Julia is Entitled to Her Own Body

Throughout "I Am Not Your Perfect Mexican Daughter", Julia Reyes is constantly judged or frowned upon for her inability to conform to restrictive rules and guidelines that her family or anyone else in her life tries to infringe upon her with. The section I am focusing on is the first few pages of Chapter 9, where her mother doesn't allow her to buy the black dress that "shows your chest too much" (Sanchez, 107). Julia then tears up with frustration because picking out an outfit should be a decision that one is in complete control of, but instead she is restricted by her mother. She can't help that she likes the way she looks in the color black, and she can't control the size of her breasts. Instead of her mother supporting Julia when she thought she found the perfect dress, she basically shamed her for it, it's moments like this to support why Julia thinks other people in her family find her weird. Also, moments like this throughout the text feed into her insecurity about the size of her breasts. Another example is when Chris gives her an excuse of a compliment "You look nice, for once" (Sanchez, 110). That was bad enough, but on the next page he proceeds to disrespect her by observing her "like a piece of beef on clearance" (Sanchez, 111).  At this point he is observing her physical appearance (mainly her cleavage) but he also has no interest in treating her with respect. She obviously was uncomfortable after his first compliment, but then he proceeded to infringe upon her as though he was entitled to because he liked the way she looked. Julia has a lot of maturing to do, and I do feel as though parents have some obligation over there children and can make some decisions for them, but Julia is at a delicate age at this point in the book and with her sister not around to talk to anymore, she needs all the support she can get from her mother, and as little communication with horny, judgmental, disrespectful teenage boys as possible. 

This is an article, about what causes insecurity, and I believe the social-anxiety section fits well with what Julia Reyes is being faced with. Even at the party before Chris came up to her, "I start worrying about where to put my hands... what if I look like Frankenstein with my arms hanging stiffly by my side." (Sanchez, 111). People who suffer from social anxiety have a constant fear of being judged, and for Julia it is rightfully so because she actually is constantly judged for her tastes/appearance.
https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/the-mindful-self-express/201512/the-3-most-common-causes-insecurity-and-how-beat-them

1) Should Julia be more obedient towards her mother, and not question her authority like her late sister Olga? Or is she justified in her refusal to conform?

2) If Julia spent more time with her parents, would she be more like Olga? Or are her views to dis-aligned with her parents?