Chinantec Women

Silvestre CuevasApril 29

Silvestre prefers a girl who is “a little fat” (“gordita”) -- her eyes do not matter.

Girls touch their breasts for a moment with the nest of a hummingbird so that their breasts don’t develop too much. Women think that large breasts are ugly. Sometimes women try to deceive men when they pass by – they walk stooped over a little, bending their back so that their breasts are not seen.

Ruperto JiménezMay 3

Women place the nest of hummingbirds on the breasts of little two to three-year-old girls so that they don’t grow too much.

Women try to stay as light-skinned as possible. Ruperto prefers a girl to be “a little fat” (“gordita”).

RML

Boys always deny interest in the beauty of a girl; they always say that the important thing is that she should be a good worker, and that is difficult for a girl to be two things, pretty and a good worker. A beautiful girl is a dangerous girl.