Barbie Doll

In the poem “Barbie Doll” by Marge Piercy, a young girl begins her life like any other young girl would; loving to play with dolls, wanting put on makeup like mom, and playing with miniature ovens and stoves. Unfortunately, as she became older, peer pressure from classmates, friends, and sometimes even parents, began to shape her attitude toward herself. “She went to and fro apologizing. Everyone Saw a fat nose on thick legs…Her good nature wore out like a fan belt. So she cut off her nose and her legs and offered them up.” (Piercy) We have all heard on the radio, seen on T.V. and read in the newspaper and in magazines, we have to look like this, talk like that, or act a certain way in order to fit into society. It really is no different for young men. We experience the same peer pressure and social norms that are displayed in “Barbie Doll”. We are shaped by the kinds of friends we surround ourselves with, and usually end up acting the same as our friends.
If I were to rewrite this essay, I would have to name it “Ken Doll”. I would name it this because the Ken Doll, like the Barbie Doll, epitomizes what a young man, by society’s standards, should look like. According to society, we should all have broad muscular shoulders, a six pack, wavy blond hair, blue eyes, and all around dashing good looks. Unfortunately, we aren’t all like that.