Even though Piercy’s “Barbie Doll” was published in the early seventies, unfortunately I am sure it still resonates with females to this day. I feel the title is very fitting for this poem! When we think of the Barbie Doll, we think of the seemingly “prefect” female image. Even the accessories that go along with the Barbie Doll- the house, clothing, shoes- all portray what society thinks of females. It is just unfortunate that the female image, especially at such a young age, is associated with a doll that could not truly exist in real life; she wouldn’t even be able to stand upright.
This poem offers a brief and sad outline of the life of a girlchild. From birth, she is offered all the toys that society believes a little girl should play with. Society and older adults teach girls from a very young age that they are the caregivers and house workers of the world.
It is when this girlchild hits puberty, an already difficult and trying time for an individual, that superficial expectations are placed on her. A classmate tells her she has a big nose and fat legs. Even though she is strong, smart and full of possibilities, she is made to feel less of a person due to what others see as imperfections. To make matters worse, she walks around feeling the need to apologize for what others see as her shortcomings. She is forced to fit an
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Despite the poor girl mutilating herself to fit in, the mortician fixes her up to look like a doll and to top it off, everyone comments on pretty she looks. The speaker of the poem gives off an almost sarcastic tone. As you read the poem, you know that this is not a happy ending, but the speaker notes “to every woman a happy ending.” When reading this ending I could feel the speaker’s sarcastic tone and thoughts on how absurd it is to think that as long as you tell a girl she is pretty, she’ll be happy and do whatever it takes to stay that way, even if it means her