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In a story about Venezuelans’ shifting perceptions of physical beauty and their embrace of cosmetic surgery, The New York Times turns for comment to Dartmouth’s Lauren Gulbas.

Gulbas, an assistant professor of anthropology, tells the Times that Venezuela is “known for its oil, and it’s known for its beauty.” That ties into why cosmetic surgery has become so popular with Venezuelans, she says.

“There’s this notion in Venezuela of buena presencia, ‘good presence.’ That communicates that you have certain aspects that say you are a hard worker, a good worker, an honest person,” she tells the Times.

“There’s a virtue associated with looking a certain way,” she says.

Read the full story, published 11/6/13 by The New York Times.