Sarah Miller

this may not be cohesive but i must get thoughts out (spoilers maybe) this movie was so amazing i don’t even know where to begin. it has several different themes including family relationships, identity, consumerism, capitalism, feminism, toxic masculinity, and patriarchal norms/values. the people saying it is “sexist” clearly did not understand the point of the movie. the point is that the patriarchy affects everyone. that is the main topic i would like to discuss. this is true because it affects men too. take ken for example- at the start he lives amongst other kens for barbie. now i’m not saying this a just way to live either and that’s why when he gets introduced to the patriarchy, he sees a way he can finally be in a position of power, seeing his gender as leeway for more opportunities in the “real world”. it is like a 5 year old who has just been exposed to adult topic who does not know the gravity of it (since in case you forgot he is additionally new to the real world). he takes these customs back home and it pervades through barbieland. the female barbies have been corrupted by this but the mother and daughter duo (whom has also been taken home with barbie shortly after kens departure) work to revert them back to normal. (side note) the mother and daughter have a conflicted relationship at the beginning but bond towards the end since they are exposed to the ways of feminism in barbieland. this movie explores girlhood in a touching, expertise way that i only wish would reasonate with everyone. the mother of this duo has an excellent monologue which almost made me cry from its truthfulness about the perils of being a woman and what you’re expected to do and not to do. after the crew gets everyone back to normal, it is time to face ken (whom again has been corrupted by the ideals of patriarchy in the real world). after they have a conversation, ken comes to terms with the fact that he enough on his own and doesn’t need barbie or the patriarchy to dictate who he is as a man. this was perfect for me. barbie explores his identity as well as a woman, doll product. i also like how they included the fact the original barbie creator was a woman and the dolls were only meant to lift women up and not tear them down. it’s sad how this message got tarnished over time and eventually the daughter (sasha) thought barbie was just a “bimbo” made by consumerist men of mattel. 10/10 movie. great job greta gerwig as well as everyone else who worked hard on this movie. the cast and acting is absolutely excellent as well. margot and ryan are the perfect barbie and ken.