Barbie Doll to Prince Doll

"Barbie Doll" is a poem written by Marge Piercy. It addresses the pressure that is put on a girl to be the best of the best. She must look good, act good, and have nice things. But who is to say that this does not happen to young men, too? So many younger males suffer from eating disorders, anxiety, and stress due to trying to be the best, the prince that all the girls like. Boys go through puberty just the same as the girl in this poem. "Then the magic of puberty, a classmate said: You have a great big nose and fat legs." (Lines 5 and 6, Piercy) When these kind of words are said, whether you are a boy or girl, it hurts, and you will try to do everything you can to change the way you look. Now days young people are also focused on not only who looks the best but who acts the best and who has the nicest things. This would include being popular, wearing the best clothes and shoes, having pretty hair, and most likely driving a sports type car to school. If you do not have these things or look the best and you get bullied because of it, it will tear you apart mentally just as it did to the girl in the poem. "Her good nature wore out like a fan belt. So she cut off her nose and her legs and offered them up." (Lines 15, 16, 17, and 18, Piercy) It is just a matter of time before that boy or girl who is being taunted has had enough.