从“鼠鼠”到“老己”——青年自我价值认知的话语演变与社会意涵

From “Mouse” to “Old Self”—Discourse Evolution and Social Implication of Youth’s Self-Worth Cognition

摘要: 近年来，青年群体中具有价值评价意味的自我隐喻经历了从“鼠鼠”到“老己”的显著演变。这一演变并非单纯的话语更替，而是折射出青年在优绩主义压力下自我价值认知从“不配得感”向“配得感”的深层转型。“鼠鼠”话语是优绩主义失败者的自我定罪，暴露了外部评价体系对青年价值主体的剥夺；“老己”话语则是青年回收价值评价权、重建自我关怀的积极尝试，但其稳定性仍待价值根基的夯实，并潜藏被消费主义收编、陷于数字展演、导向责任内缩等异化风险。这一演变揭示了当代青年在个体化时代的价值困境与主体重建的可能路径，具有重要的社会文化意涵。

Abstract: In recent years, the self-metaphors with evaluative connotations among the youth have undergone a significant evolution, shifting from “鼠鼠” (shǔ shǔ, meaning “ratty”) to “老己” (lǎo jǐ, meaning “old self”). This shift is not merely a change in discourse; rather, it reflects a deep transformation in young people’s self-perception of value—from a “sense of undeservedness” to a “sense of deservedness”—under the pressure of meritocracy. The “ratty” discourse represents the self-conviction of those who feel they have failed under meritocratic standards, exposing how external evaluative systems have stripped young individuals of their subjective sense of value. In contrast, the “old self” discourse signifies a proactive attempt by young people to reclaim the right to evaluate their own worth and to cultivate self-compassion. However, its stability still requires the consolidation of a value foundation, and it faces potential risks of alienation—such as being co-opted by consumerism, trapped in digital self-performance, or leading to a contraction of social responsibility. This evolution reveals the value dilemmas faced by contemporary youth in an era of individualization, as well as potential pathways for the reconstruction of subjectivity, carrying significant sociocultural implications.