Bullied to Beautiful Society is known for holding unrealistic expectations and the pressures put on women through gender roles and stereotyping. Marge Piercy’s “Barbie Doll” is no exception, “Barbie Doll” is the story of a young girl who try’s endlessly for society’s version of perfection, but she dies trying to reach the unrealistic expectations that she is being force fed. Marge Piercy published “Barbie Doll” in 1971, during the time of second-wave feminism. The history and dedication that many women contributed during this time affected the way our society is today. The feminist movement is largely related to Marge Piercy’s literature. The purpose of “Barbie Doll” is to display how society is the issue and never the person. Marge …show more content…
Many women wrote books and literature about what was going on and how they felt during this time including Kate Millett, Gloria Steinem, Angela Davis, Marge Piercy, and the list continues. These women and even men contributed to raising awareness for women and the rights they deserve during this time period. Marge Piercy spoke about inequalities, stereotypical behaviors, and women’s unhappiness in “Barbie Doll.” In past interviews with Marge Piercy she has talked about her passion for big topics she writes about including feminism, civil rights, women’s health and abortion, mental illness, love, freedom, violence, etc. Piercy concludes that she likes to acknowledge what is going on in society and what affects her directly. She believes in equality for all and that is the reason she makes such a big impact on our society though her literature (TRIVIA: Voices of Feminism.). Marge Piercy is someone young girls can look up to and aspire to be. “Barbie Doll” begins with the birth of a “girlchild” and all of the toys this child plays with. They are typical toys for girls to play with during this time. As the girl hits puberty, she begins to be bullied about her appearance, specifically her “big nose and fat legs.” She then was told to be “coy” and always wear a smile. Eventually she becomes worn out “like a fan belt,” so she cuts off her nose and legs and offers them up. As the girl lay in her casket, she has a “putty nose” put on. Everyone says how pretty she looks and
In contrast, Marge Piercy's tone in “Barbie Doll” is sarcastic. The tone appears sarcastic because of the absurdity of a world in which a doll indoctrinates a 'girlchild' to a society's idea of what female beauty or perfection should be. Even in 2015, Barbie's core demographic is 3 to 6 year old’s. (“Barbie Doll Statistics”) Girls continue to be socialized at a young age when 'presented dolls' and accessories of ovens for cooking, irons for laundry and/or hair and lipstick. (Piercy 2). In Piercy's poem when the 'girlchild' experiences the
During the time of development and release of Barbie, the feminist movement was in full swing. The concept that Barbie may have been manufactured as a weapon against these feminist groups is plausible as the image of Barbie exploits the female body and challenges the values held by active feminists. Though, from a slightly different perspective, one could argue that Barbie with her freedoms and luxuries supports the ideals of women's equality and rights. Barbie may have been the transition piece of the decade, setting a new path for women and young girls.
In Sandra Cisnero’s short story ‘’Barbie-Q,” a Barbie doll is used to portray the author’s inner struggle to achieve perfection, and how her young age and innocence clouds her identity. Throughout the text it is very clear that the author, a young girl, had come from an underprivileged family and faced the issues many families of lower socioeconomic background typically face. In the short story it is also evident that her gender plays a massive role in damaging her self-esteem and confidence, as both the media and the author’s social background have continuously portrayed women as weak, powerless figures. Similarly, in “The Story of an Hour” by Annie Chopin, the protagonist, once again a female figure represented the life of domesticity a woman is expected to hold by society. Although Chopin’s story was written in the late 1800s and “Barbie-Q” is a very modern story, both depict the protagonist females as very helpless, incapable figures that trail after the overpowering men.
Launched on March 1959, the Barbie doll is a toy that was first put on display in New York. It quickly garnered a lot of attention with the target audience of the creators, young girls. This doll was different than its previous dolls because it was a doll that was an ideal representation of a woman. Thus allowing young girls to use their imagination to create and act-out what this doll’s life is like and what their future would potentially be. To successfully understand this toy, we must think like C Wright Mills, a sociologist who asks to use our sociological imagination, the intersection of one’s biography and history. This artifact reflects and perpetuates the dominant ideology of how to perform your gender the “right” way in the early 1960s. I will argue this demonstrates West and Zimmerman’s concept of “doing gender” which is clarified with Judith Butler’s concept of socialization of gender.
