Beauty And Body Standards In Marge Piercy's Barbie Doll

In the poem “Barbie Doll” by Marge Piercy, the girl could not stand up for her own beauty and body standards. She wanted to change her herself because others saw she should change. For example, when she is being described, “She was healthy, tested intelligent, / possessed strong arms and back” (7-8). She had a fit body and was smart, but people thought a girl shouldn’t have the muscular body a man should have. Though she was healthy and smart, everybody believes that beauty is more important. Furthermore, when people criticize her, “Everyone saw a fat nose and thick legs” (11). In people’s eyes, she didn't have the standards a girl should have. They all felt that noses and legs should be nicely shaped and slim like a Barbie’s. In addition, they advised her to, “exercise, diet, smile and wheedle” (14). They wanted her to prove to them that she can be beautiful by doing what they recommend her to do. Many people thinks a pretty, skinny, and flirtatious girl is perfect. Moreover, after she cuts her body parts off, “In the casket displayed on satin she lay / with the undertaker's cosmetics painted on” (19-20). After …show more content…
For example, she describes her hips, “these hips are big hips / they needspace to / move around in” (1-3). She accepts and knows the fact that her hips are big and needs space. Furthermore, she states, “these hips / are free hips” (5-6). “Free hips” means like anyone can have the type of hip they want and no one needs to make it a certain size and shape. It’s like saying these hips are her hips and no one has the right to criticize it because they are “free”. In addition, she believes, “they go where they want to go / they do what they want to do” (9-10). Her hips have the right to look that way and its part of her. She is explaining that her hips can be however it is. She says what she believes is right and doesn’t let people condemn the way she