The phrase "Beauty is only skin deep" doesn't seem to apply in this age of idealism and perfectionism. From the time they are born until adulthood, children are raised to conform to specific social roles. Specifically, little girls are expected to grow up into perfect feminine beauties created to bear children and take care of their homes and husbands. “Barbie-Q” by Sandra Cisnero and “Barbie Doll” by Marge Piercy portray the female body and gender roles through the standards imposed by society which is that of impeccable physical beauty; just like Barbie doll; the perfect figure, hair, nails and face and ready to adhere to the expected roles of having children, caring for the husband and doing household chores. In the course of their work, in addition to criticizing "the way women are socialized into stereotypical feminine behavior" (Overview: 'Barbie Doll'), both Cisnero and Piercy argue that escape from these ideals is not possible and that it is very destructive. Piercy and Cisneros cleverly use the title of their respective works to draw attention to the underlying criticism. Speaking of Barbie, what comes to mind is girls' all-time favorite toy doll, produced by the American company Mattel Inc, who "is white, physically attractive, not poor, heterosexual, popular, fashionable and forever young " (Romo 127). . But it is not just a toy, it is also a symbol of ideal female beauty and the associated role in society. By using the Barbie doll as the title of her story, Piercy brings her readers' attention to "this cultural icon of femininity that carries with it complex associations of ideal beauty and desirability" (Wart). Furthermore, "the apt title given to the poem indicates the central and dominant center... of the center of the paper... who alters one's identity to please society and become what one is not. Works Cited Cisneros, Sandra "Barbie-Q ". 9. Detroit: Gale Group (2000): Literary Resource Center. February 28, 2014. Piercy, Marge. “Portable Legacies.” . Print.Romo, Leticia I. Sandra Cisneros's “Barbie-Q”: A Subversive Popular Text or Hegemonic? Studies in Latin American Popular Culture 24 (2005): 127-137 Comprehensive Academic Web. 2014. Wart, Alice Van. "Overview of 'Barbie Doll'." Ed. Ira Mark Milne. Literature Resource Center. 2014.