“Beyond Pink: ‘Barbie’ Shatters Gender Norms
- Mishaal Usman 26100247
- Oct 28, 2024
- 3 min read
While it’s easy to see Barbie as a plastic doll embodying traditional femininity, the new Barbie movie, directed by Greta Gerwig, brings a deeper perspective on gender norms and the pressures on both women and men in society. This movie, through its vibrant and hyper stylized lense, brings on a fresh perspective on how gender norms shape personal expectations which are heavily influenced by societal pressure.
The movie starts off with showing Barbie Land, a world where Barbies hold every conceivable role from President to Nobel-winning scientists, demonstrating an aspirational society where women can reach their potential freely. In our society, where careers and roles are defined to be male or female dominated, Barbie Land advocates for gender equality. Liberal feminists like Betty Frieda argue that women should have the freedom to pursue any role without being restricted by gender and Barbie Land serves as an insightful look at this liberal feminist vision of equality, showcasing the kind of society where gender no longer dictates role and career aspirations. In contrast, when Barbie steps into the real world, she sees gender inequality and gender-based roles being enforced. This comparison highlights that while such liberal feminist theories do exist, true equality is still far from being practiced which resonates with liberal feminism’s calls for systemic change and equal opportunities for all genders.
The movie also highlights women’s experiences as being intersectional, based on race, class and age. Intersectional feminism recognizes that women’s experiences are shaped by interesting identities, and these must be understood to truly be inclusive. In Barbie Land, different versions of Barbie exist, embodying all different ages, races and professions. This portrayal highlights the multiples dimensions of femininity and portrays an inclusive world where all women’s experiences are unique, where they juggle different expectations based on background, age and roles. Through such representation of women’s struggles as complex, Barbie argues that genuine empowerment requires acknowledging and addressing the varied experiences of all women.
In Barbie Land, Ken’s role revolves around Barbie in contrast to how women are usually the supporting characters for male protagonists. Ken’s storyline showcases how he has to deal with the narrow definition of stereotypical masculinity and after discovering a patriarchal version of masculinity in the real world, Ken embodies hyper-masculine behaviors, only to realize that these roles feel unnatural. This aligns with Judith Butler’s work on gender performativity and how gender is a socially constructed identity, performed based on societal expectations rather than biological differences. Ken’s exploration of masculinity shows that these strict roles limit both men and women, and a more fluid understanding of identity where individuals are free to move beyond rigid gender norms is necessary.
Barbie has always been viewed at the standard of unattainable femininity, representing beauty and perfection. Only being limited to her role as “Stereotypical Barbie”, she eventually realizes she no longer wants to be her, which aligns with the idea of rejecting restrictive roles. She feels the burden of being perfect and understands that the only reason she feels the need to embody perfection is because of the expectation everyone has from her. Her journey reflects the idea that women should be free to define themselves on their terms and move beyond societal ideals of femininity, realizing that their true self lies in individuality and self-acceptance.
Through the satirical lens of Barbie Land and the realities of the real world, the movie explores the ongoing challenges women and men face in defining themselves beyond societal expectations and defined roles. The movie conveys the message of encouraging audiences to see themselves beyond the stereotypes and celebrate their unique identities.