POEM | social-criticism

Barbie Doll

This girlchild was born as usual

and presented dolls that did pee-pee

and miniature GE stoves and irons

and wee lipsticks the color of

cherry candy.

Then in the magic of puberty,

a classmate said:

You have a great big nose and fat legs.

She was healthy, tested intelligent,

possessed strong arms and back,

abundant sexual drive and manual

dexterity.

She went to and fro apologizing.

Everyone saw a fat nose on thick legs.

She was advised to play coy,

exhorted to come on hearty,

exercise, diet, smile and wheedle.

Her good nature wore out

like a fan belt.

So she cut off her nose and her legs

and offered them up.

In the casket displayed on satin she lay with the undertaker's cosmetics painted on, a turned-up putty nose,dressed in a pink and white nightie.

Doesn't she look pretty? everyone said. Consummation at last.

To every woman a happy ending.

Marge Piercy

" "Barbie Doll"-Satirical Criticism

In Marge Piercy's poem "Barbie Doll" she targets the satirical aspect of the poem which is towards the society, not the girl. The poems purpose indicates the way girls are viewed when they go through puberty.

“Barbie Doll” is a satirical poem that indicates the absurdity of the expectations in society today. The poem alerts readers to see the negative effects of our society's obsession with perfection. It makes people rethink their view towards perfection and self-confidence.

There’s an irony in the poem that implies “the magic of puberty" which is ironic because magic is usually a good thing, yet in the poem it states to be "a fat nose on thick legs," (Piercy, 835).

The title “Barbie Doll” indicates girls who want to resemble a Barbie. Piercy depicts that girls want a smaller figures. Piercy also illustrates the type of body society thinks every girl should have and what some girls will do to get that body.

Piercy starts to mock those who get plastic surgery due to their imperfections and the way they are treated by society. She scolds society in a ridiculing verse that indicates her views towards humanity.

Meghan Trainor - "All About That Bass"

Meghan Trainor’s “All About That Bass” is open to interpretation.

The song itself is supposed to indicate a “body-positive” message for teenage girls who are put under a ton of pressure in society nowadays to look a certain way. The "bass" she's all about is a reference to curves."Yeah, my mama she told me don't worry about your size," the song goes.

In other words, she describes that big is beautiful.

It criticizes media and magazines that portray how beauty is supposed to look in the eyes of the audience. She says, “I see the magazines working that photoshop, we know that sh*t ain't real, come on now, make it stop”, indicating that magazines don’t show the natural beauty of one, but rather create a “perfect” image that doesn’t really exist.

Trainor also indicates “You know I won't be no stick-figure, silicone Barbie doll” implying that she won’t undergo the ways and means society brainwashes them to be.

The song focuses on the unfair standards of body shape that is looked into today’s society. Trainor brings attention to the controversial topic through her upbeat song. However, she portrays being big as being beautiful and that “every inch of you is perfect from the bottom to the top”.

Meghan Trainor wants those listening to her song, to feel empowered by the way they look and to feel happy in their own skin, rather than trying to look as though they are someone else.