Barbie Doll

The poem "Barbie Doll" by Marge Piercy got my attention. This poem is sad because the Barbie Doll is made for little girls to play with. At such an early age they get the wrong impression of what they look like and what they should look like. Little girls play and without knowing it, are setting images in their minds of what they will look like one day. Little do they know that when they go through puberty, and when they are the most aware of their looks, their bodies are changing and most do not look like the Barbie they had imagined themselves to be. "Then in the magic of puberty, a classmate said:/ You have a great big nose and fat legs." (line 6-7) I have a 12 year old daughter and this is the kind of thing she is going through. At this age, everyone wants to look like their friends. How sad to not be able to overcome the issues of being different. In the poem, the speaker describes the girl who couldn't take it anymore and committed suicide. "So she cut off her nose and her legs/ and offered them up." (line 17-18) Today there are so many TV shows that offer to young girls a body image that to most, is unattainable. I hope I can instill enough self confidence in my child to get through these tough years of middle school.