There have been great advances to women’s rights in our history. There have been positive steps forward and negative setbacks, as like any social issue. Going back to 1970, when Marge Piercy’s wrote “Barbie Doll” we can see what roles and rights women had in that time period. This time period of Feminism when this poem was written was called “The second wave of feminism”. The atmosphere and attitude towards women and women rights sets the tone for Piercy’s poem. By looking at Piercy's writing style and earlier poems in relation to the historical and cultural context of second wave feminism, we can better understand the author's critique of gender roles in "Barbie Doll."

We can understand Marge Piercy’s poem better by looking at her life and what her point of view on the subject of feminism was. After reading some literature on Marge Piercy, I understand her mind set and perspective on women’s rights at the time when she was writing this poem. Marge Piercy “has [had] sustained involvement with feminism” during her life (Straus). This poem reflects her knowledge of the feminist movement. Piercy is very well known to “[write] from a feminist position”, like in “Barbie Doll” (Straus). Barbie Doll takes a very strong position on Feminism and calls for a change. Piercy has been involved in advancing women’s rights in the past and feels strongly about creating change. Her works “generally address larger social concerns through sharply observed characters and brisk plot lines” (Straus). Barbie Doll is no different from this description of a “brisk plot line”. The poem may be short, but it is packed with intense meaning and a strong story. Reading this poem, the pressure on this girl is undeniable and along with this pressure came no support for her and her struggle. It is clear that the author is frustrated with the gender roles for women in our society in 1970. Piercy is known to write in a sharp way, and her poem, Barbie Doll follows the same pattern while addressing a social concern. The way that Piercy wrote this poem without directly mentioning women’s rights or gender roles reflects her ability for addressing a topic so serious and important but also being creative in her way of describing women’s rights. By writing about an innocent girl and her daily struggles and also stealthily discussing the very serious and relevant problem at the time creates a very intriguing piece for the reader. Not only does Piercy’s strong feminist background add to the meaning of this poem, the changes and advances during this time create a deeper connection between the poem and the historical context.

Historical context helps the reader to understand Piercy’s feelings towards women’s rights and gender roles. This poem was written during a period of feminism called the “the second wave of feminism” which consisted of changes that were taking place and important movements. The importance of women’s rights in this poem is translated by the powerful image of a young girl growing up with the gender roles she must face. The time period this poem was written in was inspired by Betty Friedman’s The Feminine Mystique which touched on topics from the growing rate of unhappy women, to society’s expectations of women during the 1960’s. Many women during this time that were energized by Freidman’s book and joined with “government leaders and union representatives who had been lobbying the federal government for equal pay and for protection against employment discrimination” (Burkett). Second wave feminists were fighting for “enforcement of laws banning employment discrimination; maternity leave rights; child-care centers; equal and unsegregated education; and equal job-training opportunities for poor women” (Burkett). Women were fighting for what they should have without fighting for it. Women needed a lot of support to make a difference and they slowly gained more backing. This poem represents the need for support and the hope for people to understand this serious issue. An innocent girl being imprisoned by the gender roles that exist should spark a desire for change from anyone. Instead of women becoming more empowered and viewed as equal, their “commitment is the fulfillment of their own femininity” (Fava). Society has trained women to be automatically committed to fulfilling something they may not want to represent. This commitment to fulfill femininity is reflected in Piercy’s poem with the presentation of makeup at such a young age. This requirement to fulfill femininity was placed on the girl in Piercy’s poem as she is told to “play coy,” like a lady does (12). Women during this time were frustrated because “domestic aspects of femininity” were valued above all (Fava). While the girl in the poem may be smart, she was put down because she was not pretty enough and did not have the right body shape; she did not live up to those domestic aspects of femininity. The young girl was told to “exercise, diet smile and wheedle” (14). The way she was was not enough and she needed to change to become better at “domestic aspects”. Piercy’s poem shows exactly what women were fighting to change during the time this poem was published. Without directly discussing these topics, Piercy highlights the serious problems that needed to be addressed at the time. 

Along with women’s rights movement largely being represented in this poem, women’s gender roles are put into the spotlight as we read this poem. Piercy shows us the daily struggles and hardships that girls had to withstand. She highlights the pressures on young girls to be society’s vision of perfect. Piercy describes the first stages of the intense gender roles that exist by being presented with “miniature GE stoves and irons” (3). The first toy this girl is presented is already forcing her into the “perfect girl” that society values. This girl will have to be cooking for her husband at the house, and she better get used to it. The young girl is also presented with “lipsticks the color of cherry candy” (Piercy, 4). This girl is presented with makeup already, telling her she is not good enough and is expected to wear it to fit into the standard of beauty. Even though she has makeup to wear, she is still not good enough. Her body does not fit into the expectations of perfection, as one of her classmates points out that she has a “great big nose and fat legs” (Piercy, 6). Although she is “healthy and tested intelligent,” she is still not perfect because her body is not up to the standards of society (Piercy, 7). Although this girl may have good qualities all “everyone saw [was] a fat nose and thick legs” as she grew up and became more and more self-conscious (Piercy, 11). At the end of the poem, we learn that even when she has died, she is seen the same way. She was “displayed on satin/ with the undertaker’s cosmetics painted on” (Piercy, 21). The girl has died and finally become what is expected of her, after she has “cut off her nose and her legs” (Piercy, 18). She turned into a Barbie doll who could be played with and made into the perfect manikin of what society wanted. Although this poem was written in 1960, the pressures of society still exist today. Through all the references Piercy makes, she is hitting at the gender roles that exist even at the young age of this girl. 

The title of this poem creates a strong contrast, and sadly even stronger connection between this young girl and a Barbie doll. A Barbie is seen as this figure of perfection. Just the opposite, the girl in the poem is constantly being brought down as she is compared to this perfection that society expects. The powerful comparison between a Barbie doll and a young girl exposes the sad truth that it starts at a young age that girls are pressured to be a certain way. The end of this poem is set at the girl’s funeral where she is described as being “in the casket displayed on satin” just like a doll (Piercy, 21). The poem describes the girl’s first toy as dolls. Being exposed to this perfection at a young age creates unrealistic expectations of themselves. Looking up to their favorite toy, a Barbie doll, as being flawless and so unrealistic does not help with understanding imperfection is okay and expected. Women are expected to be Barbie’s, doing what they are told and dealing with the restrictions that they were born with just because of their gender. Women during the second wave of feminism were doing what they could do to get rid of this Barbie doll expectation. 

Not only does Marge Piercy want to bring up the subject of women’s rights during the second wave of feminism, she uses the idea of gender roles and the oppressive nature of those roles for young girls to highlight the importance of this serious subject. “Barbie Doll” shines light on the reality of gender roles and how severe they can be. Barbie’s create a false perception of what young children should expect from themselves. This reality still exists even in today’s society. Barbie’s still exist and they still have their perfect realness. Although women’s rights have come a long way from 1970, negative gender roles still exist in the world. Women are still expected to be the perfect Barbie Doll.  
