I really appreciate your take on the film. It was so fun, if not pretty messy, and I'm excited to see it again too. Regarding the matriarchal gender imbalance that they choose to maintain at the end, I saw that as a conscious choice on Gerwig's part. When the Kens ask if they can be on the Supreme Court, the president says something like "when women have equal representation in the real world, then men can have it here". I took that to mean that Gerwig isn't trying to make Barbieworld a full feminist utopia but rather a salty flip on patriarchy. I wasn't too surprised: I'm often looking (and longing!) for feminist pop-culture and fiction to paint a true egalitarian vision for the future in which all genders are valued but they almost always fall short. We're still struggling to figure it out as a society. But I agree that I would've liked to have seen Ken have a stronger ending, for the film makers to dig a little deeper into a vision of positive masculinity. Maybe in the sequel... ;)
I had similar negative views of Barbie and all things pink, feminine, aesthetic, "unserious," and "indulgent" growing up. Totally agree with your point that this is an indictment of internalized sexism.
Regarding the zero-sum premise of the gender flip: That's the point! It's not arguing that men need to be subjected to the inverse of patriarchy for things to be fair. Rather, it highlights how gross sexism is, and how what we're wanting is equality and freedom for everyone, by flipping it in satire. Maybe that needs to be made clearer to some anti-feminists, but honestly, they're already going to misinterpret things in order to use them to argue against equality and play the victim.
yes it's definitely a flip the script kind of story that shows just how damaging this system is for men, which hopefully makes people have empathy for when it happens to women!!
My 14 year old son and 16 year old daughter enjoyed it and so did I! It's a clever, nostalgic, visually appealing movie that also brings up important ideas to consider. That said, I found myself making the same comments about the movie you did afterward with my daughter. She was more on the "this wasn't a movie about Ken anyway, we don't need to cater to him" train while I was on the "I wanted a more positive vision of men and not a 180 degree extreme" train. I felt seen by this movie in several parts and I appreciated that. I admit I also left feeling like I didn't want my son to leave the movie feeling like part of a problem that had its origins before he existed but, rather, with the opportunity to be a valued part of a better future for women. I wanted him to also feel important and valued. I don't think the movie left me feeling like men had a valued role in Barbie Land. I would want them to...but with less of their dominant input. Maybe that's the key. Thanks for the article!
I love this perspective coming from a mother with a son and a daughter and seeing the different reactions to the film, I do agree. that the conversations about the film need to be framed in the right way especially for children. I appreciate you sharing the way that you approached it!
I was feeling the same way about the ending until that one line when they said Barbie world will be the gender flip of the real world so when there’s real equality there then there will be here too.
It wasn’t perfect and you articulate why so well. But I agree it was such a wonderful film. I laughed so much. The whole theater clapped at one point. Everyone in pink. My 13 year old son loved it too and didn’t feel it was anti male
I ultimately loved the movie. Really loved it. It's smart and fun and funny. But ultimately I had the same twinge of regret over the same issue. As a "nobody wins unless everybody wins" believer, I had wished that the movie held out a more generous ending to all the characters. And the idea that rights and freedom are limited (like pizza) and there is only so much to go around ultimately plays into the mindset of those who fight against the expansion of rights. That said, it's the best experience I've had in a movie theater in some time. And I actually yelled "I'm so embarrassed" out loud at the mention of "the Godfather". I'm sure I'm guilty of that at least once.
I was somewhere between indifferent and annoyed AF with all things Barbie (for many of the reasons you mention and especially the hype around the movie in recent days), but this piece makes me rethink that stance, in a good way. Thanks for this, Liz!
Thank you such an eloquent take on the movie!! I’ve been trying to talk to people about how thought provoking this movie is but haven’t been successful in conversation. I think that Greta Gerwig is just commenting on the issues in our society and how there is a power imbalance. It could be dangerous for an average audience (not passionate as passionate or educated on gender studies) to watch and not understand the creative intention. As someone who also didn’t play with Barbie growing up, I walked away extremely fulfilled seeing her in this new way.
