The comedy-fantasy movie “Barbie”, directed by award-winning director Greta Gerwig, was an immediate hit. This movie’s phenomenal global success can be easily represented by the $1.5 billion it made at the box office. From breaking stereotypes, identifying friendship and collaboration, addressing career ambitions, highlighting body positivity, and supporting the empowerment embedded within self-discovery, “Barbie” left the world in a pink and sparkly feminist trance.
One of the most compelling aspects of “Barbie” movies is their ability to break down stereotypical gender roles. Historically, “Barbie” has been criticized for perpetuating unrealistic beauty standards, but in her cinematic endeavors, she emerges as a multifaceted character. Yael Seidel, a 12th grader at Viewpoint says, “I thought they gave an excellent example showing if everything were to be run by women, and then showing the opposite example for if men were to run everything.” She further explains this stating; “The movie addressed sexism very blatantly, which I think is why it resonated with such a large audience.” These films showcase her as a strong and independent woman who embarks on adventures, faces challenges, and solves problems. The “Barbie” movie universe presents young viewers with role models who are not just concerned with appearance but are also intelligent, resourceful, and brave.
The “Barbie” movie was also able to emphasize the importance of friendship and collaboration. These themes are essential to feminism, as they encourage girls to form meaningful connections with others and work together to overcome obstacles. The main characters demonstrate the power of unity and cooperation. Gracie Wilkins, another Viewpoint says, “I think it really represented collaboration when the lady gave the long speech on behalf of the Barbies– when all of the girl Barbies got together to re-work and reform BarbieLand.” These narratives teach girls that they can achieve great things when they support each other, emphasizing that women can be strong allies rather than competitors. This is also a possible reason as to why such young audiences were able to appreciate this film.
Different career ambitions are depicted in the movie as well. Casting diverse characters with diverse career paths and ambitions is extremely prevalent in the “Barbie” movie. Whether it’s becoming a doctor, a princess, a pilot, or a mermaid, the “Barbie” film universe showcases the potential for women to achieve their dreams. “Personally, I became more inspired by the feminist movement after watching the movie because I saw the societal norms that were weighing the Barbies down and how each Barbie can pursue what they wanna pursue.” Says Jasper Crenshaw, a Viewpoint senior. These movies send a clear message to young girls that they can aspire to any profession they desire. This emphasis on career ambitions not only encourages girls to think big but also challenges the notion that a woman’s worth is solely based on her looks.
In “Barbie,” there was a noticeable shift towards promoting body positivity. This inclusion shows young girls that beauty comes in all shapes and sizes, encouraging self-acceptance and challenging the idea that one must conform to a specific body image to be considered attractive. “I think that ‘Barbie’ made the motions of a feminist-body-positive-film, but was not the feminist-radical-masterpiece that people claim it to be.” Says an anonymous 10th grader. They continue on to address the film’s focus on Feminism being merely surface level; “I think that the point of it was definitely feminism, but it wasn’t necessarily a huge contribution to the feminist conversations we should be having.” This point can be seen when taking a closer look at the intentions of this movie. If it were to be a giant Metal advertisement– it would be successful, however, if it were to be a greatly influential aspect of the feminist movement, it’s not as successful in accomplishing that goal.
Empowerment and self-discovery are central themes in the “Barbie” movie. The characters often face adversity and emerge from their experiences as stronger and more self-assured individuals. “These narratives demonstrate that challenges can be opportunities for growth and that girls have the capacity to overcome obstacles through determination and resilience. This message is empowering for young viewers and helps them understand that they have the potential to shape their own destinies. An 11th grader at Viewpoint stated; “I think it provided a very basic understanding of self-discovery– FOR MEN, genuinely, it was the most basic form of understanding feminism.” So, while this film was successful in addressing the larger issues involving sexism, it wasn’t as great as many critics claim it to be.
So, as we look back on the explosion of feminism (or more so Barbie marketing), it’s important to think about the knowledge we have already acquired, versus the new information we have gained from this movie. Although “Barbie” was a positive and encouraging step forward in much of the sexist world we live in, its influence in society wasn’t necessarily astounding.
