Barbie Quote by Margaret Atwood
““He said, I won't have one of those things in the house. It gives a young girl a false notion of beauty, not to mention anatomy. If a real woman was built like that she'd fall on her face. She said, If we don't let her have one like all the other girls she'll feel singled out. It'll become an issue. She'll long for one and she'll long to turn into one. Repression breeds sublimation. You know that. He said, It's not just the pointy plastic tits, it's the wardrobes. The wardrobes and that stupid male doll, what's his name, the one with the underwear glued on. She said, Better to get it over with when she's young. He said, All right but don't let me see it. She came whizzing down the stairs, thrown like a dart. She was stark naked. Her hair had been chopped off, her head was turned back to front, she was missing some toes and she'd been tattooed all over her body with purple ink, in a scrollwork design. She hit the potted azalea, trembled there for a moment like a botched angel, and fell. He said, I guess we're safe.””
About This Quote
Source Novel: “The Handmaid’s Tale” by Margaret Atwood, 1985
Rigid gender norms and objectification harm identity; repression fuels hidden desires and rebellion.
In simple terms: Gender norms damage identity.
Challenge oppressive standards.
Themes
Mood
Type
When to use this quote
- education
- policy reform
- artistic expression
Key Concepts
Questions to Reflect On
- How does society enforce gender norms?
- What alternatives foster authentic identity?
Change requires collective action, not just individual rebellion.