Poets often use their works to shed light on the world’s complexities, using poetry’s remarkable capacity to throw a subtly oblique spotlight on realities that may otherwise stay concealed. Poets serve as guides for readers in navigating the intricacies of life via their poetry. “Phenomenal Woman” by Maya Angelou and “Barbie Doll” by Marge Piercy explore the feminine experience in society and expose the restrictions placed on women. These literary works explore the many roles that women play and the assumptions that others make about them. Women are shown as seeking outside approval in Marge Piercy’s “Barbie Doll,” often comparing their appearance to societal standards. In contrast, Maya Angelou’s “Phenomenal Woman” promotes a self-determined path and urges women to accept their uniqueness without disrespecting outside judgment. According to Angelou, it is unfair to adhere to society’s ideals of beauty, and she emphasizes the significance of self-empowerment (Angelou 322). A common topic across both poems is the desire shared by both authors to free women from the risky pursuit of societal standards. Exploring the effects of following social expectations is a common theme in these literary works. By emphasizing the possible loss of individuality and perhaps life, “Barbie Doll” depicts the sad result of such conformity. This common thematic thread highlights the dangers of adhering to established norms. By shedding light on the female experience in their unique ways, Angelou and Piercy want to empower women while highlighting the risks of following social norms.
The famous poem “Phenomenal Woman” by Maya Angelou serves as a rallying cry against the expectations placed on women by society in order to be considered beautiful or acceptable. She fiercely refutes this idea, arguing that women should be liberated from these restrictions and encouraged to accept their true selves. The poem by Maya Angelou is a powerful indictment of the prevailing gender conventions that have sustained women’s exploitation for many years. Angelou repeatedly states, “I walk into a room just as cool as you please, and to a man, the fellows stand or fall to their knees” (Angelou 322). This statement makes it obvious where she stands. Each verse ends with this refrain, emphasizing society’s pressure on women to uphold predefined standards. The poet promotes self-assurance and independence in women by exhorting them to break out of this oppressive cycle. The poem emphasizes the widespread problem of women believing they are inferior to males due to these unattainable ideals. According to Angelou, this problem has afflicted society for far too long, destroying women’s self-esteem and driving them to extreme measures, including self-harm. She believes women must abandon this negative perspective and courageously embrace their uniqueness. In her vision of the future, women will be shamelessly true to themselves, recover their autonomy, and reject the need for external validation. She promotes the notion that women should surpass traditional limitations and proudly stand beside men, demanding the respect they are due. Through her poem, Angelou stokes the bravery fire by exhorting women to break free from social constraints and stand up for their right to live authentically. Maya Angelou’s “Phenomenal Woman” is a call to arms against enduring cultural forces that have restricted women’s ability to express themselves and feel valuable. Her comments encourage women to break free from these limitations, celebrate their individuality, and go ahead with unshakeable confidence. Through her impassioned poetry, Angelou aspires to inspire women to shatter the constraints of cultural norms and shine as the extraordinary people they are.
In addition, the moving words of Maya Angelou capture a fundamental truth: Her self-assurance exudes a magnetic charm that enchants even men, who are attracted to the unfathomable depths inside her. She ruminates, “Men themselves have wondered what they see in me,” conceding their hopeless efforts to understand her inner riddles. She walks with her head held high, unaffected by social mores, stubbornly keeping her standards as opposed to following conventional expectations. Her rebellion opposes the conventionally accepted formulaic ideas of femininity and exhorts women to realize their true selves without reservation. Maya Angelou advocates for women’s empowerment, in contrast to the social restraints shown in the poem “Barbie Doll,” where women give in to outside pressures and lose their pleasure to satisfy social expectations. Her comments serve as a rallying cry for women to boost their self-confidence and inspire them to pursue their goals bravely. She admits her lack of traditional attractiveness while feistily addressing body image issues. She emphasizes the innate subjectivity of femininity, rejecting the idea of spending one’s life as a prisoner to other people’s judgments.
