Recently, many videos and articles have become popular in different media groups concerning the topic of beauty standards around the world. According to various encyclopedic websites, beauty standards in women are socially constructed notions that physical attractiveness is one of women’s most important characteristics, and something they should strive to achieve and maintain. Beauty standards vary because they are based on what is desired within a culture, and considering that they are is an innumerable amount of cultures on the planet, it’s hard to establish a general idea of what is physically beautiful in a woman. We also need to consider the fact that two people from the same country, who share the same culture, might not have the same idea of what beauty is, so there is definitely a bias factor. There can also be more than one culture in a country. But nevertheless, media and people tell us otherwise.
Many videos have been done showing different beauty standards around the world, and even though it’s a general view of a country (doesn’t take every single culture or biased point of views into account) it says a lot about the popular culture in that specific time. Many of the videos don’t include Puerto Rico’s beauty standards, even though they’re similar to most Hispanic, Caribbean, and Latin American standards, but they are unique as well. It wasn’t until WatchCut Video published a Puerto Rican edition of “100 Years of Beauty” , demonstrating different styles and fashions throughout the years in Puerto Rico and New York as well, considering the vast population of Puerto Ricans there.
The purpose of this article, and its relation to Women Empowerment Week, it’s to provide a view of Puerto Rican beauty standards of feminine beauty, but also to teach you how to live without them. We say this because beauty standards can be oppressive and many people feel that they have to achieve then in order to be accepted or successful. We are all different, and that is where the real beauty is found. We all have the liberty to choose if we want to follow those standards or not, whichever is best for you. Puerto Rico is an extremely diverse place, originating from African, Spanish, and Taíno Indian ancestry, and also being influenced by West Eurasian (Mediterranean, Northern Europe, and Middle East) and Southwest Asian ancestry as well. There is no exact or perfect Puerto Rican, but there are a lot of beautiful people, on the outside and on the inside.
*** This list has been developed by the Her Campus at UPR team and different testimonies and opinions from Puerto Ricans who live in the island around the 18 to 30 age group. The standards were listed and defined according to observations and personal experience. ***
1. Tanned skin
Photo credit: http://tvline.com/gallery/friends-worst-episodes-photos/
Sun-kissed skin is a general prevalent indicator of beauty in Puerto Rico, often being associated with the beach and good health. Many people have natural tan skin; others achieve it by tanning and/or sun bathing their bodies. Considering Puerto Rico’s tropical climate and sunny weather all year long, spray tans and artificial tans through tanning beds are not common practices as they might seem. That doesn’t mean people don’t use them, it’s just that we don’t consider it to be the main route to achieve tanned skin. Light, pale skin is not necessarily seen as non-beautiful, but it might be considered unhealthy to some people. Many Puerto Ricans have natural light skin, considering their European ancestry. I am a light-skinned Puerto Rican and very pale, and from my experience, I’ve been asked if I was sick and I’ve been told by many people to “go out in the sun” a few times a week to look healthier. I’ve seen a lot of people with similar skin tones as mine being told the same thing, even by strangers. Of course, the sun has many health benefits, such as vitamin D, but the beauty aspect of it makes it more desirable.
How can you live without this standard? Take care of your skin no matter the color, embrace it, and love it. It’s a living, breathing representation of the cultural diversity in Puerto Rico and the many beauties that coexist.
2. From curvy to slim and athletic bodies
This standard is probably the most varied one in this list, considering that body types are very diverse in Puerto Rico and many people have different tastes and ideas as to which body is the most beautiful for them. After talking to the HC at UPR team, a few of my personal friends, and investigating online, the most favorable body types range from the curvy, hourglass figure mostly associated with Latinas (stereotypically), to the slim and athletic figure. It’s not uncommon to see people dieting and exercising not only to achieve a favorable body type, but also to make them healthier and feel better. We’re proud to say that we’ve met a lot of people who are very proud and happy with their bodies, yet it’s disappointing for us to see a lot of other people feeling pressured by these standards.
According to statistics of the University of Puerto Rico at Carolina, 90% of Puerto Ricans who suffer from eating disorders are girls going through puberty. It’s not only prevalent in teenagers and young adults, but also in adults and middle-aged women. Growing up, I’ve seen many people purchase pills that help lose weight. I’ve seen hundreds of commercials in local channels that advertise many weight-loss products; they were very popular. Although Puerto Rico is not included in ISAPS Global Survey’s list of the top 25 countries with the most surgical and non-surgical cosmetics procedures, these procedures are not uncommon in Puerto Rico, done mostly on women from ages 30 and up. Even though it’s not as obvious as one might seem, the pressures to achieve and maintain a certain body type exist, the only difference is that the pressure is not the same for everyone.
How can you live without this standard? Focus more on your self-esteem and internal health; it’s more important than any beauty standard imposed upon you. All body types are beautiful, unique, and important. If you want to change your body, do it for yourself, not to please others, because your physical and mental health is involved. You have the right to set your own goals and to establish what is beautiful for yourself, and that is you just the way you are.
3. Straight hair
We’ve all been there… from the blow dryers, to the “planchas”, to the “dubis”, to the keratin hair treatments, to the fear of getting your hair wet… Straight hair is seen as a beauty standard in many countries because of its smoothness, shine, and the fact that it has never gone out of style. But it reaches a limit when other types of hair types and hair textures are not considered beautiful in comparison. Many people enjoy straightening their hair and don’t have a problem with it, and that’s fine as long as it makes them happy, but others feel like they have to straighten their hair for it to look beautiful. Different hair types have been underappreciated for a long time. Many people associate that to inequities in race and others blame it on the fashion industry.
