EFFORTPOST Barbie for boys - an analysis of the themes of Barbie (2023)

It's good. It's actually really good. Let's discuss some of the themes the movie brings up. I'm quite surprised to see so many online calling it feminist garbage. It was actually a refreshing take on modern gender relations.

1. Men and shame

Although the movie is about Barbie, it pays plenty of attention to Ken as well. He is Barbie's sidekick, and he is constantly trying to get her attention. He goes to the real world and he discovers patriarchy, and he is immediately in love with it. After a lifetime spent in Barbie World, for the first time, he is introduced to the idea of male supremacy. In many ways the Barbie/Ken relationship is somewhat abusive, with Barbie not making the nature of the relationship clear to Ken ever. It is clear Ken is enamoured of Barbie, and Barbie allows this to continue despite the feelings not being reciprocal.

Situations like this happen constantly in real life. Unfortunately, we seldom hear about it because men are shamed when they are abused by women. In Abused Men by Phillip Cook, this is discussed.

How many of these red flags are in your life? How many make an appearance in Barbie (2023)?

2. Machoism

Ken wants to win Barbie's heart, and he does so by trying to appear macho and catch her attention. Machoism is a common burden placed on men. It is considered to be an essential component of heterosexual attraction. However, as the movie illustrates, there are harmful aspects to machoism and they affect both men and women. Let's turn back to Cook.

3. Idealized Womanhood

The central issue in Barbie is that too much is expected of women. Oftentimes, the demands are completely contradictory. Nietzche is often portrayed as being anti-feminist and misogynistic. However, many scholars have instead argued that Nietzche is tearing down this idealized image of womanhood, which is what Barbie (2023) aims to achieve as well.

4. Shunning of victimhood

Despite discussing women's issues in depth, the movie never portrays women as victims. In this way, it stays true to the history of Barbie as a representation of the potential and capabilities within each girl. As Kajsa Ekis Ekman explains in Being and Being Bought:

I would like to criticize this for a moment. Sometimes, it is necessary to accept your victimhood. Only then can you begin the healing process. Relieve yourself of the burden! Admit that you've been hurt and made to feel weak! stop holding the secret in.

5. Vagina and womanhood

The movie ends with Barbie visiting a gynecologist. This is noteworthy because she chose to become a real woman, which would mean she would gain genitalia, which she explicitly stated she did not have prior. Why is the vagina so intrinsically tied to womanhood? Why does Barbie only become a real woman once she has a vagina? Is a woman reducible to her s*x organs?

I don't have answers, but it is worth thinking about. Also consider how, as Ekman argues, modern women in s*x work view the Self as separate from the vagina.

6. Buying women

The movie jokes about the fact that Ken lives in Barbie's shadow. There is something quite interesting about this, however. It is normal and common for Barbie to be bought. Yet the idea of buying Ken never catches on in the movie or in real life. I believe this ties into how we view men and women. Women are commodities that are bought and sold. This occurs in s*x work, in the pornification of media, and in the unpaid labour of the domestic domain.

Though Barbie has no doubt inspired many women, it is worthwhile to remember that there are real women who are bought and sold every day. Their reality is far from glamorous.

It is also worth noting that Barbie LIKES being bought and sold. This is perhaps the biggest gripe I have with the movie. Though Barbie (Margot Robbie) chooses to be a real woman, the rest of the Barbies remain as dolls despite knowing of the existence of the real world. They're explicitly choosing to remain commodities to be played with, and they love it! Every day of being an object is paradise for them. In many ways, this parallels the myth of the "happy hooker" who loves being bought and sold for s*x.

Sorry for the sloppy piece, I'm writing this before bed after watching the movie. In closing, I really enjoyed Barbie (2023). Although there are some criticisms to be waged against its handling of feminist issues, it was surprisingly more competent than I was expecting. If you're looking for a laugh and some light-hearted adventure go for it. If you're looking for a perfect feminist piece, look elsewhere. My biggest compliment is that it manages to handle gender relations in a way that adequately explains some of the issues that modern men face beyond simply "man scared to cry" e.g. how to relate to women, how to deal with a society where gender power dynamics are shifting. I think men will find it surprisingly meaningful.

BONUS: Google the word "Barbie" for some fabulous!