While the bag used to be a strong status signal, now it signals inauthenticity.

虽然这个包曾经是一种强烈的身份标志，但现在它发出了不真实的信号。

He could maybe try to be cool and woke or try for nerd chic, but Biden knew the political perils of inauthenticity.

他也许可以尝试表现得冷静清醒，或者尝试书呆子式的时髦，但拜登知道不真实的政治风险。

And to accept that, that on a fundamental level there's an inauthenticity, would crush my self-esteem — that is not living up to my value.

接受这一点， 即在基本层面上存在不真实性， 会粉碎我的自尊——那不符合我的价值。