Analyzing The Poem 'Barbie Girl'
The "Barbie Girl' poem portrays a girl who becomes the victim of the society's stereotypes about ideal "turned-up putty noses and thin legs". The poem shows the detrimental effects and difficulties that a normal girlchild has to go through in order to become perfect in society's eyes and minds, even though that brings her to death. Moreover, the author accentuates the idea of beauty's power over intelligence "In the casket displayed on satin she lay/......../Doesn't she look pretty? everyone said.", highlighting the women's race to unattainable body standards that kill their individuality, natural beauty and in the end, cost them life.
As the heroine of the poem, Valeria is also a victim of a poisoned stereotyped education that dictates women
to be less smart and more pretty. Being never satisfied with herself, she tries to gain self-esteem and please everyone else by turning her body into a real copy of a Barbie doll. Her unreal eyes, unwrinkled skin and perfect shape of the body scare rather than attract. Valeria is a living example of a hazardous movement that started in the 70's in America- same time when the poem was written and spread around the world replacing real, intelligent and successful idols with an inanimate Barbie doll.
As the heroine of the poem, Valeria is also a victim of a poisoned stereotyped education that dictates women
to be less smart and more pretty. Being never satisfied with herself, she tries to gain self-esteem and please everyone else by turning her body into a real copy of a Barbie doll. Her unreal eyes, unwrinkled skin and perfect shape of the body scare rather than attract. Valeria is a living example of a hazardous movement that started in the 70's in America- same time when the poem was written and spread around the world replacing real, intelligent and successful idols with an inanimate Barbie doll.