BARBIE MOVIE: WHY I DON’T LIKE THE HYPE

I didn't LOVE the Barbie movie. 

Don't get me wrong - I didn't hate it either. I liked it, I just didn't love it. 

And to be clear, I really wanted to love it. Like REALLY. 

I had ALL the Barbie dolls growing up - the car, the house - you name it! She was by far my favourite toy who I refused to give up even as I entered my teens! 

On top, I am a feminist trying to raise awareness about gender inequality, sexism, sexual harassment and more, so although at some point in my life I realised what Barbie represnted (consumer culture and unrealistic body standards) - I was actually very excited to watch the movie because people said it was a celebration of feminism. 

I also wanted to love it because I bought 4 cinema tickets to watch it! Add snacks to the mix and we’re looking at a very expensive afternoon. 

Bottom line, I could have waited for it to be available on TV. 

In my opinion, it's overhyped (a year and a half worth of marketing and a $150 million dollars budget did a good job). 

It's suited for kids, in fact, it felt more like a kids' film with some jokes for the adults rather than the other way round. 

There were a few good moments like the big speech by America Ferrera (although personally I felt like it was a little outdated and like we have moved on from that). 

I liked when Barbie told the old lady on the bench she is beautiful (she was!), and when Barbie described feeling uncomfortable in the real world because of how men looked at her while Ken says he feels great (most poignant moment if you ask me). 

I also liked seeing the gender roles reversed in Barbie Land. I didn’t need the movie to tell me how much better the world would be if the patriarchy didn’t exist, but it was nice to see it on screen. A world in which women hold all the positions of power was truly magical and when Barbie crossed into the real world it was really sad to see her looking for some feminine power and not finding it.

I’ve enjoyed reading some men’s comments online on how they hated the movie - the fact so many have feel triggered is a whole separate conversation we need to have another time and their insecurity serves as a good reminder that toxic and fragile masculinity are very much still alive.

There were also a few funny moments, Barbie Land looked amazing, the movie is colourful and perfect for summer!

If it was just left as a fun summer movie with some references to consumer culture and what it means to be a woman I’d be totally okay with that. 

But over the past few weeks I've heard people say it's most important feminist piece of content they have ever come across.

And that's where I had to draw the line.

I don't even think the movie's director, Greta Gerwig, set out to create something as meaningful as people are making it out to be. And btw, the most meaningful thing this hype has resulted in is the fact that Barbie had the biggest opening weekend for a film directed by a woman.

LOVE that!

I sort of agree with those who say it tried to do too much, but at the same time, I think that perhaps it didn’t set out to do half the things people think it did. 

Maybe it was just meant to be a bit of fun and not as deep as everyone is saying? 

And while feminism might be momentarily benefiting from the hype, (I’m not convinced, after all we’re talking about a doll that probably caused millions of girls to have eating disorders), I think it’s safe to say that the Barbie franchise is the biggest winner here. 

Somehow this movie has managed to frame Barbie the doll, with her zero thigh gap and perfect hair, as, wait for it… relatable.

Now that’s PR genius.

But for me, the hype itself is the biggest problem, not the movie, because it is very telling about how far we still have to go when it comes to highlighting women's issues.

For example, people are falling over the last line in the movie when Barbie says she has an appointment to see her gynecologist like it's some taboo. 

REALLY?! What year are we living in?! 

It would have been far more interesting if Barbie mentioned she has an STD, or that her vagina is itchy AF due to thrush, or that she can’t sit down after experimenting with anal with three random guys on a wild weekend in Ibiza. 

Now that’s the type of real woman Barbie I wanna see. 

I also find it interesting how so many people have managed to live their entire lives without thinking about themes the movie briefly touches on (sexual harassment, the patriarchy, toxic masculinity etc). 

This says so much about our education system, the media, legislators, what our society deems as important.

Let's not forget that ME TOO happened only a few years ago.

Remember how millions of REAL women (not dolls) shared their experiences of sexual harassment and of how unsafe they feel in a world that objectifies them? Ring a bell, anyone?

Feminist activists have been saying how hard it is to be a woman for decades, yet so many people have somehow managed to avoid hearing it and are now having an epic awakening?

I understand that for some young people perhaps this might be the first time they have come across these terms, maybe they didn't know how to put it into words, maybe much like the Barbies in the movie who were under the patriarchy's spell, they too have been brainwashed and simply couldn't see it before but now they can. 

And if I thought this was going to be an actual awakening then I could get behind it.

Problem is - I don't think that's what's happening here.

I think most people are jumping on the bandwagon because it's a fun bandwagon to jump on. 

It's pink, you get to dress up and make Tik Toks of yourself waving while saying "Hi Barbie" and "Hi Ken" and then post about it on social media and say how empowered it made you feel. 

It's feminism light at best, not the serious boring kind that really annoys people and everyone hates. 

It doesn't make you feel uncomfortable and it has two stunning Hollywood stars prancing around in bright coloured leotards, so really - what's not to like? 

Sadly, I doubt it's going to make feminism cool or even matter. It's glitz and glam wrapped up in a pink bow and when the novelty wears off people will move on.  

But in the real world, the one that is indeed very hard on women (and even harder if you don't look like Barbie), feminism is received with a eye roll and I think we should all take a moment to ask ourselves 'why'.

Why are so many women themselves scared of being labeled 'feminists' when it doesn’t come dished with a dream house and a side portion of Ken? 

And why do these important issues only resonate with some people when they come from a doll (not an actual woman)? And not just any doll - a Barbie doll. A blond bombshell with perky boobs and a tiny waist, who was apparently inspired by a sex toy.

Don't you find that ironic?

After all, you’re either brainwashed and play by the rules of the patriarchy or you’re weird and ugly, right? 

Unless you are Barbie of course.

She gets to have an awakening but still looks amazing in her messy ponytail and Birkenstocks and no one would ever call her weird. 

To sum up:

I've heard people say the movie has sparked important conversations and I think that's great!  Whether it was intentional or not doesn’t matter, these are great conversations and I am glad people are (finally) having them.

What I think would be even more great is if people spoke about these themes on a regular basis. 

Gender inequality, the patriarchy, sexual violence, toxic masculinity, misogyny etc impact all of us every day and we should not wait for big movements or Hollywood blockbusters to get talking about them.

All of us can do so more in terms of educating ourselves and raising awareness to create a better world for ourselves and for next generations, and I truly hope that the important realisations this movie seems to have sparked amongst so many people, carry on well after the hype dies down!