Marge Piercy's Barbie Doll

Marge Piercy’s poem Barbie Doll depicts how society’s standard for beauty creates a serious body image problem in many individuals especially among women. This standard is full of false ideals which contribute to the altered perception and definition of beauty nowadays. Women are provided with a very fine margin on how to look, dress, and behave to be considered beautiful. Many women of today struggle to keep up with the society’s expectation of women. Some even go as far as getting surgeries done to get bigger lips, smaller thighs, slimmer body and even getting facial reconstructions done to look exactly like a Barbie Doll, perfect in every way. The author powerfully highlights the consequences when these stifling ideals of beauty are taken to the extreme. This poem simply starts the poem by …show more content…
Her toys consist of a miniature GE stoves and irons which all symbolizes the future role that she is going to partake as a woman.These stereotypical gender roles include not only learning how to cook, but women are expected to look presentable, like wearing “wee lipsticks the color of cherry candy”. The poem takes a turn when the main character hit her puberty and was told she has a great big nose and fat legs. Characteristics which doesn’t resemble the doll she used to play with. She begins to internalize the harsh comments and feels completely alienated due to her physical flaws. The character is healthy, tested intelligent, and posses strong arms and back with an abundant sexual drive and yet, society only notices her big nose and fat legs. She wasn’t praised for the good qualities she possessed, but criticize for her imperfection. Furthermore, the character even apologizes for not being able to please everyone. Paragraph three emphasizes her struggle in fitting in. She was