Realities of Barbie

One thing I thought during the Barbie movie was how women's experience in society, like Gloria said in her monologue, of being expected to change ourselves for the view of society around us, parallels the journey of the Barbie doll itself, with the company changing aspects of the stereotypical doll as well as attempts at other dolls to appeal to their perceived audience. 

When Barbie was first introduced, male company owners were confused because they had thought little girls only wanted baby dolls. This points to the way girls are stereotypically raised to be mothers or caregivers. In contrast, men are commonly fostered throughout their upbringing to believe they can and to become their most successful selves. Little girls proved to be interested in the concept of an adult doll rather than a baby that they could customize and dream about the future. The way that the story of Barbie changes to be perceived higher within this androcentric society is prevalent in the real world and Barbieland.

Another thing I thought of was the parallels and differences between Barbie Land and the real world, whether purposefully obvious or not. The depiction of Barbie Land was a less dark and deadly version of the power structure in the real world, just inverted - a stagnant utopia for the Barbie’s. Even though the real world’s patriarchy was depicted in a joking way, we know it is far more serious.

In the original Barbie land, the Barbie’s pushed people out of the town they thought were different and didnt even know where the Ken’s lived. When the Mattel executive said he would return Barbie Land to what it was before, and the President said it should stay how it is, Greta said that over time, the Kens in Barbie Land would only progress to have what women do in society today. I questioned this, wondering why, when we seem to acknowledge that a society that grants people more power just because of who they are is damaging, this would be what is depicted as the best Barbie land can progress to. But then again, this could be meant to mimic the toys themselves and the lesser importance of the Ken doll compared to Barbie dolls.

Even so, it is far more interesting in relation to the real world. Barbie Land continued to put women above men, and the Kens were happy with being given a little more than they had. Some don’t like this as it is women being above men. Still, the irony is that this is how women are vastly treated in society today, and if these people, the majority of men, don't like the system reversed, perhaps they shouldn't support it the way it is. A society that benefits all equally must come beyond this and work to value everyone. While the Barbies expanded their minds and worked with others, like “Weird” Barbie, and the Kens and Barbies both felt autonomy, the Barbies still didn’t want it to be equal. “Weird” Barbie wasn’t even prominent at the court when the Barbies beat the Kens, even though she played a large role in helping them in the first place - despite how they treated her forever. In the end, Barbie Land treated everyone better overall than Kendom, which perpetuated the patriarchal stereotypes Ken learned in the real world. In Barbie Land, the Barbies seemed more content on their own, with Ken’s job as “beach”, whereas the Barbie's job when in the patriarchy was entertainment for the men - a nod to the real world and how men learn to use and abuse their power.