In Marge Piercy’s poem “Barbie Doll”, the author highlights societal views of and expectations for women in the 1970’s.  For the first time in history, women began to embrace their sexuality and demand more than just suffrage. Although they had this demand, the expectations what they needed to sacrifice to society continued to rise. Women gained the ability to be a part of the work force but simultaneously gained the expectation that they balance a successful career while tending to the family at home. It became expected that women be feminine, a mother, while simultaneously being physically attractive and forming their bodies into one that society will find appealing. Second wave feminism was a grassroots movement focused on different flaws of society that impacted women’s lives during this time period. “Barbie Doll” brings to light a very realistic perspective of the way women were viewed by the end of the twentieth century. It also emphasizes the distress a woman will go through in order to please the surrounding judgment. This is important because it allows us to see how second wave feminism has created a ripple effect into today’s society.  

Second wave feminism took place from 1960 through the 80’s. The second wave focused on sexuality, family, legal inequalities, and equality in the workplace. It was different from the first wave in the strategies of how feminists took action. This movement was not considered successful since it did not receive nearly as much attention as the first had. It was also not considered successful since it’s main focus, the Equal Rights Amendment, was not ratified. This movement didn’t consist of major public scenes or rallies; there were no big protests that engulfed America’s attention. Instead, it focused on providing women with support. Things such as workshops, women’s support centers, and clubs were created. The YWCA was a support center that was created in order to address the needs of women.  There were many other clubs that were created in order to provide women with an established network of support.  This movement struggled outside of large metropolitan areas due to its lack of coverage; however it continued to gain support and through use of media it began to spread throughout the country.  These support centers became a key component of this movement due to the fact that they evolved into places of discussion, revolving around action and change. Although nationally there were not any significant changes, mentally woman began to understand and inspire one another into believing that they could live in a place in which true gender equality existed. This movement was created in order to provide women with the support that they needed while living in a brutal society.

The purpose of “Barbie Doll” is to raise awareness and address the societal issues and expectations that surrounded females during this time period.  It was made clear within “Barbie Doll” exactly what these expectations were.  Firstly, women were expected to fulfill the typical role of women and the “girlchild”(1.1) was presented with “miniature GE stoves and irons” (1.3).  By giving her these two items, she is learning at a young age how to use them. She is being taught to enjoy playing with these things since they are ultimately going to be what she ends up using as an adult.  There would be the continuous notion that demanded women to continue to serve ones family.  Even though she’s merely a child, she has already been inducted into the roles of a mother and housewife. This wave of feminism was meant to shed light upon the idea that women could do more than just raise the family. There was an attempt to introduce the idea opposing this stereotype of women only being able to one thing with their lives. It emphasized the idea that women could join the workforce and compete equally with men. It had the goal to destroy the stereotype of women being the only ones who could raise the family, and was meant to provide support for those women who decided to have a profession.

The debate over the woman’s body was another theme that Piercy aimed to target. During childhood, she was given “wee lipsticks the color of cherry candy”(1.4). At a very young age this girl has been introduced to makeup and the expectations of being physically appealing. She was expected to come to the realization that she needs to be conscious of her looks and appearance. Then from the moment that she reached womanhood, this girl was criticized for her “great big nose and fat legs” (1.6). Although she was meant to be sensual, courageous, and confident, she was also supposed to be cautious of her appearance at all times. This poem has her apologizing to society for her imperfections and causes her to change them. The feminist movement was supposed to address this issue. Women initially began to revolt against the idea of a “perfect wife” and did so by embracing their sexuality. As the mindset and expectations of women changed, society took this change and used it to further increase certain expectations of women. 

Continuing with the theme of female’s bodies, it further dives into their sexuality and appeal. Society created a “perennial icon of unattainable and artificial glamour”(Scimone). Girls were told to “exercise, diet, smile and wheedle,” all things that are nearly impossible to accomplish in unison (14). It was made clear that their physical bodies were meant to be an exterior model of exactly whom these women were. Sexual appeal was quickly turned into this necessary thing to have in order to be attractive to the rest of society. Within the poem, the girl willingly “cut off her nose and her legs and offered them up” (17-18). She scarified these imperfect parts of her body and awarded them to society. As a result, she lost her individualism and uniqueness that made up who she was. As gruesome and insensitive as this is, society expected and demanded this of women for once this is achieved society will finally recognize her as beautiful. 

The purpose of this wave of feminism was to further liberate women and widen the ability for equality among women; however, others took advantage and used it to establish new expectations for women to adhere to. Due to further enhancements of medicine and surgery, the ability to physically alter one's body became more readily available. Although invented in very early ages of man, plastic surgery started to become wildly popular in the end of the 20th century. Modern medicine provided women with the ability to literally alter their bodies in ways that society deemed attractive. In “Barbie Doll,” the girl cuts off different parts of her body. Although this could’ve been done figuratively, there is also very much a chance that she paid money to change her exterior appearance to have one that looks more appropriate for society. 

In modern day society, media has now gifted society with an even more unrealistic version of beauty. Young girls’ social media accounts are constantly flooded with different images of what is defined as desirable. These altered and unrealistic photos instill the idea within these girl’s minds that the only acceptable form of someone’s body is one that is toned, detoxed, and starved. According to the National Association of Anorexia Nervosa and Associated disorder, there are eight million people in the United States that are battling some sort of eating disorder. This disease comes directly from the falsified ideal of looks that society today has created. 

This unrealistic vision has rolled through the 20th century into the 21st. Along with the unrealistic definition of beauty, many of the social issues that feminists sought to battle in the 70’s still surround women today. There are more women within the work force today, as it is now acceptable for women to have a career and profession; however, women have still yet had the ability to earn equal pay as men.  There is also still the double standard that women will have a job while taking care of the family, house, and children. Young girls today need to be taught that the value of their clothing and size of their waist is not the defining characteristic when it comes to who they are as a person and their value in society. Individual characteristics like morals, intelligence and work ethic are the attributes that really make a person a critical and functioning member of today’s society. This lesson should be instilled in all youth, boys and girls alike, from a young age and it is a failing issue of society. 
