I just lately (July 2023) watched “Barbie,” the favored summer time, blockbuster film directed by Greta Gerwig. I appreciated the movie sufficient to see it twice! Amongst different issues, it gave the impression to be a story the place girls battle to turn into absolutely human regardless of our patriarchal social system. I’m not going to evaluation the film. American movie critic for the New York Occasions, Manohla Dargis, has achieved that fairly properly already.
What I’ll do is discover components of the movie that have been significant to me.
Although issues are excellent in Barbieland the place “each night time is women’ night time,” Barbie begins to query that excellent world. She has ideas of dying. The subsequent morning her bathe spews chilly water and he or she tumbles off her roof as a substitute of gently floating all the way down to her parked automotive as has been her apply. She visits Bizarre Barbie, who lives on the sting of Barbieland. Bizarre Barbie insists that she (Stereotypical Barbie) should go to the “actual world” (symbolized by a Birkenstock sandal), not keep in Barbieland (symbolized by a excessive heel shoe).
Barbie’s expertise delivered to thoughts the Biblical story (Genesis) the place God expelled the primary girl and first man (later named Eve and Adam) from the Backyard of Eden. So many Biblical interpreters of this narrative have blamed Eve for plunging humanity into sin and supreme dying. The influential church father, Tertullian (ca. 155 – 245 CE), appeared notably vitriolic in direction of girls. Our tradition has absorbed his fervor.
“You [woman] are the satan’s gateway: you are the unsealer of that (forbidden) tree: you are the primary deserter of the divine regulation: you are she who persuaded him (Adam) whom the satan was not valiant sufficient to assault. You destroyed so simply God’s picture, man.”
I used to be properly into my grownup years earlier than I spotted that Eve’s conduct (consuming the forbidden fruit with Adam) was a wholesome stride in direction of buying data, autonomy, and independence—all good issues! Barbie, appears to me, follows in Eve’s footsteps.
Within the film, the all-male Mattel Board of Administrators, upon discovering that Barbie was “free” (operating round as a substitute of shackled in her field), the clarion name from this not-so-august group grew to become, “Nobody rests ‘til Barbie is again within the field.” Theologians—particularly these influencing right-wing politics at present—proceed alongside Tertullian’s misogynistic path, blaming girls for the ills of humanity. One of the simplest ways to cope with “free” girls is to bind them to patriarchal, masculine-infused overseers. What? You need management over your individual replica? Nope. It’s again within the field for you! Guys, let’s get stronger locks.
In the end, Barbie doesn’t return within the field. She’s skilled life within the “actual world” and discovers that she’d relatively dwell with imperfection (the human situation) than shackled by plastic ties in her field. Am fairly positive that’s what Eve was in search of—changing into absolutely human—though that entails messiness and ache. Barbie desires to be absolutely human as properly even when it means dwelling with cellulite and flat toes (no heels).
Barbie grew uninterested in being objectified. In direction of the top of the movie, she realizes she now not desires to be the concept—a passive rendition of herself given over to adjusting herself to the whims of custom or conference. She longs to be the one doing the imagining—an energetic stance the place she takes cost of her personal life. Right here’s a quote from the actress America Ferrera within the film: “By giving voice to the cognitive dissonance required to be a lady underneath the patriarchy you’ve robbed it of its energy. I’m simply so uninterested in watching myself and each single different girl tie herself into knots so that individuals will like us.”
So…….I watched “Barbie” with a few feminine pals. A day or so later, one in every of them chastised me for having an over-abundance of male pals. She talked about three. One is lifeless, one is homosexual, and the opposite is a former colleague, a straight, White man. “Don’t you will have any girls pals?” she requested. Wait, I assumed to myself, aren’t you my pal? Ain’t you a lady? She then remembered that I’ve X (a feminine pal), however “she doesn’t depend as a result of she’s lesbian.” WHAT?!
Concerning my former colleague, my pal stated, “He IS the patriarchy.” I don’t assume shortly on my toes. However, my intestine roiled. I don’t assume it’s intellectually sound to level to 1 man and say HE is the patriarchy. It’s like pointing to 1 White individual and saying, THEY are White Supremacy. Nonetheless, except males and White folks repent (work in direction of dismantling their privilege), they perpetuate misogyny and racism.
Each patriarchy and race are social constructs. People created them. When one is born into privilege, it’s very important to acknowledge that privilege and work in direction of deconstructing what has been held sacred for millennia. Deconstruction creates an area for people (in all their variety) to flourish. I needed to be taught (together with different White folks) NOT to be racist. My former colleague needed to be taught (together with different males) NOT to be sexist. Appears my pal who watched the “Barbie” film with me doesn’t permit for folks to be taught higher after which do higher.
The entire Kens, at one level throughout the film, take over Barbieland. They place a spell on the Barbies who then revert to stereotypical feminine conduct—caretakers and upholders of the patriarchal system. Finally, the Barbies reclaim Barbieland. Barbie, although, has been remodeled via her journey into the “actual world” and tells Ken, “It doesn’t should be women’ night time each night time.” Barbie expanded her world and commenced to incorporate these not like her.
Perhaps sooner or later I’ll inform my pal that not all of a lady’s pals want be feminine. There are “woke” males who eschew the patriarchal established order. There are additionally “un-woke” girls who busy themselves replicating patriarchy.
Barbie woke up from her excellent slumber in Barbieland. We will as properly. “Sí, se puede!” (Quote from the film.)
