Sleeping Venus, Giorgione, 1505

There is a process of acculturation that occurs whenever a society is conquered by another one.  As was the case of the indigenous peoples of Mexico when they were conquered by the Spaniards, the culture of the conquered society slowly phases out as the culture of the conquering one phases in, usually by force.

Included in the changing areas of Aztec culture was beauty.

As mentioned on the main page of this theme, in societies, like Mexico, that have experienced colonization, or have been ruled by other groups, the definition of beauty is based on the prototype of those who are in power.

And, at that time the Spaniards were in power.  They brought with them to Mexico the kind of feminine beauty ideals that were popular in Europe at the time, such as:

• Extravagant dress,
• Pale skin,
• Small features,
• And curves.

Many of which were unattainable to the majority of indigenous people, due to the following factors:

• They weren’t wealthy, so they couldn’t afford extravagant dress,
• Their complexion generally prohibited them from looking pale, and
• (In extreme cases) they couldn’t enough food — or days off from work — to make themselves heavier.

To MODERN MEXICAN AND MEXICAN AMERICAN BEAUTY→