Even if women’s roles have changed, as seen by their rise to prominence in fields like law, medicine, and engineering, the pervasive impact of looks still exists. Women continue to be judged and scrutinized superficially despite breaking glass barriers. This double standard was seen in the past in how Hillary Clinton was treated throughout her presidential campaign, as her beauty became the focus of criticism. Because of these cultural expectations, women spend a lot of time and money trying to maintain an appearance of youth and beauty. Women are now faced with a problematic paradox in society. Although they have overcome limits imposed by tradition, they struggle with constantly pursuing an idealized image. Self-improvement, which aims to correct perceived shortcomings, has replaced self-acceptance, a foundational aspect of identity. Simple self-love in its naked genuineness is becoming less common. Instead, women are now unintentionally involved in self-transformational enterprises that alternate between creation and destruction. The story by Maya Angelou aims to make up for this contradiction. Her poetry is an anthem for women to regain their self-worth by proudly embracing their individuality. She challenges women to break free from the constraints of cultural norms by promoting their aspirations and living out their truth via her words. In a culture where change is often celebrated, she advocates perspective shifts and exhorts women to recognize their intrinsic worth beyond outward looks.
“Barbie Doll,” a moving poem by Marge Piercy, is a sharp critique of cultural pressures and the adverse effects of conformity. The protagonist, a young lady, is exposed to criticism from others, damaging her perception of herself. Her sense of herself is shaped by these critical voices, which are best typified by a classmate’s comment about her “great big nose and fat legs” (Piercy 323). Despite her successes, excellent grades, good health, and intense sexuality, she obsesses about unsubstantiated complaints. She starts a never-ending search for acceptance and devotes her whole life to upholding beauty standards set by others. This heartbreaking search tragically comes to an untimely end when she resorts to self-mutilation, which finally results in her death. Surprisingly, she only received the accolades she passionately wanted throughout her life after passing.
The poem has a significant and widespread topic that represents the hardships many women encounter inside societal structures. Societies often impose strict roles and behavioral expectations on women, putting enormous pressure on them to conform. Women sometimes internalize these expectations, which keeps them stuck in a cycle of seeking approval. The protagonist’s sad story highlights the general truth that societal expectations often take precedence over personal preferences, trapping women into a constricting mold that lacks personal autonomy. She risks her health in a mistaken effort to meet the standards of beauty set by society, which is shown by her dramatic choice to change how she looks. Thus, this heightens the tragedy. In a critical sense, the poem exhorts readers to understand the effects of prioritizing other people’s views above their authenticity. The protagonist’s death highlights the tragic consequences of giving in to society’s demands rather than embracing one’s genuine self. She obtains the acceptance she sought after her death, which is a heartbreaking irony, but it is just a hollow consolation in the aftermath of her awful demise. This literary work acts as a mirror, reflecting the troubling social standards and the desperate situation that women are in. Their attempts to fit in often overshadow the quest for true pleasure and satisfaction, continuing a cycle that strips people of their independence. In essence, “Barbie Doll” is a biting indictment of social conventions that force women to put other people’s expectations above their own needs and wants. The arduous journey of the protagonist serves as a sobering reminder of the cost incurred when people are pressured into adhering to arbitrary norms rather than accepting their genuine selves. Piercy exposes the sad results of living a life defined by others via piercing lyrical imagery and implores society to reconsider the implications of continuing such a destructive cycle.
In conclusion, the words poets wrote three decades ago are a tribute to their age since they still capture the spirit of the present period. The prevalent mindset in our culture is reflected in this perspective. Regrettably, modern women continue to seek validation via cosmetic surgery, want to look like models, and do so instead of accepting their true selves. Today’s women continue to be seduced by the need to dazzle and enthrall spectators, often resorting to activities that negatively influence their well-being and sometimes result in disastrous results because of cultural expectations. Maya Angelou, on the other hand, encourages women’s honesty. She maintains that everyone has innate value, including those who doubt their attractiveness. Resilient women are needed in society; everyone would naturally admire them for their strength, not just males.
Works Cited
Angelou, Maya. Phenomenal woman: Four poems celebrating women. Random House Incorporated, 1994.
Clatterbaugh, Ken. Contemporary perspectives on masculinity: Men, women, and politics in modern society. Routledge, 2018.
Giuliano, Paola. “The role of women in society: from preindustrial to modern times.” CESifo Economic Studies 61.1 (2015): 33-52.
Piercy, Marge. Barbie doll. Red Mountain Tribe, Incorporated, 1971
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