The "Barbie Doll" poem, written by Marge Piercy in 1973, is a powerful and thought-provoking piece that explores the societal expectations and pressures placed on women, particularly young girls, to conform to certain standards of beauty and femininity.
The title of the poem itself, "Barbie Doll," immediately brings to mind the iconic and widely popular toy that has been a fixture in many young girls' toy boxes for decades. The Barbie doll, with its impossibly perfect proportions and endlessly changing wardrobe, has long been seen as a symbol of idealized femininity and beauty.
However, as the poem progresses, it becomes clear that the speaker is using the metaphor of the Barbie doll to comment on the damaging effects of these societal expectations on women. The speaker describes a young girl who is born with "every part perfect" but is still "not pretty" in the eyes of society. Despite her innate perfection, she is pressured to conform to societal standards by undergoing various surgeries and procedures to change her appearance.
The speaker then goes on to describe the girl's transformation into the idealized Barbie doll, with "nose, breasts, thighs" all "cut and restyled." However, this transformation ultimately proves to be futile, as the girl is still not able to achieve the perfect beauty that society demands. The poem ends with the girl's death, a tragic and powerful reminder of the destructive consequences of society's obsession with beauty and femininity.
Overall, the "Barbie Doll" poem serves as a poignant commentary on the societal expectations and pressures placed on women and the damaging effects they can have on one's self-esteem and well-being. It serves as a powerful reminder to resist these expectations and to embrace and celebrate one's own unique beauty and femininity.
Figurative Language In Marge Piercy's Barbie Doll, By Marge...
I envision it to revolve around the ideal barbie image alot of people make great efforts to achieve. Despite her many wonderful qualities--her health, intelligence, strength, and appetites--all those who are framing her as an object can see are those physical features which they deem unsuitable. Many will do whatever it takes to not be, say, or do what society thinks is disturbing. She finally gave society her legs and nose, the things she were criticized for as a final offering to this cruel world. Influence Of Body Image In Marge Piercy's Barbie Doll 627 Words 3 Pages Looking in a mirror only reflect a person outside and do not capture the beauty that lies within.
Meaning Of The Poem Barbie Doll
During the second part of the commercial one of the older girls gives advice to younger girls. The last stanza served as a conclusion where the only way society could accept the girl as if she was perfect. The girl, however, was self-conscious and went around apologizing for her looks. Sigit The girl in this poem is presented with lifelike dolls, toy household appliances, and makeup. Is it plastic surgery, and is that the cause of her death? She was also given lipstick, compared to cherry candy. Only at her funeral did people finally say she was pretty.
The Barbie Doll Poem
By allowing the young girl to play with the doll, a sheer female toy, the poet symbolizes expectations to become a woman as outlined in the existing cultural and social standards. Then in the magic of puberty, a classmate said: You have a great big nose and fat legs. The form of the poem was written in a free verse style. This means that she finally yielded to societal pressure. Barbie tries to please others including herself in accepting what she is. Cite this page as follows: "In "Barbie Doll," what does it mean by "she cut off her nose and her legs"? In this patriarchal and sexist society, women are deemed fit for only cooking and cleaning in the household. Her sweet smile shows that she is very patient and lovely.
Barbie Doll Marge Piercy Analysis
Now she is exactly as they expect but, in her own flesh, she is dead. She is trying to convey that death is preferable to the ridiculous expectations of society that some women are forced to fulfill. In this work, marriage and love have nothing in common. This, alongside the makeup she was given, shows that girls are taught to conform to a specific gender stereotype from a very young age without even realizing it. Many authors use poetry to express their opinions on certain issues.
