Feminism in the United States started in the year 1848 in what is now historically referred to as the first wave of feminism. Feminism started by women as a way of growing equal rights in America which at the beginning was focused on the premise of being able to vote. (Source 1) After successfully gaining the right to vote woman began to expand the meaning of feminism, in what is referred to as second wave feminism. In second wave feminism women started fighting for the same opportunities as men in the workplace and with education while also trying to get rid of impossible body expectations. In Marge Piercy’s poem “Barbie Doll” she tells the story of the negative impacts of societies unrealistic expectations for women’s body images in an effort to help promote feminism. (Source 3) By looking at feminism and its impact in both a historical light and in modern times it adds a deeper and more significant meaning to Piercy’s poem. 

Feminism grew as a direct impact of World War II. During World War II men were drafted off to fight and because of this woman began to take on more responsibility in the workforce. (Source 1) This growing responsibility led woman to realize that they had been suffering oppression and where not treated as equals even though they should have been. This form of ideology started feminism in which women fought to be treated as equals. Eventually after fighting for more equality the 19th amendment was successfully ratified into the constitution. The 19th amendment ratified in 1920 states that “[The right to vote] shall not be denied or abridged by the united states or by any state on account of sex.” The passing of the 19th amendment showed that feminism was an effective mobilizing effort to get equal rights for women. The gaining of the right to vote marked a significant impact of the first wave of feminism and eventually led to the birth of a second wave feminism. 

The second wave of feminism officially is credited as starting in the 1960’s in which women fought for equal opportunities in the workforce. Second wave feminism fought against the stereotypes that women should be housewives and don’t belong in the workforce. (Source 2) This stereotype was a burden on women as they were demonized by men and where constricted to a small window. Women in the workforce during the start of the second wave of feminism where restricted to just a handful of jobs which included, teaching, nursing, and being a secretary. Women during this time fought to be able to get jobs in fields that where not at the time available to women while also fighting to get equal pay as men in the workplace. Second wave feminism also fought to get rid of societal constructs that objectified women to having to look and act a certain way. (Source 2) This objectification of women to societal norms of the time is the main element Piercy is describing in her poem. 

In Piercy’s poem “Barbie Doll” she describes the negative impact of societal requirements to be beautiful. The girl in the poem is described as being “healthy” and “intelligent” while also possessing “manual dexterity”. (Source 3) This description of the girl shows that she is a capable and strong human being who can make a great impact on society. Despite these great positives when looked at the girl is instead she is told that she has “a great big nose and fat legs.” (Source 3) The girl in poem despite all her positives is constantly reminded of her “big nose” and “fat legs” and how that’s not what a girl should look. Ultimately in the poem the girl cuts off her nose and legs and has cosmetics placed on her making her nose look more acceptable and what the societal image of a women is. (Source 3) The idea that a woman needs to look a certain way in order to be accepted by society is absurd but unfortunately occurs. The last thing mentioned about the girl with her new looks is “Doesn’t she look pretty?”  again, asserting that the only thing that matters is how she looks.

The girl in this poem experiences the difficulties that women during that time and even today experience. The girl in this poem is disregarded as a human being and instead seen as a chunk of meat that’s worth only exists from their beauty. Her personality, her ability to work, and her worth are not even considered by the people but instead only her “big nose” and “fat legs” are. Piercy purposefully wrote her poem exposing the shallowness that society had towards women and how that a woman’s worth is much more than just her looks. Piercy’s goal with this poem was to help expose the discrimination that woman suffer and how they should be treated as equals, and have the same opportunities today. 

Piercy’s title of the poem and first paragraph also exposes another issue that exist in society that negatively impacts women. The title “Barbie Doll” plays on two levels when considering second wave feminism. Barbie doll toys are played with by little girls as they are growing up but they also offer a learned characteristic obtained to young girls. Little girls who play with Barbie dolls are exposed to the societal image of what an “ideal” woman should look like. This implants a societal expectation into woman that they need to look like a version of this doll in order to be pretty, even if in reality the proportions of the doll are near impossible to reach. In paragraph one the toys the girl is mentioned to be playing with “GE stoves” and “Irons” along with “dolls”. (Source 3) Children when they are young are very impressionable and take what they see and keep it with them referring back to it as they grow up. By giving little girls toys like an oven and irons it is preparing these girls to become housewives. By doing this it installs the idea to the young girls that they should stay in the house and focus on cooking and ironing instead of going out into the workforce and getting a job outside of the house. 

Piercy in her poem tries to expose to the reader that these societal prejudices towards women exist and that they are being told that they need to act a certain way, look a certain way, and should be housewives. Piercy’s work during the times of second wave feminism helped women be able to expand their roles into the workplace while also trying to dispose of the social standards that are instilled during early development in children.

Ultimately, feminism today does not have to deal with as many problems as they did in the past, they still are trying to overcome societal discrimination that exists. Feminist like Piercy during the second wave left a lasting impact on society for the better. Feminism has done a lot to ensure equal rights and opportunities for women. The addition to women to the workforce adds more diversity and with that new ideas which can add to innovation and an overall improvement of life. These improvements that have come from the addition of woman into the workplace would never have happened if feminism would never have happened.
