A Moral Victory For Mattel? Is Barbie A Lecture In Gender Politics?

Love her or loath her, Barbie has got people talking this summer. It is somewhat ironic in a time of mass environmental and geopolitical crisis, we have turned our attention to a plastic doll with a 18inch waist, 36inch bust, that comes in 175 versions, to analyse the complex reality of being a woman in 2023. What feels even more peculiar is that this lesson in feminism is brought to us by Mattel, a company often accused of creating warped bodily expectations and cliché ideals for young girls. Yet against all scepticism, the Greta Gerwig comedy has raked in $1.18 billion at the worldwide box office and now ranks as the second highest-grossing release in the history of Warner Bros. Like many high profile projections of the world of women, it has been met with a divisive response. There are those who deem it a feminist victory, and those like conservative pundit Ben Shapiro so enraged at hollywood for embracing “woke” ideas , that he publicly set two dolls on fire in what he described as a ‘visceral rage’.

The movie is, like Barbie herself mired by contradiction. Set in Barbie land, described in the opening scene as a place where, “all problems of feminism and equal rights have been solved” , the plot is in essence a journey of self-realisation and inner fulfilment for the blonde bombshell aka stereotypical Barbie, whose deluded existence gets a rude awakening when forced to enter the ‘real world’. For those of us living in the said real world ever day, and jaded by its patterns, it raises some interesting questions. Is Barbie our inspiration? Can she be both a lightning rod of sexism and unrealistic beauty standards yet a beacon of female ambition? Regardless of your view, she ignites a conversation on the nuances of female advancement.

Bimbo Bashing Is A Futile Foe

Arguably, Barbie was to many of us the original Bimbo. She is the ultimate male fantasy, a female artform so perfectly carved, its impossible to emulate. Studies have shown that Barbies bodily proportions are so aesthetically pleasing yet unachievable, a human version would have to walk on all fours, could not hold her head up or menstruate. Her physicality has always been her defining feature and a source of backlash. Regardless of her profession, her appearance is the focus, a sexual stereotype scoffed at by all sexes and generations. Not just for her idealised beauty but her abhorrent lack of intellectual prowess. Simply put, women aren’t assumed to be both beautiful and brainy, and Barbies beauty has always been her defining feature. Margot Robbie’s performance as a doll on a journey of deep discovery to understand what lies beneath her pneumatic bosom and breathless beauty is a timely reminder in the power of social stigma at all ages. Gen Z has been challenging this with the growth of the #Bimbo trend on TikTok. The crux of this debate is that female reality is often distorted not by how we view ourselves, but a preconditioned male fantasy. These bimbocore content creators are unashamedly highlighting a key message, beauty and body image is about self-acceptance and when we realise that it becomes revolutionary. Society needs to embrace femininity in all forms to support women’s advancement. Female aesthetics have no correlation to intellect nor should they form a measure of respect. How we view Barbie or any woman, is a reflection only of how we judge ourselves.

Patriarchal Pressure: Equally Problematic

It is no secret that equality is a two-way street and in order to create a just society we have to mutually respect people as just that, people. Barbie through the lens of all all female controlled Barbie land, gives a view of a world with a full female controlling gender and class. Kens are deemed stupid and insignificant and side-lined at every opportunity. They are at best impressive arm candy. A visit to the real world opens up Kens eyes to a world where men are in fact King, and a power battle ensues between the patriarchy and a matriarchy, representative of real world male /female dynamics. The premise that this battle of feminism against toxic masculinity is fully representative of society is of course satirical exaggeration, yet there are some interesting truths to consider. When we mistreat and misrepresent any one sex it hurts not only the marginalised but society as a whole. Kens tale is one whereby the pressure enforced by a patriarchy is also a hard feat for men, resulting in a breakdown and admission that leading all the time is hard damaging to his emotional stability. He like Barbie wants to be ‘Kenough’ without constant expectation. In a world where feminist frustration and male mental health are both on the rise, the battle of these two blondes is a harsh reminder that we need to change the narrative on us vs them and instead look hard at the factors that promote division and perpetuate bias. Specifically, the long successful scion of gender equality, capitalism.

Ordinary Is OK!

In a final and poignant scene in the movie America Ferrera in her role as an exasperated female and mom begs the question to a sea of perfect dolls with a litany of career successes, from Pulizer winner to astronaut to President, ‘why cant women be empowered and yet ordinary?’ This highlights a key conundrum for women on the quest of equality. Why is the benchmark so high? The depiction of female victor is often her sitting at a boardroom table or holding a gavel. There is no space for average or mediocre, at least not a respected one. Yet for both sexes,being ordinary does not limit your ability to find success, enjoy happiness, or be respected by others. The key is the projection of ordinary and the injection of confidence. For women of all ages ethnicity and backgrounds, being ordinary with confidence can lead to extraordinary outcomes.

In a surprising outcome of the summer Barbie has not only broken box office records but etched herself into a conversation on gender politics, mental health, and self-acceptance.