Great article. I loved this scene - “Sasha is strongly anti-Barbie — she monologues to Barbie about how harmful her image is for young people and the unrealistic beauty standards she sets”. I feel this was an attempt to address the things about Barbie that were swept under the rug.
Thank you for sharing your thoughts on this. I think you put to words some of what I was sensing, but wasn't sure how to express. My husband and I saw the movie here in Finland this past weekend. I definitely enjoyed the film, and I like the perspective that you offer that it displayed a false view that either the men were empowered or the women were. When women are empowered, that empowers their entire community and their families. It's not an either/or. There are many things to be grateful for. At the same time, adjusting to living here in Finland hasn't been easy. I'm going through a healing process, processing religious trauma and other things. Anyways, my husband is working and providing basically everything financially and I am taking time to rest, adjust, and figure out where I want to go from here. Sometimes, because of the way my mother was undervalued and treated as less than because she was a stay at home mom and because of many other factors, I have faced a lot of pain in the process of allowing my husband to support me. I struggle to see how I am valued in the community and sometimes don't feel like I'm contributing to the home. Well, it goes back to that idea of "empowering women empowers everyone". When I am feeling confident and empowered and I let go of stereotypes about what I should be doing and just allow myself to dwell in the peacefulness of creativity and I allow myself to rest, I benefit and so does my husband. It's like he provides financially right now, but I am important in that I somewhat control the mental and emotional climate of our home and that empowers him.
I haven't seen the film but friends who did said it was anti-feminist, so my question is: how is a lot of media framing it as a "feminist" film, even an "extreme" feminist film? Seems to me like it's a patriarchal film if it portrays society "finally becomes equal and fair" once Ken is given power and agency.
I really appreciate your take on the film. It was so fun, if not pretty messy, and I'm excited to see it again too. Regarding the matriarchal gender imbalance that they choose to maintain at the end, I saw that as a conscious choice on Gerwig's part. When the Kens ask if they can be on the Supreme Court, the president says something like "when women have equal representation in the real world, then men can have it here". I took that to mean that Gerwig isn't trying to make Barbieworld a full feminist utopia but rather a salty flip on patriarchy. I wasn't too surprised: I'm often looking (and longing!) for feminist pop-culture and fiction to paint a true egalitarian vision for the future in which all genders are valued but they almost always fall short. We're still struggling to figure it out as a society. But I agree that I would've liked to have seen Ken have a stronger ending, for the film makers to dig a little deeper into a vision of positive masculinity. Maybe in the sequel... ;)
I had similar negative views of Barbie and all things pink, feminine, aesthetic, "unserious," and "indulgent" growing up. Totally agree with your point that this is an indictment of internalized sexism.
Regarding the zero-sum premise of the gender flip: That's the point! It's not arguing that men need to be subjected to the inverse of patriarchy for things to be fair. Rather, it highlights how gross sexism is, and how what we're wanting is equality and freedom for everyone, by flipping it in satire. Maybe that needs to be made clearer to some anti-feminists, but honestly, they're already going to misinterpret things in order to use them to argue against equality and play the victim.
yes it's definitely a flip the script kind of story that shows just how damaging this system is for men, which hopefully makes people have empathy for when it happens to women!!
My 14 year old son and 16 year old daughter enjoyed it and so did I! It's a clever, nostalgic, visually appealing movie that also brings up important ideas to consider. That said, I found myself making the same comments about the movie you did afterward with my daughter. She was more on the "this wasn't a movie about Ken anyway, we don't need to cater to him" train while I was on the "I wanted a more positive vision of men and not a 180 degree extreme" train. I felt seen by this movie in several parts and I appreciated that. I admit I also left feeling like I didn't want my son to leave the movie feeling like part of a problem that had its origins before he existed but, rather, with the opportunity to be a valued part of a better future for women. I wanted him to also feel important and valued. I don't think the movie left me feeling like men had a valued role in Barbie Land. I would want them to...but with less of their dominant input. Maybe that's the key. Thanks for the article!
