COMMENTARY BT MONA AUSTIN
Like millions of girls raised in the seventies I wanted to be a Barbie girl living in a Barbie world. For my generation, Barbie reflected the changes in the women's liberation movement. The movie about the iconic pro-woman doll opens with a narrator explaining, "Since the beginning of time...there have always been dolls. But the dolls were always baby dolls. Barbie changed everything. She might have started out as a lady in a bathing suit. She is so much more..."
'Tis true... Barbie is an icon who changed how American girls and women see themselves. Imaginative girls who played with the toy were transported out of the home to where ever they wanted to go in a range of roles. Gradually, over a 60 year period she went from her Malibu Beach doll Mansion to outer space. The evolution of Barbie mirrored
real women's progress in America in some instances and spurred progress in other instances. The movie went out of its way to show Barbie was not madly in love with Ken or dependent on him in any way. In her fight against patriarchy Barbie set Ken free to find himself. Traditionalists may see this message as women not needing men and a break down of the foundation of the tradional family.
The Barbie film addressed many modern themes pertaining to feminism and the main challenge women have always faced -- male dominance.
Representation has always mattered to Mattel, the toy company that manufactured the adult doll. From astronauts, the controversial pregnant Barbie to the presidential Barbie (played by Issa Rae), the film shows the history of diversity and inclusion and drives home the message that women can be whatever they want. The lead Barbie character wants nothing more than to be independent and free but initially struggles with not being perfect. The thought of death enters her mind and she begins to experience realistic emotions while grappling with imperfections.
Using a movie as the stage for Barbie to step from the Barbie world into the real world was a brand identity risk, but if anyone can pull off the switch it is Barbie.
The Barbie flick was as much about a feminist revolution as it was about patriarchy. When the main character was stuck in self discovery and doubting herself, the teen girl seated next to me said, "You can be president too." Witnessing the impact of od the doll's magnetism in real time made me realize the lastng impact of capturing representation in a toy. This is the true magic of Barbie.
SPOILER ALERT...
The movie opens with girls in a dessert destroying traditional baby dolls. With the help of a narrator we see the evolution of the toy. It closes with Barbie stepping into the real world as a single woman for her first gynecology appointment.
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