'Barbie' is more than a toy story. Day-Glo film dismantles tropes while celebrating them (2024)

FAQs

What is the controversy over the Barbie movie? ›

From the moment it reached theaters, “Barbie” sparked controversy, with some disagreeing with its more progressive views of society and feminist messages. Recently, however, this controversy has become more extreme. The conflict was initiated in light of jokes presented by the host of the 2024 Golden Globes, Jo Koy.

Those who openly hated it mostly did so for reasons having to do with what it “stood for.” They abhorred its (oddly anachronistic) third-wave feminist politics. They despised its commercialism and dreaded the prospect of future films about Mattel properties like Barney and American Girl dolls.

One specific way this film has spread American culture around the world is by stimulating discussions and debates surrounding social issues such as sexism and the patriarchy.

It's about a spiritual connection between women of different generations, passing down their hopes and dreams for a better world for those who come after them. By taking Ruth's hand, Barbie becomes another link in this infinite chain of mothers and children. She becomes human.

Midge's run as the youthful, freckled sidekick has been sporadic and at times turbulent, with only a handful of releases in the '60s, before she resurfaced in the '80s and '90s. Then, a pregnant version of the doll was unceremoniously pulled from store shelves in 2002 amid fears she was promoting teen motherhood.

The Influence of Barbie on Body Image

For years, Barbie has been associated with promoting thinness as the societal norm for women, which has led to concerns about its impact on the self-esteem of girls and women.

In September 1997, six months after the release of the song by Aqua, Mattel, the toy manufacturer of the Barbie doll, sued MCA Records, Aqua's North American record label. The company claimed that "Barbie Girl" violated their trademark and turned the doll into a sex-object, and referred to her as a "blonde bimbo".

Vietnam: Before the film premiered, officials in Vietnam announced they were banning Barbie over a scene that included a map that appeared to show China's contested territorial claims in the South China Sea—Warner Bros. disputed the claim, describing the drawing as “child-like.”

Greta Gerwig's "Barbie" movie may be smashing the box office, but the doll's sales are actually still falling for parent company Mattel. In the first six months of 2023, the Barbie brand made $459.6 million in global gross billings, a 23% decline from the same period in 2022.

Since the 1970s, Barbie has been criticized for materialism (amassing cars, houses, and clothes) and unrealistic body proportions. In fact, in 1994 researchers in Finland announced that if Barbie were a real woman, she would not have enough body fat to menstruate.

How does Barbie affect girls? ›

Despite widely known research on the negative effects of Barbie, such as body dysmorphia and low self-esteem in girls, Dr. Rome contends that the Barbie movie helps counter those ills. Based on discussions with her colleagues, her patients and their parents, Dr.

While Mattel, the maker of Barbie, today features Barbies featuring multiple skin tones, hairstyles and body types, the original Barbie may reinforce certain stereotypes, particularly related to whiteness and gender roles. And while the Barbie brand has evolved, many unfortunate decisions were made historically.

“When I designed this doll, there was a need for the little Black girl to have something she could play with that looked like her,” explains Black Perkins, who recruited and mentored other Black talent at Mattel before retiring in 2003 as chief Barbie designer. “I wanted her to reflect the total look of a Black woman.”

Director Greta Gerwig, who has built a devoted following for such female-forward movies as Lady Bird and Little Women, has labeled Barbie "most certainly a feminist film." Mattel executives, on the other hand, have said the opposite.

Barbie's full name is Barbara Millicent Roberts.

The movie does have adult themes, mild language and some suggestive references, but many parents have still felt comfortable taking their children and tweens to see it. The “Barbie” movie can be a great jumping off point for starting or continuing thoughtful discussions about diversity, inclusion and self-image.

The face of Barbie has always been targeted towards young children. The movie included many topics (such as the patriarchy and politics) that children would not understand. Inappropriate jokes and topics made adults laugh but confused the intended audience. It was two hours of preaching women and degrading men.

When the Academy Award nominations were announced, Barbie was among the ten films on the list for Best Picture. But many were surprised the nominations for Best Director did not include Barbie director Greta Gerwig and the film's star Margot Robbie was snubbed for Best Actress.

Firstly, societal beauty standards had long emphasized a slim and idealized body type, leading to a perception that dolls representing fuller figures were less desirable. Additionally, the unfamiliarity of seeing a different body shape in Barbie dolls may have caused some girls to reject the new representation.