Keeping Up with the Latinas

HABLEMOS DE INCLUSIÓN

Por Dra. Luisa Montoya

Haga click aquí para leer la versión en español

I recently moved to Miami, and I was taken aback by the prevailing beauty standards here. Yes, I am a Latina, but for most of my life, I lived in Colorado and Texas, where Latinas had their beauty standards, but nothing compares to the pressure faced by Latinas in Miami. I’m not just talking about keeping up with the latest makeup and clothing trends – we all do that.

I even have my faja, jokingly referred to as a “tummy tucker.” What concerns me is the normalization of eating disorders, injections, insulin medication to lose weight, and the never-ending list of extreme measures to fit into these unrealistic beauty ideals. According to the American Society of Plastic Surgeons, between 2011 and 2016, there were 25 deaths among their members due to Brazilian Butt Lifts (BBL).

A plastic surgery task force reported that 3% of plastic surgeons who performed the procedure had a patient die. In just one Florida clinic from 2013 to 2018, at least eight patients died. South Florida is the epicenter for BBL-related deaths in the country, with 25 BBL-related deaths between 2010 and 2022 alone. Alarmingly, about 92% of these BBL deaths occurred at “high-volume, budget clinics.”

Can we normalize regular bodies? Recently, I was talking to a friend regarding public speaking. I mentioned as a Latina, we also have the pressure of dressing on current trends and to “look” good for the audience. Then it brought up a good point, what is even looking “good” at this point? Do we still in 2023 have irrational ideas of beauty standards?

The real issue here is not just about keeping up with the Latinas; it’s about the unrealistic beauty standards imposed on women and the relentless pressure we endure. Being a woman in 2023 is incredibly challenging, and we face a multitude of difficulties, including:

Intimate partner violence, which affects 1 in 4 women in the United States and many more around the world.
Economic injustice and the gender pay gap, which hinder women’s ability to work and provide for themselves and their families.
The underrepresentation of women in leadership positions, which persists in many sectors and countries.
Racial injustice, which disproportionately affects women of color and their access to health, education, and justice.
Threats to LGBTQ+ rights, which, in some regions, jeopardize women’s safety and dignity.

These are just some of the many issues we face daily. I want to extend an invitation to all my Latina, Hispana, and women friends let’s be kind to each other, recognize that we’re all struggling with something, and start normalizing healthy bodies. We don’t need to keep up with anyone. Instead, let’s fall in love with who we are and work towards becoming healthier, both physically and mentally, every day! Pa’ delante muñeca!