“This girlchild was born as usual
and presented dolls that did pee-pee
and miniature GE stoves and irons
and wee lipsticks the color of cherry candy..”
Why do girls HAVE to play with dolls?
Why is it that girls have to play with miniature stoves and irons and wear lipstick?
Why is it only essential to girls?
In this society we live in, we are so fixated with making ourself acceptable in another person's eyes but what about your own?
OH i know why, because puberty hits and it sucks it's the moment in time when your body is finding its true self and developing into what it is suppose to be.
Its what's known as becoming a “ Women”
“Then in the magic of puberty, a classmate said:
You have a great big nose and fat legs…”
Okay, I know what you’re thinking
That's fucked up, a classmate was that blunt to this girl, in front of her face.
Now why is that? Because we allow it. Children reflect their parents/adults that surround them, what they find distasteful and unappealing to them it would sway their child's opinion; and because of that we get a society like this.
“She was healthy, tested intelligent,
possessed strong arms and back,
abundant sexual drive and manual dexterity…”
She had it all, so why was it that the kids were pointing out her appearance rather than point out who she is and her character?
Most of society only cares for what women look like, what they can do in a house but never care for their talents and their potential beyond a kitchen.
Women are so much more better than that.
“She went to and fro apologizing.
Everyone saw a fat nose on thick legs.”
But WHY is she apologizing?
Why is she apologizing for having a fat nose and thick legs?
These kids make her feel like such an inconvenience, but she’s not. She's human and she has imperfections just like everyone else..
WAIT.. it gets better.
So these kids decide that telling her, her body is not up to par with what it should be, this girl is now told how she should act
“She was advised to play coy,
exhorted to come on hearty,
exercise, diet, smile and wheedle.
Her good nature wore out
like a fan belt.
So she cut off her nose and her legs
and offered them up”
She took all she had and got rid of it all to become someone is she not. She started becoming shy, exercised to fit a standard that her body was not at. Smile even if she did not have a reason too, she forced it because that was what she was “suppose” to do…
But she gave up, she was tired of fitting into this world they wanted her to live in so what better than to just cut off what people hate most about you and act as if it was never there.
Wouldn’t that get them to stop talking?
Stop judging?
Move on with their lives?
Doesn't that alone send a message on its own?
Now I bet you're asking yourself what more can happen to this poor girl..
Ha.. just keep reading…
“In the casket displayed on satin she lay
with the undertaker's cosmetics painted on,
a turned-up putty nose,
dressed in a pink and white nightie.
Doesn't she look pretty? everyone said.
Consummation at last.
To every woman a happy ending”
By now she’s gone, I mean come on who can handle all that?
Some may even say
“ Well she should have spoke up for herself”
“ She just gave up, who does that?”
“She was weak”
“She was completely over dramatic to have done that”
But come on, suicide is the third leading cause of death in this country and we want to downplay it and make it seem as if its a easy way out?
Fine if you don't believe me read for yourself :
Okay, tell me one thing, if it's so “easy” why haven’t you done it?
Yes, I know pretty harsh but listen
I know why you haven't, it may because you had no reason too or because you realized you have so much to live for.
YOU have so much potential and so did she but NO ONE spoke up for her.
Everyone belittled her and dehumanized her.
They sexualized her and took away her dignity and because of that, because of the people she dealt with, her decided to stop it all for good.
Do not put a standard on someone because they do not reach your ideal.
So speak up. If you see someone going through something, know someone being bullied, DO SOMETHING.
Do not dehumanize one another anymore, be above it all. Be a part of a difference.
Work Sited :
Marge Piercy, Circles
on the Water. Alfred A. Knopf, Inc. 1982
Word Count: 833
Alyssa S
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