When Ruth Handler created the famous Barbie doll back in 1959, she was unaware of the legacy she was about to implant in society. Barbie’s existence has been a rocky one, full of mixed opinions and controversy; thanks to Greta Gerwig, however, Barbie is beginning to be seen in an entirely new light.
Since her conception, Barbie has been criticized for promoting unrealistic beauty standards for women; with a slim waist, long blonde hair and perfect makeup, Barbie’s existence was seen as misogynistic and representative of outdated expectations for women.
According to research done by Dr. Kathleen Keller at Pennsylvania State University, young girls, some as young as six, experienced poor self-image after playing with a Barbie doll. Further research has found that girls who play with Barbie dolls in their childhood are more likely to develop an eating disorder later on in life.
To combat the idea that Barbie is a poor role model for young girls, Mattel, the company behind Barbie, launched their campaign “You can be anything.” All of a sudden, Barbie had any job you could imagine; some Barbies were doctors, some were lawyers, some were chefs, some were even presidents.
Mattel also gave Barbie a little makeover, so all girls could feel represented. In the 1980s, Barbies of different races were produced; as of 2016, Barbies come in different body types as well.
Despite these changes, critics were still unhappy with how Barbie was presented as a perfect woman with a perfect life. Sure, she had her dreamhouse, her friends and Ken, but many people thought that she still represented the unrealistic standards for women; feminist groups have been protesting the doll for decades.
However, with Greta Gerwig’s 2023 hit blockbuster “Barbie,” audiences began seeing the doll in a new light. This brought about a new era for Barbie, an “unapologetic feminist” Barbie.
Gerwig took the stereotypical idea of Barbie and made it into something bigger than itself, surprising audiences with a poignant film about the struggles of being a woman in a patriarchal system.
Thanks to Gerwig’s film, the perception of Barbie has done a complete 180. The character is now seen as a feminist icon, someone any woman can relate to with her struggles.
Many audience members found themselves growing emotional at the end of the film, finding the portrayal of girlhood to be poignant and accurate. “Barbie” became an instant hit, with people still raving about it almost a year later.
At the very end of the film, Ruth Handler—portrayed by Rhea Pearlman— states “We mothers stand still, so our daughters can look back and see how far they’ve come.”
That line is one of the most memorable parts of the film at its emotional peak. The scene is followed by “What Was I Made For?” by Billie Eilish, which has since become one of the most recognizable songs from the film and won an Oscar for best original song.
Although the film has changed the perspective of Barbie and feminism, it has its own set of controversies. The Academy faced backlash after Margot Robbie, the actress of the titular character, and Gerwig didn’t receive nominations, meanwhile, Ryan Gosling, who played Ken, did; this sparked a conversation about the film, and how The Academy was portraying exactly what the film was about. .
Many people spoke out about Robbie and Gerwig’s lack of nomination, including Gosling himself. A similar controversy sparked when the song “I’m Just Ken’ won over “What Was I Made For?” during the Golden Globes.
Ultimately, the Barbie movie has grabbed the attention of audiences, becoming a household favorite, a stark contrast to how Barbie has been viewed in the past.
Gerwig’s filmmaking skills have given us a new perspective on Barbie, portraying womanhood in a comedic, yet thoughtful manner.
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