Achieving The Perfect Image In Marge Pierce's Barbie Doll

Barbie dolls are meant to be beautiful, and the ideal image of a woman. The Barbie dolls have the perfect hair, perfect body, and a beautiful face. Exactly what almost every woman dreams to have. Children are given Barbie dolls at a young age, and are exposed to that specific “image”. To them the Barbie doll is what you are meant to look like in order to be the “perfect” woman. Barbie dolls are not meant to cause any harm, but it all depends to the child. Self-esteem plays a strong role when achieving the “perfect” image. In the poem, Barbie Doll, by Marge pierce we are told a story of a girl who suffered bullying for not being the “perfect” girl. In lines 1-4 the author says, “This girlchild was born as usual and presented dolls that did pee-pee and miniature GE stove and irons and wee lipstick the color of cherry candy” (Piercy

So, at this point the author tells us how not only is the child told how she should look, but also how she should behave. The author tells us how she is told that she should act shy, yet also be hearty, and to exercise. This child is full of talent, but is being obligated to curb them entirely and become someone she is not. Poor child being forced to smile when in reality she is miserable. Living in a world where she is not able to meet the standards she is supposed to. In lines 15-16 it says that, “Her good nature wore out like a fan belt” (Piercy Lines 15-16). In this lines we are told that the child finally gave up on being someone that she is not. The author uses simile here by comparing her wear and tear to a worn-out fan belt. I believe that the author used this simile in order for us to imagine a running engine, and if that engine cannot function properly it eventually runs out. Therefore, the girlchild cannot use her “engine” the way it should be used, so she tries to make it run contrary to its