In Puerto Rico, natural curly hair is just as common as straight hair and the practice of straightening it. Sadly, this type of hair is often called “pelo malo” (translated as “bad hair”) among several people in Puerto Rico and is often said in a discriminatory manner. But as the years go by, people have begun to get rid of their “dubis” and embrace their natural curls. It wasn’t until we started college that we saw so many people flaunting their curly hair, and social media and the fashion industry has begun to celebrate it more. Hair is often a physical indicator that defines who we are and how we treat it, so it makes sense that there is so much pressure put upon it. But it doesn’t necessarily have to be this way.
How can you live without this standard? Recognize that all hair types are different and unique. You can style it whichever way you want, and however it makes you happy. Don’t feel pressured to have a specific hair type, embrace and take care of the one you have. There are many hair products for all types of hair, so there are no limits to accepting your hair.
4. Hairless skin
Photo credit: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wyin3tIkDHc
This standard is one I’ve battled with for a long time, especially because I have hairy arms… with dark hair… on light skin… And I know I’m not the only one. Hairy body parts have been associated mainly with genetics, so it’s hereditary. In my case, I got it from my mom. In Puerto Rico, people who are “lampiño” or “lampiña” (a person who has little hair on their skin) are often envied, at least by me, for their hairless skin appearance. To combat that, many procedures to remove hair from their skin has become common, such as laser treatments, waxing, and threading. Apart from the norm of shaving legs and armpits, removing mustaches and tweezing eyebrows, many women shave their arms, bleach them or remove the hairs with hair-remover creams. And sometimes it’s not just hair on the arms, but hair on the abdomen and lower back; the pressure is real! It’s not considered unbeautiful, but many people suggest getting rid of them.
How can you live without this standard? Hair on the body is a completely natural characteristic in humans. Some have more than others and some in more places than others. And they’re all fine! Don’t feel pressured to follow through a hair-removal procedure if you don’t want to. Make sure it’s something you want for yourself. If you want to stay natural and hairy, that’s also acceptable.
5. Pierced ears
Ear piercing in children has been around for centuries as part of ritualistic and cultural traditions, but has continued to become a worldwide mainstream fashion statement. In Puerto Rico, it is common and traditional to pierce girls’ earlobes when they are infants or toddlers. The procedure is done usually by a pediatrician. It’s a beauty standard that is hard to control because it’s decided by the parents and/or family members of the child. I have never questioned myself on why do girls get their ears pierced on such an early age until a while ago when I read several threads online of North American mothers bashing Latina moms for piercing their child’s ears at such an early age, even calling it child abuse. It might seem like a culture shock for them (considering that ear piercing is mostly done on teenage girls in the United States as a coming-of-age symbol), but for us it has always been a normal custom.
Apart from ear piercing in infants, other piercings such as nose piercings, belly-button piercings, and lip piercings have become popular in Puerto Rico. It’s also become popular to see piercings on boys as well. It’s not necessarily a pressured beauty standard like the earlobe piercings on babies, but it’s a common practice used nowadays as a form of expression.
How to live without this standard? If you enjoy getting piercings, then there’s nothing stopping you from getting them. It’s important that piercings are taken care of, following instructions, to prevent infections and swelling. If you were to have a child and you are torn between getting its ears pierced to follow a tradition and not piercing them, then do what you believe is best for you and the baby.
6. Booty
We know you saw this one coming… Stereotypically, big butts are usually associated with African American and Latina women, along with wide hips. Nowadays, practices such as waist-training, butt-toning exercises, and buttock augmentation surgery are quite popular in the mainstream media and society. In the case of Puerto Rico, butts are usually celebrated when they’re naturally toned and big. If not, you will most likely be called a “chumba”… not always, of course. If it’s not big, then it should at least be “cute”. In our observation, the pressure to obtain a big butt is not imposed severely like other beauty standards, but it is subject to mild jokes from friends and family members, like “¡esta no tiene nalgas!” This experience is not the same for everyone.
According to Cosmopolitan.com (who knows this topic better than them!?), some evolutionary psychologists believe that men prefer women with fuller butts because it enhances the appearance of the curvature of the spine, according to a recent study published in Evolution and Human Behavior. From an evolutionary standpoint, this is a Very Desirable Trait: a curved spine can alleviate spinal pressure and related injury during pregnancy, which supports mobility to forage food for you until the baby arrives. So, that means there is a biological factor as to why big butts are seen as more attractive. Everyone has different body types, so the diversity is enough for you to accept the body you have, no matter the pressure.
How to live without this standard? Don’t pay too much attention on the emphasis of butts on women. It’s okay for people to have personal tastes on people’s bodies because the perception of beauty for each person is different, but it shouldn’t become objectification. We believe that is the problem with the attention booties have been getting in the media recently, especially with some celebrities. Your body should be celebrated and accepted by you. You’re not an object, you are a human being.
In conclusion, those are the most general and common beauty standards in Puerto Rico. There are others, like wearing makeup when going out and women being shorter than men in relationships, but those are more subject to personal tastes rather than pressures imposed by society. People have a choice: they can follow the standards or not. This list presents an idea of popular culture in Puerto Rico in terms of beauty and femininity. At the end of the day, beauty standards are social constructs done by people. Being far from or close to achieving beauty standards do not define how beautiful you are, how smart you are, how successful you are or how worthy you are. All those are defined by you as a whole, not your appearance. This is what Women Empowerment Week is for, to remind women of their self-worth, strength, and numerous abilities. You’re all beautiful, diverse, and powerful Boricuas! Learn to recognize beauty standards for only to live without them.
***Beauty Standards in Puerto Rico for men will also be developed.