@XNovalX see that's the thing though, it's not shallow and vain to them. the things she wants are exactly what is needed in their lives to prosper.
it's explained in chapter 2 page 18 exactly what entails "masculinity"
"a man who works hard. A man who is dependable and resourceful. all those and similar traits combined into one, we call that masculinity."
having a "masculine" husband allows the family to secure food and other provisions along with being able to care for the family and procreate
"can you fill your belly with a handsome face? can your sweet-talks make your Me-Ah herd multiply? if you should marry a man lacking this masculinity, it's not just you who starve, but also your children."
and the horses are something else that allow the plains people a much better survival rate, from being able to hunt food, to going to war on horseback.
nothing the girl pines for I would ever define as shallow, it would be different if she cared about his looks or the fact that he isn't from her tribe, THAT would be shallow.