Journal 8 - Barbie Doll

In the poem, “Barbie Doll” by Marge Piercy, we are immediately given the impression that women are considered objects. By the title, Barbie Doll, we insinuate that the poem will be about how fake perfection is what everyone strives for. The point of view character is the “girlchild” who is not given a name, but is talked about as if she were a new table and chair set that were achieved “as usual” (l. 1, Piercy).

This girl is presented with girl toys such as “dolls that did pee-pee and miniature GE stoves and irons” that the parents hope will in some way train their daughter to the place that is being a woman (ll. 2-3). She was also given “wee lipsticks” stressing the importance, even at this young age, of dolling yourself up and adding something to yourself because the natural beauty needs help getting through (l. 4). And when this young lady is in late middle school or the beginning of high school, a class mate tells her that she has “a great big nose and fat legs” (l. 6).

Although nothing in her past such as health problems or a lag in school would say that this girl is inadequate in any way, she believes that she needs to apologize for her said “short comings” of fat legs and a big nose. People tell her that she should act as if she doesn’t know anything is wrong, but to try and fix the problems with the proper changes in her life. No woman can take this kind of criticism, act as if nothing is wrong, and then try and change herself to make these other people happy without eventually breaking down.

And breaking down is exactly what this poor girl does. This girl “cut off her nose and her legs/and offered them up” (ll. 17-18). Whether these lines mean that the girl literally cut off her nose and legs or cut them to pieces is uncertain. Later in the poem it is said that the undertaker placed a “putty nose” on the girl, which means that either way her actual nose was not in good condition. And here, at the girl’s funeral, everyone says how beautiful she looks. To think, the only thing we, as women, have to do to be regarded as beautiful is to die.

Piercy, Marge. “Barbie Doll”. The Norton Introduction To Literature. 10^th ed. Ed. Alison Booth and Kelly J. Mays. New York: Norton, 2010. 855. Print.