"Barbie Doll" by Marge Piercy is a poem about a girl and her struggles growing up in a world where people only judge her for the way she looks. Herself and others believe the only way to be happy is to be perfect on the outside because this is what they are presented with from birth. Throughout her poem, Marge Piercy, constantly uses barbie dolls to symbolize what the world thinks the perfect women should aspire to be.
In the beginning the girl child is presented with what the world around her believes the perfect and happy women should be.
a. "The girl child was born as usual, and presented dolls that did pee-pee"
b. "and miniature GE stoves and irons and wee lipsticks the color of cherry candy."
As the child hits puberty it becomes more real to what people only care about, which is looks.
a. "Then in the magic of puberty, a classmate said: you have a great big nose and fate legs. "
b. " She was healthy tested intelligent[...] Everyone saw a fate nose on thick legs."
By the end of the poem, this girl is still only judged by the way she looks.
a. "In the casket displayed on satin she lay, With the undertaker's cosmetic painted on, a turned up putty nose, dressed in a pink and white nightie"
b. Doesn't she look pretty? everyone said. Consummation at last. To every women a happy ending."
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