Why is esperanza initially excited to receive shoes from her neighbor in the family of little feet?

Esperanza, her sister and her friends were excited to receive shoes from their neighbor in the family of little feet because when they wore the shoes, their legs looked attractive, long and womanly. They proudly walked around the neighborhood in their high-heeled shoes and did not listen when a man from the neighborhood told them that those kind of shoes were not suitable for little girls.