Marge Piercy comments on societal norms and the gender clichés in which women are categorized by the generic males' ideals of perfection in her poem, "Barbie Doll" through the usage of several poetic devices. The poem is broken up into four different stanzas which of characterize the "girlfriend" as different stages in her life. The poem then progresses to show how society foments on her at each stage of life and how the "girlfriend" reacts to the comments which in turn change the "girlfriend." Through the usage of free verses Piercy can portray her view on the societal influence in the gender hierarchy and how it impacts females.

Furthermore, the title of the poem, "Barbie Doll" alludes to how society personifies a mere plastic doll and sets norms in reference to it. Primarily the first stanza characterizes the "girlfriend", at her early stages in her life using...