societal views ---> death

Barbie Doll by Marge Piercy is a poem which satirizes society's expectations of women.  It presents a young lady who was "ordinary" before puberty.  Then she became less attractive.  "Everyone saw a fat nose on thick legs (line 11)."  The speaker acts as if people couldn't see the rest of her body.  Her intelligence, strength, healthiness, and other good qualities were ignored.  Only her good qualities mattered.  Society told her to avoid people and to try to become more attractive.   They wanted her to be attractive.  The irony comes when she does exactly that.  She cuts off her arms and legs and dies.  Her new "pretty" body is set in the casket and everyone is happy.  This, of course, is terrible and unrealistic, but the situation makes Piercy's point clear.  Society should not solely value beauty in a woman.  Not all women should be "Barbie Dolls."  Doing so ignores the other beautifulk girls in the world and those who try to conform to society often end up hurt.