體重越高。而女性體重則是一開始增長較慢，到35歲，體重才加速增長。”
But the study's findings do not mean dieting is pointless, as eating less and taking more exercise can increase fitness and lower blood pressure.
但該研究並不意味着減肥無用，因爲少吃多運動能促進健康，並降低血壓。
半數女性討厭看自己的照片對着相機，她可能還面帶微笑；不過把剛照的照片拿給她看，她大概就會緊皺眉頭了。
半數女性討厭看自己的照片
Camera shy: Half of women 'hate' looking at themselves in photographs
She may smile for the camera, but it will turn to a frown the moment you show her the picture you've taken.
對着相機，她可能還面帶微笑；不過把剛照的照片拿給她看，她大概就會緊皺眉頭了。
Half of women are so critical of their appearance that they 'hate' looking at photographs of themselves, a study has found.
一項研究發現，半數女性對自己的外貌過於挑剔，甚至都不願意看自己的照片。
And three-quarters are self-conscious enough to try to avoid appearing in snaps altogether.
四分之三的女性對自己的外貌很不自信，乾脆就儘量不拍照。
When they do brave the camera lens, women's most common complaint is that they don't like their smile.
當她們終於鼓起勇氣面對鏡頭時，我們最常聽見的抱怨就是她們不喜歡自己的笑容。
A third grumble that their teeth aren't white enough and a quarter worry that they're wonky.
三分之一的人嫌自己的牙不夠白，四分之一的人擔心自己站得不直。
A total of 14 percent moan about the 'smile lines' on their faces.
14%的女性會哀嘆自己臉上的笑紋。
Even once the smile is out of the picture, they are likely to lament having their eyes closed or feeling embarrassed by their outfit.
就算笑容沒有問題，她們仍然會爲照相時眼睛閉上了而感到惋惜，或爲自己的裝扮感到尷尬。
Many women fear the pictures will attract catty comments if they appear on social networking websites such as Facebook.
還有很多女性，害怕自己的照片出現在Facebook這類社交網站上後會得到尖刻的評論。
And even on what is supposed to be the happiest day of their lives, 36 percent of brides feel anxious about being the focus of so much photographic attention.
即使是在一生中最快樂的時刻——婚禮上，成爲衆多攝像鏡頭競相捕捉的焦點也會讓36%的新娘感到焦慮。
But despite the fairer sex's insecurities, men said the first thing that attracted them to a woman was her smile, according to the survey by Macleans toothpaste.
但是麥克林斯牙膏公司開展的這項調查顯示，儘管許多女人對自己的笑容缺乏信心，但對男人而言，女人的微笑卻是最先吸引他們的地方。
Celebrity photographer Daniel Kennedy, who has shot stars including Angelina Jolie and Thandie Newton, advised self-conscious women: 'Try to enjoy yourself. A natural smile that goes through to the eyes is far more attractive than a fake one.
丹尼爾肯尼迪是著名的攝影師，曾經爲安吉麗娜朱莉和桑迪紐頓等明星拍過照片。他給那些缺乏自信的女人們提的建議是：“試着去欣賞自己。眼含笑意的自然微笑比假笑要有魅力多了。
'Keep your chin down and look up through your eyelashes for a face-slimming look that enhances your cheekbones.'
“下巴放低，眼睛透過睫毛向上看，這樣能夠突出顴骨，臉看起來也比較纖瘦。”
中年女性度假時買衣服花費最多夥計們，如果你正打算和自己的妻子或女友夏天外出度假，請注意了：機票和旅館費可能是度假花費中最便宜的部分。
中年女性度假時買衣服花費最多
Women spend more on holiday outfits than trip
Chaps, if you’re planning a summer getaway with the lady in your life, be warned – the flights and hotels may be the cheapest part.
夥計們，如果你正打算和自己的女人夏天外出度假，請注意了：機票和旅館費可能是度假花費中最便宜的部分。
Four out of five women over 50 spend more on their holiday clothes than on the trip itself, a study has found.
一項調查發現，年過五十的女性外出度假時，五分之四的人花在假日服裝上的錢比旅費更多。
The research, by Which magazine, found that around 85 percent of women aged over 50 plan on spending over ￡1,000 on their entire summer holiday wardrobe, often more than they paid for the actual trip. The average holiday abroad costs ￡677 per person.
《Which》雜誌做的調查發現，約85%的年過五十的女性計劃今年夏天度假時在衣服上花費至少1000英鎊，這些花費通常要高過旅費本身。出國旅遊人均花費是677英鎊。
Research into 50-something women by online retailer also found that while 54 percent take up to 10 individual outfits, 96 percent crammed in five pairs of shoes into their jam-packed suitcases.
此外，網上零售商對五十多歲的女性的調查發現，54%的人在外出度假時會帶上至少10套衣服行頭，而96%的人會往鼓鼓囊囊的行李箱中塞進5雙鞋子。
A further 91 percent haul an average of five handbags with them on seven-day trip - yet 65 percent of ladies only wear half of what they pack.
還有91%的人在7天的旅程中會帶着5個左右的手提包，不過65%的女性只穿了行李中的一半衣物。
The overpacking and excessive spending, according to adult psychologist, Susan Quilliam, is the need to boost confidence when hitting the beach or enjoying a night out.
成人心理學家蘇珊奎利姆說，往行李中放太多衣物和過度消費是因爲女人們在去海灘或夜晚出遊時需要藉此來提升自己的自信心。
Regular BBC Woman's Hour psychologist Quilliam said: 'While mature women may effortlessly balance work and family life for 50 weeks of the year, when it comes to holidays even the most self-aware women may find their confidence slipping.
奎利姆說：“也許熟齡女性能夠在一年當中的50周都能輕鬆地取得工作和家庭生活之間的平衡，但是在外出度假時就算是再自信的女人可能也會覺得底氣不足。”奎利姆也是BBC節目“女性時光”長期聘用的心理學家。
'Shedding layers and revealing what's underneath can make mature women feel vulnerable.
“脫去一層層的衣物，裸露身體，會讓熟齡女性覺得很弱勢。
'Surrounded by toned and tanned perfect beach bodies, a mature woman can lose confidence, making her feel insecure and unloved.
“當沙灘上到處都是健美的、古銅膚色的身體時，熟齡女性會失去自信，產生不安全感，覺得自己無人愛慕。
'It's clear from the findings that a woman's answer is very practical - to make sure that she has every advantage when it comes to what she wears on holiday.
“從調查結果來看，女人的答案顯然都很實際，度假時穿的衣服一定要充分凸顯自己的優勢。
'She needs clothes and accessories that flatter, show off her good points and make her feel great about herself.'
“她們需要讓自己看起來漂亮的衣服和配飾，展示自己的優點，讓自已感覺很棒。”
The research for was carried out online by One Poll in May 2011 amongst a panel resulting in 1,000 UK women over 50.
零售商的這一調查是由調查公司One Poll於2011年5月在網上開展的，調查對象涵蓋了1000名年過五十的英國女性。
It found nearly half (48 percent) splurge on more clothes while on their break as their own doesn't fit or 'isn't me', with one in three (36 percent) spending an additional ￡50 on new items while away from home.
調查發現，近半數（48%）被調查女性會在假期大把花錢買衣服，理由是自己的衣服不合身或“和自己不搭”，其中三分之一（36%）的人還會在外出度假時多花50英鎊用於購置新衣物。
