What you really should know about the Barbie Movie

It is the best day ever. So was yesterday, and so is tomorrow, and every day from now until forever.

~Barbie

You can't turn your head without seeing something *Barbie* right now. For many women, this doll was an essential part of their childhoods. They reminisce about the countless hours spent dressing up their Barbie dolls, creating imaginative scenarios, and exploring different career paths through play. 

Many argue that Barbie's unrealistic body proportions promote an unattainable and idealized standard of beauty which can negatively impact young girls self-esteem and body image. (It is important to note that not every girl who plays with Barbie will develop body image issues.)

Either way there's a lot of buzz and excitement about the recently released *Barbie Movie*. When a couple of friends and I decided to have a girl's night of dinner and a movie we picked that as the movie to go see. We didn't know what to expect. Truthfully I didn't expect to like it. But hey, why not?

After watching the candy-coloured extravaganza for the first half hour I honestly didn't know what to think about it. But the movie kept getting more fun, entertaining, insightful, and definitely dealt with the serious stuff we as women face.

The movie started to mess with my head. How could something so light-hearted and silly also be so powerful in a message of empowerment, self-acceptance and self-discovery? In my opinion America Fererra's iconic speech was undoubtedly one of the best parts of the film.

It is literally impossible to be a woman. You are so beautiful, and so smart and it kills me that you don't think you are good enough. Like, we always have to be extraordinary, but somehow we're always doing it wrong.

You have to be thin, but not too thin. And you can never say you want to be thin. You have to say you want to be healthy. You have to have money, but you can't ask for money because that's crass. You have to be a boss, but you can't be mean. You have to lead, but you can't squash other people's ideas. You're supposed to love being a mother, but don't talk about your kids all the damn time. You have to be a career woman, but also always be looking out for other people. You have to answer for men's bad behaviour, which is insane, but if you point that out, you're accused of complaining. 

You're supposed to stay pretty for men, but not so pretty that you tempt them too much or that you threaten other women because you're supposed to be part of the sisterhood. But always stand out and always be grateful. But never forget the system is rigged. So find a way to acknowledge that but also be grateful. You have to never get old, never be rude, never show off, never fall down, never fail, never show fear, never get out of line. It's too hard. It's too contradictory and nobody gives you a medal. And it turns out in fact that not only are you doing everything wrong, but also everything is your fault.

I'm just so tired of watching myself and every single other woman tie herself into knots so that people will like us. And if all of that is true for a doll just representing women, then I don't even know.

We women, who grew up in the heyday of Barbie's popularity have witnessed her journey from more than just a plastic doll that was a product to a much bigger idea of limitless potential for girls around the world. As we grew older, we witnessed her evolution to reflect a diverse range of body types, ethnicities, and careers, breaking free from the confines of traditional gender roles.

I am excited by my anticipation of seeing Barbie portrayed in a mature, seasoned light. Imagine if she could help challenge ageism , portraying a woman who continues to embrace life's adventures gracefully, even as she grows older. If that were to happen the movie has the power to reshape societal expectations and break down stereotypes surrounding beauty and  ageing.

I find myself wanting to share the Barbie movie experience with my daughter, daughter in law and my almost 16-year-old granddaughter Zoe. She's never played with a Barbie. When she was younger she once told me sparkles are not her style and make her head hurt. I'm not sure she'll be into it but I'll ask her.

In my opinion the movie serves as a reminder to women at any age to embrace diversity, follow their passions, and challenge societal norms fearlessly with an empowering perspective on their beauty and self-worth.

Because Barbie can be anything, women can be anything. 

Copyright: Helene Oseen 2023