It revels in the themes of body love and self-acceptance bumping up against society's unrealistic expectations for women, highlighting how the normative societal patriarchy can negatively impact both women and men.
There is a growing body of research that suggests that Barbie dolls can have negative effects on girls' self-esteem. These effects include: Lower body image: Barbie has an unrealistic body shape, with a disproportionately large chest, tiny waist, and long legs.
In August, ResumeBuilder.com surveyed three hundred Americans who saw the film, and asked how it impacted their opinions on gender roles in the workplace. 63% said that they were more aware of patriarchy in the workplace and 53% said that the movie improved their view of women in the workplace.
When children create imaginary worlds and role play with dolls like Barbie, it prompts them to talk about thoughts about others' emotions and feelings. This can have positive long-lasting effects on children, building social and emotional processing social skills like empathy.
Barbie Wasn’t Good (And it Wasn’t Because of Feminism) | Review Quickie
What is the purpose of Barbie movie?
Opting to acknowledge the controversial nature of the Barbie doll, Gerwig chose to create a film where she would be both "doing the thing and subverting the thing", in the sense that she would be celebrating the feminism behind Barbie while also noting the controversial beauty standards associated with it.
As Barbie said, “You have to try – even if you can't make it perfect you can make it better.” So, what does this mean for you? All leadership really begins with an understanding of oneself. It's impossible to understand and motivate others if you don't understand yourself and what motivates you.
“Barbie” is especially powerful when it comes to themes of feminism and the struggles we face in society. As the climax of the film concludes and the Barbies take back their homes and dream houses, Barbie is left to question her own existence, as she holds no certain ending.
What does the Barbie movie say about gender roles?
The film premiered in theaters July 21, conveying a message to viewers about the significance of women taking action to defy gender roles and societal expectations in order to advocate for their rights.
It teaches children and adults that they should be proud of who they are and that their uniqueness is their strength. Weird barbie, played by Kate McKinnon. She embraces individuality and being yourself throughout the film. The Barbie movie also challenges traditional gender stereotypes.
Detractors argue that the movie is "anti-male" and deemed propagandist due to its exploration of a society where Barbieland is governed entirely by women, while the Kens are relegated to mere objects devoid of inherent value.
Since the brand's inception, Barbie has helped girls explore their limitless potential through different roles and narratives – from encouraging self-expression through dress-up to playing out any of her 250+ careers.
It has been suggested that Barbie has become the very embodiment of the debate about what woman represent, what jobs they might do, how wealthy they should be, whether they should be married, how they should spend their free time and, of course, their appearance. This is seemingly a heavy burden for one doll to bear.
The “Barbie” movie, which at the time was the biggest blockbuster and has since earned over $1.4 billion globally following its midsummer release in July 2023. The Barbie of days past was known to promote body dysmorphia, imprinting on little girls an unrealistic body ideal that might plague them forever.
Half of viewers say the movie improved their opinion of women in the workplace. The majority of people who watched the movie say they either loved or liked it. Overall, 62% of women loved Barbie and 31% liked it, while 50% of men say they loved the movie, and 43% liked it.
Finding one's true identity involves periods of exploration and doubt. The Barbie movie illustrates multiple theories of identity development rooted in psychological research.
Barbie explores the gendered social phenomenon of women being expected to give up childhood joys and sacrifice for others. The film shows that women don't have to surrender their imagination and can find empowerment and joy in childhood toys.
The “Barbie” movie showed the world what people expect from women: pink, shoes, smiles and perfection. It also dug deeper and portrayed what men really want: someone subservient and doting that they can use as they please. But what do women want? The film answered that as well.
There's no denying that Barbie only scratches the surface when it comes to its exploration of feminism. The film pretty much only deals with gender (unfortunately, Gerwig might never beat those white feminist allegations) and in a pastiche way at that.
This film recognises Barbie's problematic past, humorising it, acknowledging it and rebranding it for a modern audience. Director Greta Gerwig understands the nuances of how gender stereotypes are portrayed in both the “real world” and “Barbie Land” in a way that can only make us laugh at its ridiculousness.
Overcoming insecurities. In a world where body shaming and insecurities run rampant, the Barbie movie offers insights into overcoming such challenges. The movie depicts various characters who have to navigate their own insecurities and how they come up stronger in the end.
The film delivers a raw analysis of the female experience, helping women everywhere to feel seen in their daily struggle to simply exist. Through the film, Gerwig tells us that we are all Barbie, pushing women to see themselves as the powerful and independent beings we truly are.
Ultimately, the movie has lessons for Barbies and Kens. Barbie realizes that it's no longer fulfilling to her to just be an “idea” of a woman. Her path to joy lies in becoming human and accepting all of the complexities, heartache and imperfections that go along with that.
It also addresses how patriarchy is harmful for men, too, disabling them from getting to know themselves. It was important for Ken to be heard and not be taken for granted by Barbie. Ken needed to find his own place without trumping on Barbie's, nor living a life based on patriarchy and imposed roles (“Kenough”).
Despite the treacherous journey we have as not just humans but as women in a world that has taken away our autonomy, which forces us into a box and shackles us with expectations and twisty-ties, Barbie realizes that this plight we call humanity is still worth it.
