By Yesui Batgerel Is Barbie a feminist manifesto? Not really. Is it a man-bashing flick? Not even close. Greta Gerwig's latest cinematic adventure dives deep into exploring the complexities of being a woman in this world. Sure, it might look like your typical kiddie flick, but trust me, it's a lot more than that. Barbie discovers what it's really like to be a woman in this crazy world, all while teasing society's silly rules and gender stereotypes with playful little jokes. But we need to talk about Ken first … Let's get one thing straight from the beginning: Barbie isn't out to bash men. She's not anti-male; she's anti-patriarchy. And it’s important to know the distinction. In Barbie Land, where the roles are reversed and women hold the reins, we see the pitfalls of any society vacant of gender equality. It's not misandry; it's a cautionary story about the unintended consequences of imbalance. Enter Ken, the unwitting poster boy for toxic masculinity. He also joins Barbie in a journey of self-discovery, goes to the real world, and grapples with societal pressures to conform, to fit into a mold that chafes at his plastic edges. From sipping beer to flexing his muscles, he morphs into an exaggeration of manhood – until Barbie, in all her feminist glory, sets him straight. And Ken, bless his molded heart, finds his way back to innocence and vulnerability, shedding the shackles of patriarchal expectations. And it’s a good thing that the film shows this, ultimately touching on some of the many psycho-emotional issues that men face in today’s society, all of which are unintended consequences of traditional patriarchy. Ken's image is the insecurity of some (not all) modern men who are afraid of becoming Barbie's (women’s) shadow — it’s a representation of how toxic masculinity today tends to come in the form of entitlement and belief in the inherent superiority of men over women. To to put it straightforwardly, men don't feel like men if they sense that they’re under women. Although Ken is represented in this way throughout the movie (which is probably the reason why many guys dislike it or feel attacked by it), in the end he understands that being a man is not about conforming to traditional gender stereotypes, nor about suppressing emotions and acting all tough, refusing to seem vulnerable and/or inferior. It’s not about being macho; it’s about being true to oneself. And since this is a Barbie-centric movie, it would be ridiculous to expect a heroic, "white horse" Ken anyway, or else the main idea would be lost. Now, the thing with Barbie is that she’s never been just a doll; she's been a canvas upon which society (and especially women) projects its hopes, dreams, and insecurities. Her journey isn't just about dismantling the patriarchy; it’s emphasis is to shine a spotlight on the complexities of girlhood. From the substantial impacts of marketing the doll and the huge wave of consumerism, Barbie’s been with us for a long time, and she’s been a mirror reflecting the shifting aspects of womanhood. She’s had her influence on the course of feminism over the years, good and bad, and more profound than we think. According to the Barbie timeline, before women were even allowed to open their own bank accounts, Barbie got her first Dreamhouse in 1962. Later in 1968, the first African-American doll, Christie, was released in support of Equal Rights. And since 1992, Barbie has been running for president. These efforts have been made in response to feminist critiques and changing societal attitudes towards gender roles, although they may not fully address all criticisms. But surely, little girls needed to hear a reminder that they can achieve something greater and more personally satisfying than just wedding bells. In the end, Barbie's just doing her thing...being Barbie. It would be a pity to reduce the point of the Barbie movie to a radical feminist makeover, as its purpose is not to encourage matriarchy or to put down men; it simply attempts to show the rollercoaster journey of Barbie since she’s been invented and the path she’s been on for years. And on top of it all, we should be aware that Barbie’s path has constantly been intertwined with feminist ideologies in a complex way, and here are just some of the questions that Barbie discourse has raised: Does Barbie promote an unattainable and damaging ideal beauty? Does Barbie adequately represent the diversity of women including race, ethnicity, body type and ability? Can Barbie be seen as a symbol of empowerment? Can I be a feminist and still like Barbie? Whether people critique her as promoting unrealistic beauty standards, gender stereotypes, and materialism, or like her for evolving over the years to become more diverse and inclusive, Greta Gerwig tries to provide one simple message of inclusivity and diversity. Being a feminist doesn't mean you have to be a president barbie, a doctor barbie, an astronaut barbie, or a barbie barbie (stereotypical barbie) — you can just be a normal, cellulite-ridden, at-home barbie. And the same goes for Ken — being just Ken is already "Kenough."
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1 Comment
Sebastian
4/4/2024 21:42:39
Very epic
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May 2024
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