In Kelly Sue DeConnick’s Bitch Planet, she uses a comic is to show how the main character, Penelope, copes and pushes through the expectations society sets in place for her. In Marge Piercy’s Barbie Doll, in the structure of a poem, she takes the reader through the timespan of a girl’s life to show how the influence of society forced her to conform to societies expectations. In both Bitch Planet and Barbie Doll, the main character’s deal with issues concerning self-image due to comments that originate from the society that they are brought up in, yet these two works of literature are different because the two girls in the pieces of work handle the peer pressure in completely different ways. The contrast between the characters in Bitch Planet and Barbie doll communicate to society the vulnerability of women and how derogatory speech and expectations towards the female population has an effect on how they view themselves. 

In both Bitch Planet and Barbie Doll, the women are criticized for their image. In Bitch Planet, Penelope’s physical features are referred to in a negative manner. A white male, speaking about an African American female says “Who wants to come home to that?” and then proceeds to say “It’s in their animal nature—big asses, big lips.” (DeConnick 194). The man degrades Penny’s worse. Comparing her to an animal contributes to the judgement society; the animal comparison illustrates the ruthlessness and the lack of care society has concerning the self-image others. The image of a white male traditionally carries the connotation of dominance and superiority. Therefore, the judgement the white male expresses is taken more seriously throughout the general population. The difference in demographics, a white male, and an African American female creates an increasing social gap throughout the comic; this social gap gives the white male’s hurtful words for validity and increases harshness behind his degrading. In Marge Piercy’s Barbie Doll, the “girlchild” (line 1) was criticized for her physical image by her own classmates. The poem states “Then in the magic of puberty, a classmate said:/ You have a great big nose and fat legs” (line 5). Marge Piercy strategically places the word “magic” to describe “puberty”. This is significant because puberty is seen as a fearful period of time for all girls because it meant new and unexpected changes to their body. Using the word “magic” eliminates the fear associated with puberty. Associating the terms “magic” and “puberty” allows the next line in the poem to feel more critical. The word choice in both of these pieces of literature represent the lack of sincerity demonstrated by society when it comes to respecting the female image. 

In both Bitch Planet and Barbie Doll, they do not only exemplify the spitefulness of society, but also the controlling aspect of society. Both pieces of literature contain characters that attempt to change the mindset the females have concerning their body image. In Bitch Planet, Penelope is attached to a computerized system that attempts to alter the visualization she has for herself. In the middle left plane on page 198 of Bitch Planet, one of the white men in the comic says to Penny “Visualization is the key to achieving our objectives” (DeConnick 198). Using “objectives” communicates the intentions of society; society is out to encourage conformity of a specific image. In the comic, Penelope is used as a victim to a mission that weakens individualism and self-respect. While Bitch Planet takes more of mental approach to alter the way a female views her body, in Barbie Doll, more physical advice is given to conform to societal standards. After the “girlchild’s” physical aspects were repeatedly criticized, the author proceeds to say “She was advised to play coy…. exercise, diet, smile, and wheedle” (line12). The phrase “exercise and diet” is traditionally associated with the act of losing weight, therefore she was advised to lose weight for the sake of improving her physical features to make them more visually appealing according to the standards set by society. In both of these pieces of literature, intrusion or criticism concerning her body image was not asked for nor wanted. Both authors were able to communicate a clear parallel between the events occurring in literature and the actions that take place within modern day society. DeConnick and Piercy attempt to show the audience that the criticism and pressure placed on females is unwanted and never asked for. Although people may feel they are doing a favor for in favor of the female, their critiques cause more harm than anything. 

Despite excessive pressure originated from society, some females are able to overcome the negativity and expectations to conform to achieve a specific image. Unfortunately, some women put their bodies through so much physical harm to make adjustments that cause more detrimental changes, rather than improving themselves. In Bitch Planet, despite all odds and the constant invasion from the fathers, Penelope resist the change being implemented. Penelope recognizes her own worth and realizes the way she was born does not need to be altered. Penelope realizes she is does not deserve to be subordinate to society when she says “If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it. I ain’t broke” (DeConnick 199). DeConnick places this scene to conclude the comic to illustrate that despite outside influences, one can still feel confident within her body. This panel illustrates the authors disapproving mood of women being judged based on an outsider’s opinion, rather than what the female thinks of herself.

Unlike Penelope in Bitch Planet, the girlchild in lacks the ability to feel confidence in herself, and as a result she undergoes several alterations that do not fulfill the pleasure that is expected. In the third stanza, Piercy states “So she cut off her nose and her legs and offered them up” (line 17). By make making physical alteration through surgery demonstrates the far extent women are willing to go in order to feel “pretty” and “beautiful”, even when it may seem like the changes are not necessary. In the last stanza, the poem goes on to say “In the casket displayed…with the undertaker’s cosmetics painted on, a turned up putty nose,…Doesn’t she look pretty? everyone said.” (line 19). The purpose of the last stanza is to communicate to the audience that even after the various changes the girl went through to better her body, her “new” beauty was not acknowledged until her death. From this we can learn that even when women change their body image for the sake of others happiness. When describing the girlchild’s nose, the author uses the term “putty”; this word has a negative connotation. It creates an unnatural image of the nose that does not increase her beauty. 

From both Bitch Planet and Barbie Doll, as a society, we can learn that the judgement expressed regularly is detrimental to the female population—despite negative intentions. Both pieces of work accurately display how sensitive the female population is when their self-image is closely looked at. These pieces differ in the ways that the characters handle judgement. Penelope overcomes the negativity and holds herself worth to a high standard and accepts her image, while the girlchild conforms. Looking at these pieces of work side by side, it can be concluded that each female is different. Though they may handle the circumstances in different ways, criticism has an emotional effect on females. 

 