In the essay 'Our Barbies, Ourselves,' Emily Prager explores the history of the Barbie doll and talks about the Barbie doll itself. Prager seems convinced that the Barbie doll was an object created by a man and that Barbie reeks of sexuality, sexual innuendo and serves as the anti-feminist embodiment of every man's fantasy. In her own expressive and persuasive modes to fashion an essay designed to persuade the reader that the Barbie doll is a twisted and corrupt tool designed by men to combat the feminist revolution. Though her attempts at persuasion are commendable, I was not swayed in my opinions on Barbie. If anything, I just found fault with this writer's point of view, and I found her
“Barbie Doll” by Marge Piercy is about a girl who is a normal child growing up; playing with dolls, miniature kitchen items and pretend make-up. It quickly takes an interesting turn when a pubescent child makes fun of her nose and legs and she was advised to exercise and diet despite the fact that she was intelligent and healthy. The poem continues on by the girl cutting her legs and nose and a bizarre visual of her laying in a casket with an ending that states “to every woman a happy ending”( Piercy 791). This poem was written by Piercy in 1969 a year in which many women liberation groups were forming and the breaking of womanly roles was taking place. The poem “Barbie Doll” by Marge Piercy,
The Inimical Effects of Expectations Marge Piercy in the poem, “Barbie Doll”, confronts society’s unrealistic expectations of a “perfect” woman and the harmful effects it produces on women. This girlchild and the hazardous trend of her environment progress her unfulfilling life and tragic death. With the use of exceptional symbolism, sarcastic/ironic language, and third-person omniscient point of view, Piercy unfolds the inclusive meaning of the poem: the expectations society drowns women in need to halt because of the evident, awful ending the girl is compelled to. To begin with, Piercy’s evocative symbolism shape the appalling presumptions thrown on women all around.
In the poem “Barbie Doll” by Marge Piercy portrays the sexism that is placed upon women from an early age. Stereotyping their role in society as a mother, homemaker, or a pretty object. Mentioning in her poem the gifts of dolls, stoves and irons, and make-up to make her point. The title of the poem “Barbie Doll” automatic gives the reader a sense of what the meaning of the poem is about. In her poem she raises the question of what is acceptable beauty in today’s society. In society views, beauty is symbolized in the figure of a Barbie doll. Tall, thin, with perfect features.
The poem, "Barbie Doll," written by Marge Piercy tells the story of a young girl growing up through the adolescence stage characterized by appearances and barbarity. The author uses imagery and fluctuating tone to describe the struggles the girl is experiencing during her teenage years, and the affects that can happen. The title of this poem is a good description of how most societies expect others, especially girls to look. Constantly, people are mocked for their appearance and expected to represent a "barbie-doll"-like figure. Few are "blessed" with this description. The female gender is positioned into the stereotype that women should be thin and beautiful. With this girl, the effects were detrimental. The first stanza describes the
In Marge Piercy's "Barbie Doll" a young girl is troubled by the classification of what it takes to become a beautiful woman. "Barbie Doll" details the image that society projects upon women. From an early age young women struggle to conform to the standards that society has defined for them. Beautiful dolls such as Barbie are frequently the first source of association that young girls have with the image that society has placed upon them.
From the time they are born, girls are influenced by society as to who they should be, how they should look, and how they should act. Americans believe that women should be to a certain standard; pretty, feminine, and especially, thin. The pressures derive from family, media, and friends. Marge Piercy’s poem, “Barbie Doll” depicts a girl who was never recognized for her character and spent her life trying to be accepted for who she was, rather than how she looked.
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. “Barbie Doll” by Marge Piercy is a narrative poem; the poem is written in free verse. The author selects a free form of poetry and other devices to help get her point across.
The poem “Barbie Doll” by Marge Piercy in relation to diversity alludes to specific aspects of gender, mainly targeting the female gender perspective and expectations. In the poem, Piercy is writing about a young girl transitioning from a child to a women and how society and its idea of beauty affects her. My interpretation of the poem is that the girl is basically crying out for help saying look I am healthy, intelligent, and strong but no one sees or cares about those things because the only thing they see when they look at her is her outside appearance and what society considers to be the flaws that she possesses. Although this was written in 1936 Piercy accurately describes the feeling of being defined or constricted by society to think, act, and look a particular way which is similar to that of todays society which is fueled by social media, where some find personal gratification and self confidence fueled from likes and retweets they receive.” Barbie doll “ is the perfect title for this poem because for the longest time a Barbie was a sign of something perfect and beautiful, a toy enjoyed by everyone and a conventional symbol for little girls all over the United States. Similarly the girl was conforming to be sort of like the Barbie doll in a way because of societal expectations and the want to be viewed in a particular light by ones peers.