In a society where the media reigns supreme, appearance matters everything. Images of models and celebrities promoting the latest fashions and products constantly bombard consumers with promises that if they buy these products, they too will achieve the same level of glamour. We can't help but envy the gorgeous women we see in magazines with their perfect smiles and airbrushed breasts and thighs, especially when expectations for physical perfection have become so high that they're almost impossible to achieve. Marge Piercy's poem "Barbie Doll" describes how this standard of perfection affects young girls and can persist throughout their lives, causing irreparable damage. Even though this poem was written in 1973, its meaning is more prevalent today than ever. The use of cosmetic surgery has continued to increase over the years and will continue to do so as long as people nitpick about their body flaws. Although cosmetic surgery is important and generally effective, women should refrain from undergoing unnecessary surgery because not only can it be addictive, but it also poses serious risks to their physical and psychological health. Since childhood, we are told that it is not what happens on the outside, but what matters on the inside? on the other hand, as we got older we were told to make the most of what we had because first impressions count. These mixed messages cause us to struggle with our appearance and what is important and what is not; subsequently letting people validate themselves with what they look like on the outside. People are often judged upon their first appearance. If we feel good, our confidence increases and our initial judgment improves. Primarily, with the economic problems we face today, millions of Americans...... middle of paper ...... self-loathing, disappointment and even suicide | Online mail. " Home | Mail online. January 25, 2011. Web. February 8, 2011. .Piercy, Marge. “Barbie Doll.” Literature and the writing process. Ed. Elizabeth McMahan et al. 9th ed. Upper Saddle River: Pearson, 2010. Print. “Porn Star Dies After Heart Attack During Breast Enlargement” January 21, 2011. .Pruitt, Elana. “Cosmetic Surgery Addiction.” Plasticsurgery.com 2009. Web. February 9, 2011. "Women in the Workforce Link Cosmetic Surgery to Success." American Society of Plastic Surgeons: The Resource for Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery. February 10, 2009. Web. February 9. 2011.