Unboxing the Barbie impact PT2: How record-breaking film explores sisterhood and modern day feminism

Part 1 of this review discussed 3 key messages showcased in the new Barbie film. But here at Arbel, we don’t aspire to cram massive ideas into condensed space if they command more to do them justice. So with pink and sparkly hearts we are excited to unpack more of our most important takeaways from this iconic film.

1. Ken playing the guitar “at” Barbie

A key scene in the Barbies’ plan to save Barbie Land from becoming Kendom features the Kens sitting in a campfire circle playing a modified version of Push by Matchbox Twenty. The scene begins with Ken asking Stereotypical Barbie if she will sit with him so he can play the guitar ‘at’ her. This scene in particular has caused many viewers to bond over the moments in their life when they have been played ‘at’ by a man they were romantically involved with. While the discovery that this is a seemingly universal experience has been recognized with an air of humor, we must pause and consider what, if any, significance it holds. On the surface, performing a song for someone may seem romantic and although it can be, it is often simply a manufactured moment for the performer to display his pridefulness and arrogance under the guise of a charming and creative act. Many people who have shared their own ‘played at’ moments have stated how awkward it feels to be a sudden captive audience. It seems that the song itself often isn’t the problem, it's the reaction the performer expects his captive audience to have. It is deemed “rude” to speak up about your disinterest regarding the song or to critique this surprise performer. This reflects what women are conditioned to do their entire lives. Sit still, look pretty, and don’t have opinions. It’s how you are most attractive to potential mates and how you are safest in the world. If a man catcalls you as you walk out of your nearest 7/11 you are taught to be polite or to ignore it. Women are rarely encouraged to state how they really feel about the situation to a perpetrator or to retaliate in any similar manner. Does this mean that every man who has played an unsolicited song for a date intends to make said date uncomfortable? Certainly not. But it does highlight the assuming nature men tend to have towards women. Oftentimes a woman is not of interest to a man because he is genuinely intrigued by that specific woman. Instead, however unintentional it may be, a woman is a warm body to a man. She is a thing he uses to prop up his ego and a girl he claims simply because she is there when he happens to be lonely. There is a common held idea between women that in many instances, women wait to commit until they find the person who meets the standards they have set, while men wait to commit until they are “ready” and when that time comes they commit to the first woman who happens upon their path. Is a staggering contrast and one that has brought up the longing in many, for a partner who desires them, not just a partner who desires someone.

1. Sasha dissing Barbie upon first meeting her

When Barbie arrives in the real world and begins trying to track down the girl that is playing with her, she meets Sasha and her friends at Davy Crockett Junior High School. First impressions are not gentle as Sasha lashes out at Barbie regarding all the assumed issues that Barbie has created for women in the real world. In her monologue, Sasha (played by Ariana Greenblatt) bitterly explains to Barbie “You represent everything wrong with our culture. Sexualized capitalism, unrealistic physical ideals..”. When Barbie tries to explain that this inherently goes against what Barbies and Barbieland are representative of, Sasha doubles down on insulting Barbie until she cries and excuses herself.

This interaction showcases a nuanced phenomenon that has taken place in our society in connection with products and art that is made for women and girls. Through Barbie’s eventual interaction with Ruth Handler’s ghost we learn that the primary motivation for Barbie’s creation was to inspire a generation of girls to be anything they wanted to be. Barbie was created in a time before women could have their own bank accounts, much less go to the moon. In creating Barbie, Ruth Handler hoped to play a part in paving the way for a more inclusive future in the world her daughter, Barbara, would eventually be a part of. Somewhere along the way, another narrative was attached to the Barbie brand in direct competition with its original intent: the narrative that Barbie would be a bad influence on little girls' self-image because of her unrealistic body shape. This counteractive idea spread like wildfire and it exemplifies the destructive pattern society often has on female empowerment. Barbie was reduced from an imaginative tool and inspiration for young girls to merely an over-sexualized and over-analyzed anti-feminist symbol. One of the most substantial pitfalls of the early 2000s feminist movement was its veritable focus on individuality and its misogynistic undertones. This third wave, girl-boss version of feminism has sparked quite a bit of debate on how helpful it actually has been. Was the progress it made worth the harm to the pillars it propped itself on such as body image and the isolating “I’m not like other girls” ideology?

Following the release of the Barbie movie, many women took to social media to share their own experiences with Barbie growing up. An overwhelming majority have shared they never felt pressured to look like Barbie until they were told they should feel that way. This calls us to question the messages we are told to think. Is the doll inherently sexual and a disservice to the body-image little girls develop or did the rhetoric surrounding Barbie become this way because adults sexualized her in the first place? Perhaps we should all take this motive-based inquiry to many products and ideals that are marketed for women and girls in order to avoid harmful and reductionary thinking that society does not typically extend to the G.I. Joe equivalents of the world.

1. Ruth Handler’s ghost teaching Barbie a powerful lesson

As the movie nears an end, the ghost of Ruth Handler appears in a powerful scene with Barbie. Due to all she has learned on her quest to save Barbieland, Barbie realizes she is not the same doll that left in the beginning of the film. She asks Ruth for permission to become human as she wants to do the creating, not just be the thing that is created. Ruth explains that although she is the original creator of Barbie, she cannot control what Barbie does or the desires she has. After all, Ruth created Barbie as an imaginative tool with endless possibilities, so there was no way she could ever control every outcome. The only thing she asks of Barbie is that she understands exactly what she is asking for. In order to achieve this, Ruth tells Barbie to “Take my hands, now close your eyes, now feel”. A beautiful montage of home video footage displays the lives of women in many different walks of life.

This incredible scene exhibits a beautiful message of self-acceptance, the power in choice, and the magic of female relationships. In this presentation we are reminded that while there are many different paths for a woman to choose, the best path to take is the one she finds herself drawn to. However much heartbreak, sadness, and grief she may encounter on her journey through life, it is all worth it to experience life itself. While we as women may have a more difficult experience in many ways than our male counterparts, feminine support between each other is a not-so-secret aid in our success and our personal vitality.

There are countless lessons, questions, and examples throughout this remarkable film. While many voices of dissent have pitched in their opinion through various channels, it is undeniable that this film represents the feelings of many women and AFAB people around the world. 775 million dollars worth of feelings globally, reminding us of the power that women everywhere hold. “Hey Barbie!” has taken on a meaning all its own in uniting us in this experience we share with so many.