Beauty in Esperanza’s culture poses a risk as it prompts women to maintain strenuous standards of femininity through both behavior and appearance, which can lead to objectification and social or physical harm.
Beauty within Esperanza’s culture can be a source of danger for women because it often comes with the pressure to conform to a stringent standard of femininity, which can lead to both physical and social repercussions. Cultural perceptions of beauty influence women to undergo painful surgical procedures or use makeup to align with Eurocentric ideals of femininity. This pursuit of an ideal can subject them to critiques and objectification, as their worth is often measured by their appearance.
Cosmetic use and physical beauty expectations also serve as a tool for controlling how women are perceived and treated. Women's bodies are criticized and ridiculed for natural signs of ageing or childbirth, as seen in Martial's remarks. Furthermore, the objectification and commoditization of women based on their physical attractiveness, as noted in various cultural contexts, including the beauty pageants for transgender sex workers and the black beauty standards, highlight the complex interplay between beauty and danger.
So, beauty standards within Esperanza's culture are not just about aesthetics but are deeply entwined with societal norms, power dynamics, and the challenging position women face when they try to meet these standards or reject them.