Of what significance is the couple that came to Jeanette's cosmetic counter in chapter 11?

Of what significance is the couple that came to Jeanette's cosmetic counter in chapter 11?

In that chapter Jeanette continues a monologue all about Mario and how she needs to him make him see her a certain way and that she is not “ like the other girls” and yet, Jeanette goes on to explain how she is the “ other girl” and all that she does to keep him, and how she “ calibrates” herself to be who he wants but never can let him know that. This goes on and on and we learn more of Mario and Jeanette’s relationship. Juxtaposition this with the appearance of the “ classy” woman who the more Jeanette sees her the more she seems to see the woman crumbling before her eyes more and more on each visit. The husband is clearly abusive, gaslighting and insulting his wife in front of Jeanette. Jeanette even remarks how the woman reminds her of her mother , “ breakable and immaculate”. Then she describes her mother buying the “right cream, the right needle, the right dress to win a man back..” I see this as Jeanette seeing herself and all women trying to please men, trying to be what they want, while the men lie, distort and abuse them. The man seems to represent Mario, her father and all the men in her greater sphere and the relationship with his wife an example of the relationships of men and women.

I agree, I saw it as an example of an emotionally abusive relationship that she and her mother were both in. Jeanette recognized this behavior and it bothered her.

I wondered after Jeanette saw the woman and man at the cosmetic counter and his dismissiveness of his wife, why Jeanette couldn't see how Mario truly was and why she continued to pursue him. She clearly knew how he was and saw how it could play out (with this couple as well as her parents) but wasn't astute enough to move past him.

I agree that she recognized the abusive behavior in regard to both her mother and herself, but she also said that she wished it was her bicep the man was gripping. Both Jeannette and her mother seem to feel that they have no worth without a man and that they deserve the abuse somehow.

Although I don't think the couple was integral to the story, I think their appearance served to show Jeannette a mirror of her relationship with Mario and also to reflect Carmen's relationship with men. I wish that Jeannette had been able to look at that mirror and break the hold that Mario had on her although that would have left her with few coping skills to manage the consequences

This couple pointed out the Jeanette exactly what her life with Mario was - with Mario and every other man in her life - abusive. She could see it in this other couple - however she could not relate it to herself - ironic!