By Alyssa Riley
A Showstopper
Hordes of women, both young and old, stampeded movie theaters across the world July 21, head-to-toe clad in various shades of pink and with girlish delight painted across their faces. With exhilaration for witnessing the reincarnation of what many women obsessed over as young girls, “Barbie,” starring Margot Robbie as Stereotypical Barbie, alongside Ryan Gosling as Ken, would not be missed, and not a single theater seat would remain unoccupied. With a legacy dating back to 1959 when the first Barbie doll debuted, and 40 movies released since 2001, the female population has been bouncing on their toes since the movie was announced.
Growing up, not only did I have numerous Barbies, all of which looked exactly alike with perfect bleach-blonde hair, perfect skin and the idolized perfect body, but I also had a Barbie dreamhouse – a tent-like sculpture my parents put together for me, Christmas of 2005. I was obsessed, telling anyone who would listen that Barbie was what I wanted to be when I grew up. Alongside my bag filled to the brim with Polly Pockets, my Barbie dolls went where I went. No exceptions.
What a full-circle moment it was for me when I sat down at 22 years old to watch the highly anticipated and acclaimed film that was bound to be everything five-year-old me would hope for, that the rest of the world was endlessly raving about. Directed and co-written by Greta Gerwig, “Barbie” is an inspiration, thronged with everything pink, pretty and glossy. More importantly, it is a hilariously witty and glamorously accessorized exhibition that calls attention to modern gender stereotypes and misogyny.
Barbie has always been the “perfect girl,” with her perfect house, clothes and, well, life! Very early on in the film, presented is the idea that the perfect girl is every girl. No matter the size, race, age or appearance, the Barbies have it all and do it all. The film also wastes no time in emphasizing that she doesn’t need any man, not even Ken, who would roam the world for her love and approval; the narrator even chimes in at one point, saying, “Barbie has a great day every day, but Ken only has a great day if Barbie looks at him.”
Give Me Femininity or Give Me Death
While there are plenty of similarly witty streams of consciousness, “Barbie” has a much deeper construct. By visualizing Barbie’s life in Barbieland compared to in the “Real World,” the film underscores what women face every day as she experiences it for the first time. Cat-calls and pet names, outdated expectations of women as homemakers and an overall disregard for female equality in the social and professional realms, are just a few of the relevant issues this film highlights.
As it addresses femininity, female empowerment and gender-role stereotyping themes, “Barbie” looks misogyny directly in the face with determination, showcasing female empowerment through ambition, diversity and inclusivity, positive body image, friendship and collaboration, the challenging of stereotypes and resilience and perseverance, just to name a few. And the message lands, quite emotionally, may I add. Let’s dive into how, exactly, this one-of-a-kind film tackles gender stereotypes with feminine grace and girlhood nostalgia.
Female Empowerment Through Ambition
Audiences witness the Barbie characters as the ringleaders of Barbieland, pursuing their dreams and ambitions by entirely comprising the (typically male-based) professions in government, healthcare, law enforcement, construction and every other career, few and far between. This empowerment through aspiration sends a clear message that girls can aspire to be anything they wish, breaking away from traditional gender roles that limit the choices of girls and women. When Margot Robbie’s Barbie makes it to the Real World, the female stereotypes are quickly revealed, underscoring the ever-prevalent gender inequity in the many different forms it takes on.
Diversity and Inclusivity
“Barbie” was not lacking in its diversity and inclusivity, featuring characters from all backgrounds and abilities, of different shapes and sizes and with differentiating personalities. From Stereotypical Barbie and Weird Barbie to President Barbie, no single type of woman was left out of the picture, an aspect that is crucial to the modern female population. Many hold the belief that the perfect woman looks and acts a certain way, when in reality, the perfect woman is every woman, as previously stated.
Positive Body Image
“Barbie” movies and the dolls themselves have previously faced criticism for promoting unrealistic body standards. This rendition takes heed in confronting that perception by promoting positive body image and self-acceptance, teaching young viewers that beauty has no compass; it comes in every form, each of which is beautiful. Toward the end of the film, when the Barbies are formulating a plan to take back Barbieland from the Kens, Margot Robbie’s character is distraught, as she says, “I’m not stereotypical Barbie pretty!” The narrator chimes in once again to say, “Note to the filmmakers: Margot Robbie is the wrong person to cast if you want to make this point.” However, I say that no single woman doesn’t fit into this note, seeing as there is no one standard for beauty.
Friendship and Collaboration
The film emphasizes the value of friendship and teamwork, which encourages young girls to build and maintain strong, supportive relationships with others, breaking the stereotype that women are inherently competitive. This is emphasized when the Barbies officially band together to retake their place in Barbieland. There is no competitiveness or jealousy, only comradery for restoring their home and democracy – and they wear exceptionally stylish hot pink jumpsuits while doing it! Additionally, there is friendship among the Kens too, although that is not currently the focus.
Challenging Stereotypes
“Barbie” challenges traditional gender stereotypes throughout the film. It features contradictions to several typically-held assumptions, like the worries and woes of Ryan Gosling’s character who expresses vulnerability for how Barbie treats him, the Kens engaging in activities commonly associated with femininity or female characters portraying masculine traits, like taking advantage of and not appreciating the Kens, no matter how much they worship and swoon over the Barbies. Altogether, these components reinforce the idea that gender roles are not fixed. No gender can take the reins on personality traits, emotional behavior or favored pastimes. Let the boys dance to the Ken song, or as the New York Times calls it, a dream ballet that is stylish and clean, with steps so sleek it lets bodies sing. And let the girls be sophisticatedly unamused by Ken’s continuous professions of love.
Resilience and Perseverance
Lastly, the Barbie characters face obstacles and setbacks continuously throughout the film – being kidnapped in the “Real World” by her creators at Mattel and Barbie’s supposed, teenage owner hating everything she stands for – putting their resilience and perseverance to the test. These struggles teach young viewers about the importance of standing strong in pursuing goals and dreams, as well as speaking up and acting accordingly when something is morally wrong, no matter how difficult the task may seem.
Since its release, “Barbie” has been praised by numerous awards, including Best Teaser at the Golden Trailer Awards, Most Anticipated Film at the Hollywood Critics Association Midseason Awards and a nomination for Next Big Thing at the Queerties. It can be expected that the film will win many more awards in the future, as critics, film buffs and the average Barbie-loving, middle-aged woman are still pumping out their raves. After all, Rolling Stone Magazine does not call it the “Most Subversive Blockbuster of the 21st Century to Date” without reason.
Through its captivatingly stunning visualization of female empowerment, diversity and inclusivity, positive body image, friendship and collaboration, challenging stereotypes and perseverance, “Barbie” hands over a girlishly unapologetic middle finger to the patriarchy, female gender roles and misogyny. I can say from personal experience – yes, I was full-fledged sobbing after the last scene when creator of Barbie Ruth Handler tells Robbie’s character that humans “only have one ending” – that women everywhere extend a hand of appreciation to “Barbie” and everything it was made to contradict.