We Are Barbie by Esther Nelson

I recently (July 2023) watched “Barbie,” the popular summer, blockbuster movie directed by Greta Gerwig.  I liked the film enough to see it twice!  Among other things, it seemed to be a narrative where women struggle to become fully human in spite of our patriarchal social system.  I am not going to review the movie.  American film critic for the New York Times, Manohla Dargis, has done that quite well already. 

What I will do is explore parts of the film that were meaningful to me.

Even though things are perfect in Barbieland where “every night is girls’ night,” Barbie begins to question that perfect world.  She has thoughts of death.  The next morning her shower spews cold water and she tumbles off her roof instead of gently floating down to her parked car as has been her practice.  She visits Weird Barbie, who lives on the edge of Barbieland.  Weird Barbie insists that she (Stereotypical Barbie) must visit the “real world” (symbolized by a Birkenstock sandal), not stay in Barbieland (symbolized by a high heel shoe).

Barbie’s experience brought to mind the Biblical story (Genesis) where God expelled the first woman and first man (later named Eve and Adam) from the Garden of Eden. So many Biblical interpreters of this narrative have blamed Eve for plunging humanity into sin and ultimate death. The influential church father, Tertullian (ca. 155 – 245 CE), seemed particularly vitriolic towards women. Our culture has absorbed his fervor.

“You [woman] are the devil’s gateway: you are the unsealer of that (forbidden) tree:  you are the first deserter of the divine law:  you are she who persuaded him (Adam) whom the devil was not valiant enough to attack. You destroyed so easily God’s image, man.”

I was well into my adult years before I realized that Eve’s behavior (consuming the forbidden fruit with Adam) was a healthy stride towards acquiring knowledge, autonomy, and independence—all good things!  Barbie, seems to me, follows in Eve’s footsteps.

In the movie, the all-male Mattel Board of Directors, upon discovering that Barbie was “loose” (running around instead of shackled in her box), the clarion call from this not-so-august group became, “No one rests ‘til Barbie is back in the box.” Theologians—especially those influencing right-wing politics today—continue along Tertullian’s misogynistic path, blaming women for the ills of humanity.  The best way to deal with “loose” women is to bind them to patriarchal, masculine-infused overseers. What? You want control over your own reproduction? Nope. It’s back in the box for you!  Guys, let’s get stronger locks.

Ultimately, Barbie does not go back in the box. She’s experienced life in the “real world” and discovers that she’d rather live with imperfection (the human condition) than shackled by plastic ties in her box. Am pretty sure that’s what Eve was looking for—becoming fully human—even though that entails messiness and pain. Barbie wants to be fully human as well even if it means living with cellulite and flat feet (no heels).

Barbie grew tired of being objectified. Towards the end of the film, she realizes she no longer wants to be the idea—a passive rendition of herself given over to adjusting herself to the whims of tradition or convention.  She longs to be the one doing the imagining—an active stance where she takes charge of her own life. Here’s a quote from the actress America Ferrera in the movie:  “By giving voice to the cognitive dissonance required to be a woman under the patriarchy you’ve robbed it of its power. I’m just so tired of watching myself and every single other woman tie herself into knots so that people will like us.”

So…….I watched “Barbie” with a couple of female friends. A day or so later, one of them chastised me for having an over-abundance of male friends. She mentioned three. One is dead, one is gay, and the other is a former colleague, a straight, White guy. “Don’t you have any women friends?” she asked. Wait, I thought to myself, aren’t you my friend?  Ain’t you a woman?  She then remembered that I have X (a female friend), but “she doesn’t count because she’s lesbian.” WHAT?!

Regarding my former colleague, my friend said, “He IS the patriarchy.” I don’t think quickly on my feet. But, my gut roiled. I don’t think it’s intellectually sound to point to one man and say HE is the patriarchy.  It’s like pointing to one White person and saying, THEY are White Supremacy.  However, unless men and White people repent (work towards dismantling their privilege), they perpetuate misogyny and racism.

Both patriarchy and race are social constructs. Humans created them. When one is born into privilege, it’s vital to acknowledge that privilege and work towards deconstructing what has been held sacred for millennia.  Deconstruction creates a space for humans (in all their diversity) to flourish.  I had to learn (along with other White people) NOT to be racist. My former colleague had to learn (along with other men) NOT to be sexist. Seems my friend who watched the “Barbie” movie with me doesn’t allow for people to learn better and then do better.

All of the Kens, at one point during the movie, take over Barbieland. They place a spell on the Barbies who then revert to stereotypical female behavior—caretakers and upholders of the patriarchal system. Eventually, the Barbies reclaim Barbieland.  Barbie, though, has been transformed through her journey into the “real world” and tells Ken, “It doesn’t have to be girls’ night every night.” Barbie expanded her world and began to include those not like her.

Maybe at some point I will tell my friend that not all of a woman’s friends need be female. There are “woke” men who eschew the patriarchal status quo. There are also “un-woke” women who busy themselves replicating patriarchy.

Barbie awakened from her perfect slumber in Barbieland. We can as well. “Sí, se puede!” (Quote from the movie.)