Cuban Woman Defends Self-Care Amid Criticism: "Should We Collapse Because the Country Is?"

A young Cuban mother from the city of Matanzas has sparked a heated debate on TikTok after posting a video addressing the criticism women in Cuba face for trying to maintain their appearance despite the country's harsh economic conditions. The user, known as @briana_matancera, posed a poignant question in her video: “Does the country's collapse mean that women must fall apart with it?” Her reflective video, filmed on her porch, quickly garnered hundreds of comments and reactions.

She often faces criticism on social media for having manicured nails, internet access, or shaped eyebrows, while many argue that these "luxuries" are incompatible with the daily struggles faced by many Cubans. “Why shouldn't Cuban women have the right to flaunt themselves? Just because they live in Cuba, can't they paint their nails or style their hair?” she asked in her message.

Polarized Reactions

The post ignited a wave of comments, mostly supportive, from both Cuban and foreign users who defended women's right to self-care as a means of preserving personal dignity and maintaining self-esteem. Comments like "It's the only thing they have left," "Self-love shouldn't depend on where you live," and "You don't owe anyone an explanation," were common among the responses.

However, criticism was also present. Some users argued that in times of scarcity, spending money on aesthetics seems contradictory to the ongoing complaints about the lack of food and basic necessities on the island. Remarks like “If you can't afford food, how can you afford nails?” and “It's not a right; it's incoherence,” reflected the view that in other countries, cosmetic expenses are considered luxuries to be postponed in favor of basic needs.

Despite the backlash, the young woman from Matanzas clarified that her intention was not to provoke controversy but to create space for reflection. She asserted that her message was not about justifying excesses but questioning why Cuban women striving to look good are stigmatized. “I suppose those who do it have enough to eat at home. That's my question,” she wrote.

Discussing Priorities During Crisis

This type of controversy is not new. In recent years, as Cuba's economic crisis deepened, social media has become a platform for discussions intertwining social criticism, emotional resilience, and cultural tensions about what is considered acceptable. For many Cuban women, personal care is also a way to emotionally resist hardship, a tool for self-esteem in the face of daily adversities.