Barbie
The true meaning behind the "Barbie" Movie
Leanna Flexo '24
Arts and Entertainment Editor
Amidst the Barbenheimer summer of 2023, the “Barbie” movie has made a lasting impact on its viewers and society as a whole. The satirical movie aims to mock how the patriarchy affects men and women, and the stereotypes associated with each gender. The movie often gets misinterpreted, as so many people take in different meanings from it, which draws focus away from the true message of the story.
On one hand, “Barbie” is very feminist and shines a light on the many injustices women face. At the same time though, this movie proves to be a unique film, as it's not just a movie about feminism that only women can relate to. It also brings attention to men’s mental health and their feelings, highlighting the idea that their internal struggles are just as valid as women’s.
The inclusivity of the struggles of both genders allows all viewers to relate to the movie, and permits people to see that the movie aims to equally represent men and women rather than just targeting a specific gender.
The movie attempts to highlight the flaws of feminism and how women are pulled in so many different directions, making it “literally impossible to be a woman”as said by Gloria, (America Ferrara). It also underscores how men are mistreated, as Barbie (Margot Robbie) has to help Ken (Ryan Gosling) figure out who he is without her.
Ken struggles to find out who he truly is because he thinks he has to fit into the stereotypical ideas of what men should be like, when he doesn’t really want to be that way. Barbie helps Ken realize that he is “kenough”, and can be his own person regardless of the standards that are being forced upon him, especially in the real world.
When Barbie and Ken venture into the real world, they come face to face with the toxicity of society and how corrupt the patriarchy is. Both Barbie and Ken take away different values from the real world.
Barbie seeks to find the girl who plays with her and she sees how hard it is for a woman to be themselves in a society that drags them all down. When she finds the girl, Sasha (Ariana Greenblatt), she immediately is greeted with mean comments, such as she’s “everything that is wrong with society” or a “fascist” just because she is Barbie. Barbie runs away crying after this, which just resembles how toxic society is towards women because of all of these standards that turn them against each other.
Meanwhile, Ken gets a glimpse of manhood and informs himself on the history of the United States and how men are the ones responsible for creating the “amazing” country we know today. This “manhood” is really a form of toxic masculinity that has been ingrained into society for centuries, as this country was quite literally built on men.
Leanna Flexo '24 in the Barbie Booth at AMC
When Ken sees all this manly stuff around him, like horses, beer, the gym etc, it is the movie trying to make fun of masculinity and how stupid the patriarchy is. It shows men how wrong it is to center their identity around male pride, instead of resonating with who they truly are. Instead of feeling the need to identify with overly manly things like trucks, men can also watch rom coms, develop their own sense of style, etc.
The whole idea of Barbie wanting to become human in the end signifies her straying away from all the beauty standards that attempt to dehumanize women and picture them as “perfect”. She wants to become her own person, just like Ken. Barbie realizes the value of living and what it means to be a woman in society. She would rather be imperfect and her own person than try and fit into the box that a corrupt, patriarchal society has put her in.
Even a majority of the advertisements for the movie were deceiving, as many viewers thought it would just be a surface level movie about Barbie, but no. It was about not only being a woman, but also what it means to be a man, all while attacking the supposed ways society makes each gender out to be.
The “Barbie” movie raises awareness of the many stereotypes forced on both men and women in an effort to reject the norms of society in a new and entertaining way, changing the world for the better.