I love this perspective coming from a mother with a son and a daughter and seeing the different reactions to the film, I do agree. that the conversations about the film need to be framed in the right way especially for children. I appreciate you sharing the way that you approached it!
I was feeling the same way about the ending until that one line when they said Barbie world will be the gender flip of the real world so when there’s real equality there then there will be here too.
It wasn’t perfect and you articulate why so well. But I agree it was such a wonderful film. I laughed so much. The whole theater clapped at one point. Everyone in pink. My 13 year old son loved it too and didn’t feel it was anti male
i would love to have the perspectives of young boys on the barbie movie!! glad you brought him even just to spark a conversation!!
He's actually going to see it again with a bunch of his friends
I ultimately loved the movie. Really loved it. It's smart and fun and funny. But ultimately I had the same twinge of regret over the same issue. As a "nobody wins unless everybody wins" believer, I had wished that the movie held out a more generous ending to all the characters. And the idea that rights and freedom are limited (like pizza) and there is only so much to go around ultimately plays into the mindset of those who fight against the expansion of rights. That said, it's the best experience I've had in a movie theater in some time. And I actually yelled "I'm so embarrassed" out loud at the mention of "the Godfather". I'm sure I'm guilty of that at least once.
hahahahahhahahahah you're 100% real life alan and the world is much better with you in it!!!
I was somewhere between indifferent and annoyed AF with all things Barbie (for many of the reasons you mention and especially the hype around the movie in recent days), but this piece makes me rethink that stance, in a good way. Thanks for this, Liz!
women are complex and so are our feelings about her!
Thank you such an eloquent take on the movie!! I’ve been trying to talk to people about how thought provoking this movie is but haven’t been successful in conversation. I think that Greta Gerwig is just commenting on the issues in our society and how there is a power imbalance. It could be dangerous for an average audience (not passionate as passionate or educated on gender studies) to watch and not understand the creative intention. As someone who also didn’t play with Barbie growing up, I walked away extremely fulfilled seeing her in this new way.
I feel the same way I feel like I've made piece with barbie and my own femininity!
Great article. I loved this scene - “Sasha is strongly anti-Barbie — she monologues to Barbie about how harmful her image is for young people and the unrealistic beauty standards she sets”. I feel this was an attempt to address the things about Barbie that were swept under the rug.
Always a pleasure to read your work.
Thank you for sharing your thoughts on this. I think you put to words some of what I was sensing, but wasn't sure how to express. My husband and I saw the movie here in Finland this past weekend. I definitely enjoyed the film, and I like the perspective that you offer that it displayed a false view that either the men were empowered or the women were. When women are empowered, that empowers their entire community and their families. It's not an either/or. There are many things to be grateful for. At the same time, adjusting to living here in Finland hasn't been easy. I'm going through a healing process, processing religious trauma and other things. Anyways, my husband is working and providing basically everything financially and I am taking time to rest, adjust, and figure out where I want to go from here. Sometimes, because of the way my mother was undervalued and treated as less than because she was a stay at home mom and because of many other factors, I have faced a lot of pain in the process of allowing my husband to support me. I struggle to see how I am valued in the community and sometimes don't feel like I'm contributing to the home. Well, it goes back to that idea of "empowering women empowers everyone". When I am feeling confident and empowered and I let go of stereotypes about what I should be doing and just allow myself to dwell in the peacefulness of creativity and I allow myself to rest, I benefit and so does my husband. It's like he provides financially right now, but I am important in that I somewhat control the mental and emotional climate of our home and that empowers him.
I haven't seen the film but friends who did said it was anti-feminist, so my question is: how is a lot of media framing it as a "feminist" film, even an "extreme" feminist film? Seems to me like it's a patriarchal film if it portrays society "finally becomes equal and fair" once Ken is given power and agency.