Barbie and the Realities of Womanhood
The highly anticipated “Barbie” movie was released this summer and has received mixed reviews. Many young women expressed that the film was not at all what they expected from Barbie. I initially thought it would be a lighthearted movie but it also wasn’t what I expected. The movie is a clear representation of the transition from a girl to a woman.
The film is centered around the realities of being a woman today. Barbie Land represents the safe and naive world that young girls live in. When Barbie entered the real world she immediately experienced the difficulties of being a woman. I appreciated America Ferrera’s monologue about contradicting expectations that society imposes on women.
I also enjoy that the movie not only showcases Barbie’s struggles but also Ken’s too. In the movie, his existence is based solely on Barbie and when he crosses over to the real world he learns about societal patriarchy. After his experience in the real world, he shares the same views he learned with the other Kens in Barbie Land and they all fall into the patriarchal feel of being valued as they’ve never experienced this before.
Women are expected to hold themselves apart while living up to the unattainable standards that society imposes on us. The film’s depiction of womanhood is touching and showcases the struggles that women experience every day.
