It is Not Fantastic Being Plastic
By Ally Kennedy
“Barbie” took the world by storm this summer, quickly becoming one of the year’s most successful films. Unlike the Barbic everyone is used to, many people relate to her character because she embodies a modern-day woman. Many believe that her struggles are related to their own. The contrast between Barbie’s seemingly perfect life and her concerns about death is an excellent example of real-life struggles. Throughout the film, there are many themes. such as growing up, dealing with mental health. and understanding modern-day feminism, that many audiences resonate with. However, some ideologies seemed a bit more unrealistic, such as the characterizations of all the men.
The “Barbie” movie pits men and women against one another as both sides are fighting for power rather than going after equality. From Barbie’s journey to the real world and then back home to Barbie Land, the producers portray men as egotistical beings because that is the stereotype. In the movie the majority of the Ken’s look down on women and see them as objects. The “Barbie” movie only represents one good guy named Alan. Every other man in the film pressures Barbie to live up to a standard of something she does not want to be. In the real world, while many men are anti-feminist, others disagree with the traditional views of the patriarchy and fight for women to have the same rights as themselves.
There are, however, some aspects of the movie that feel remarkably familiar to the human perspective. One can relate Barbie’s journey to the real world to one’s own life. The fear of leaving her comfort zone to find herself is a terrifying reality many persevere through daily. The unfortunate truth behind how men and women judge other women is also made known. Perhaps the most outstanding instance of the presence of the human experience, however, was when America Ferrera’s character, Gloria, talks about the paradox of womanhood. Audiences resonated with Gloria’s commentary on the pressure society puts on women to be perfect. While the movie does seem a bit anti-man at times, the message is ultimately about how men and women must work together to form an equal society. The film’s portrayal of society’s expectations of women makes “Barbie” one of the most impactful films of the decade.
Overall, this movie has a powerful message about finding oneself. Although, at times, it felt a little too political for a film about dolls, it was a humorous experience that many audiences found captivating. While Barbie has been around for many decades, it was nice to see a new side of her. Truthfully, it was refreshing to see an onscreen woman explore and deal with the problems that women in the real-world face. Margot Robbie’s portrayal of Barbie offers young girls and women everywhere a role model to look up to because of how open and honest she plays her character. The film not only portrays the struggles faced by women but also shows everyone how important femininity is and the power it has over the world.
