Barbie Doll Satire

Distraction, lack of education, disinterest and misinterpretation; every one of these words describe a reason people give for being uniformed and unaware of the current events swirling around them. In an effort to try and remedy the lack of awareness about the problems plaguing the country, many artists and entertainers use satire, a literary device which merges a critical attitude with humor and wit to the end that human organizations or humanity may be improved (Harris), to keep the general public, somewhat, informed. Often times, movies, comic strips, music, literature and television shows are used to satirize current events, political views and different morals. There are four common techniques used to create satire; exaggeration, incongruity,

In the beginning, the “girlchild” being discussed is described as “healthy, tested intelligent,/ possessed strong arms and back,/ abundant sexual drive and manual dexterity.” (lines 7-9) Yet throughout the poem, all that is pointed out is her fat nose and thick legs. As the poem progresses, she is told how to improve her flaws, through diet, exercise and acting dumb. By the end the girl commits suicide after exhausting her efforts to conform to society. The final lines show the people attending her funeral discussing how pretty she looks, emphasizing the idea that she finally achieved her “happy ending”. The poem as a whole demonstrates a type of satire called Juvenalian satire, which is a formal version in which the speaker (or writer) attacks the vices and error of society with contempt and indignation. Through Ms. Piercy’s use of description and words choice that implies contempt and sarcasm, the reader is able to identify how society’s standards for women’s looks greatly overshadow other talents and abilities they may have. It is demonstrated that if one is not skinny, and petite with perfect hair and a “turned up...nose” (line 21) then other traits such as intelligence, kindness, and strength are not worth