Photo: Photo: Rulo Luna

8 Things You Need to Know to Understand Mexican Women

Mexico Couples
by Rulo Luna Ramos Nov 25, 2014

1. They are always in the middle of some strange ritual.

Tradition is stronger than anything and it has helped us preserve some interesting habits. People say they don’t really believe in this stuff, but keep doing it anyway.

Examples? Pregnant women wear a little red ribbon or a safety pin attached to their underwear whenever there’s a lunar eclipse to defend their unborn child from astronomical maleficence. Women also tend to have an overstock on red and yellow panties that reflect their wishes for true love or money for the New Year (depending on the current necessity). And there are some others who buy an image or figurine of Saint Anthony of Padua, put him on an altar with some candles, and place it upside down until the day the miracle happens and they find true love. Yep, that’s actually extorting a saint!

2. They all have this peculiar relationship with their moms.

The psychological scars as a result of being raised by Mexican mothers are surely inside every one of us, but that doesn’t mean we cannot have a functional relationship with them as grown ups. As a matter of fact, Mexican men and women develop a strong attachment to their mothers and families, but the relationship is quite different for sons and daughters.

The relationship between mother and daughter transitions between absolute love and absolute hate with relative ease. The closer they are, the stronger these transitions become and it’s quite common to misinterpret the complexity of their bond based on a discreet observation. Think about them as best friends who occasionally have little misunderstandings…scary and dramatic misunderstandings.

3. They have some serious makeup skills.

There’s not a single pattern regarding the amount of makeup Mexican girls wear. Something between discrete and moderate suits most, but downright clownish style is a common sight during morning commutes.

What these women do share in common are their advanced skills in everything makeup. From the masterful use of a teaspoon for eyelash curling to the amazing ability to draw a perfect eyeliner line during a bumpy bus ride, Mexican women know makeup.

I’d also like to recognise the patience of those women who transform each of their fingernails into tiny masterpieces, even if most of the time they end up looking like miniature wedding cakes.

4. They’re really knowledgeable about healthy living.

And I’m not referring to that issue we Mexicans have with self-prescription. Mexican women are the best when it comes to home remedies: honey lemon tea or mullein for a cold, chamomile to ease up stomach pain and help you sleep, valerian to calm your nerves, and some aloe for anything else. Nothing withstands the power of teas and herbal infusions.

They are also familiar with every possible kind of weight-reduction plan. The moon diet, the grapefruit diet, the apple diet, the just-a-random-amount-of-time diet — you name it, they’ve probably tried it.

5. They’re quite passionate…and that’s a double-edged sword.

Under normal circumstances, they tend to be the most loving, caring, and affectionate women in the whole world. Anyone who has or has had a Mexican girlfriend knows that their displays of affection can be stifling, which is actually good. C’mon, who doesn’t like to be asphyxiated by love and affection? Mexican girls have every attribute anyone would want…until they get mad at you, of course.

Passion is just another way of saying quick tempered. Sooner or later you’ll discover there’s a dark side that lurks behind those pretty eyes.

6. They know how to party and they party hard.

If Mexican women could be defined in one word, that word would be cheerful. They are friendly, outgoing, loud, and always in the mood for some good fun. Girls in Mexico will dance the night away given the opportunity and opportunities abound!

7. You know what they say about Mexicans always being late?

I’ll not blame Mexican women for the entirety of these stereotypes, but they do share a big part of the guilt with some of their habits. For instance, there is a big difference for them between being ready to go out and actually being capable of doing so. When a Mexican girl tells you she’s all set, she’s only acknowledging your patience. If she hasn’t decided which shoes she’s wearing or hasn’t picked up her ever-faithful handbag, she’s far from ready.

8. Neither delicate nor frail are words that suit them.

Mexican women have been historically recognized for their strong temperament and rebelliousness. Living in a society with strong gender problems has influenced the character of Mexican women; they’re assertive and never afraid to express themselves freely, and those are two reasons why you don’t want a Mexican girl as an enemy.

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