Daghistany notes that while the picara has her own identity, she is still a woman in a man’s world. Most of her attributes cater to the demands of men. The picara, in her quest to climb the social ladder, must rely on men in order to achieve her goals. According to Daghistany, the picara takes „the active role in initiating most of her encounters with men…The picara relies on her physical attractiveness as much as she does upon her intellect“
irmgard keun’s doris: picara in a picaro’s world – aaron chandler (pdf)