Piercy states that every woman feels ?consummation at last,? to show that everyone feels fulfillment and perfection about the girl's appearance. By saying ?everyone,? Piercy symbolizes the pressure the girl feels from all of the people while having to be pretty on her deathbed. Piercy states, ?everyone? is pointing out that the girl looks pretty to show that every person in society is still critiquing her. Therefore, the girl is still attempting to look pretty to please society. Being pretty is a symbol of how society wants the girl to look. Even though the girl is dead, society is still judging her by pointing out how she looks. Symbolism is used to show that women are ultimately supposed to gain the approval of others. Society is looking for a certain type of person that only has certain features, and possessing ?strong arms and back? is not what is socially accepted.read more. The girl is also described as having ?strong arms and back.? Ordinarily, being strong would be socially acceptable, but being strong is a symbol of masculinity.

Health and intelligence act as symbols for the perfect girl, minus looks. They are two extremely important factors of life, but they are not what society is looking for in the girl. Being healthy and intelligent are both characteristics that people can?t see. The girl is described as healthy, intelligent, and strong, but those features are not acceptable enough for society. Symbolism is used to express a need for women to have a certain look and fit a certain mold. Everyone saw a fat nose on thick legs? (7-11). Mid way through the poem Piercy states, ?She was healthy, tested intelligent, possessed strong arms and back, abundant sexual drive and manual dexterity. Stoves and irons are items women use to cook and do chores with.read more. Next, Piercy introduces ?miniature GE stoves and irons? to the girl. By saying ?girlchild,? Piercy is emphasizing femininity from the beginning of the poem.

This is done primarily to begin the poem in a feminine way.

The word ?girlchild? is used to amplify the importance of the child being a girl. Symbolism is used to represent the importance of remaining feminine. At the beginning of the poem Piercy states, ?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? (1-4). The beginning of the poem describes how a normal girl is pressured, even as a child, to fit into society's stereotype. Through symbolism, Piercy conveys how women change their outward appearance to match the standards of society. ?Barbie Doll,' a poem by Marge Piercy, focuses in on the transition of a young girl into society's stereotypical woman.

Margie piercy barbie doll