A Woman’s Place in Society Explored in Marge Piercy’s Barbie Doll

The Poem “Barbie Doll (1969)” by Marge Piercy describes the life of a young girl who fell victim to society’s idea of beauty. Marge Piercy was a known social activist and uses this poem to bring attention to serious issues facing young females in society.
In the first stanza the author begins the poem by introducing a little girl. In the first line of the poem Piercy presents the idea that this little girl was like any other average little girl. “This girlchild was born as usual”(line 1). She then goes on to say like other young girls this child was given a Barbie doll, complete with the accessories. “…presented dolls that did pee-pee
and miniature GE stoves and irons
and wee lipsticks the color of cherry candy”(lines 2-4). As the child grew and hit puberty her fellow classmates picked on her because of her looks. She was told that she was fat with a big nose.
The second Stanza continues the story of the child. The author explains in the first three lines the little girl was fit, intelligent and filled with passion. Regardless of all of her excellent attributes the girl went back and forth apologizing and asking for forgiveness because “Everyone saw a fat nose on thick legs”(line 11).
In the third stanza the girl is told to play modest, to be whole-hearted, to exercise, to diet and to charm. Eventually she could not take it anymore and gave up. “Her good nature wore out
like a fan belt. So she cut off her nose and her legs
and offered them up”(line 16). Sick of the constant bulling the girl gives up on trying to be perfect and fit in with society’s ideals.
The last stanza talks about her funeral. The girl is displayed in her casket on satin fabric with the mortician's make-up applied. A fake turned up nose is applied to the girl t...

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... she lay with the undertaker's cosmetics painted on, a turned-up putty nose, dressed in a pink and white nightie”(lines 19-22). In the examples it is easy for the audience to picture little accessories for the child's Barbie doll and a young girl, dressed in a pink nightgown with makeup applied, lying in a casket. Also the symbolism used in this poem is important. For example “So she cut off her nose and her legs and offered them up” (line 17). This example symbolizes the young girl freeing herself from pieces of her the society did not like.
All in all “Barbie Doll” by Marge Piercy is a poem that tells the story of a young girl victimized by society’s idea of beauty. The author uses few poetic devices and instead focuses on writing a free and natural story like poem.

Works Cited

Piercy, Margie. "Barbie Doll." Poem Hunter. N.p, 06 June 2011Web. 11 February 2014.