power of words

The Power of Words

Silvana Paternostro describes the difficult life of women in Cuba. For an audience of mostly women, her emotional tone and simplistic style lets the reader get a feel of what these poor young women are going through in the October 2002 issue of Glamour Magazine.

Paternostro explains the hardships that these women endure though out their lives. The only way to make a descent living in the country is to become a cabaret dancer or prostitution. She writes of their only two options with such emotion. The reader can truly feel their struggle. When the reader sees their pay (fifteen dollars) a month, it showers them with disbelief. One truly cannot fathom this idea. She speaks of the emotional break downs and discouragement. Directors that pinch their fat, make them feel un-pretty and lower their self esteem as well as shatter their dreams when their told they are not good enough. The authors detailed description

Paternostros’ emotional tone makes well with women readers. It is something that women can relate to more readily. Through out the article, the author throws out descriptive terms that play emotionally on women.

For example, Paternostro speaks about cabaret dancers being the only means of making money. Unless of course, they would rather sell their bodies. When she says “money making option,” this means fifteen American dollars a month. To truly think that this is what can be spent in seconds here and only lasts a month there- is astonishing. It really makes the reader realize how blessed they are. Although things can be tough, it can always be worse. She also makes the reader realize other things that are taken for granted. For example, here in America, people change careers and start their lives over at the age of fifty. This is clearly not an option in Cuba. Through the use of descriptive sentences the author gives a detailed description of the qualifications to become a dancer.

Paternostro states “to qualify as a dancer, girls must be younger than twenty one and at least 5’4’’, to be a dancing model, she must be at least 5’8’’. They must posses grace, beauty and rhythm musically.”

Clearly this is a detailed description of the attributes dancers must possess. It also tells of the young age girls must be to qualify. At such a young age, the dreams and hopes of these girls can be shattered in the blink of the eye.