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Barbie

259 replies

h1d1ng1npla1ns1ght · 02/08/2023 03:25

I’m so sick of having to say “no I’m not seeing it”, “but you’re a feminist, you know it’s a feminist movie!” “I’m not that kind of feminist.” I don’t care about barbie and I don’t think it’s an appropriate medium for a feminist message, even ironically. I’m sure it’s a good movie, I’m sure it’s very feminist FOR a barbie movie. I have no interest in it. I’ve been called a bad feminist for not seeing a movie about a symbol of female oppression and body dysmorphia. I don’t care if “barbie can do anything she wants”, I’m a real woman in the real world and I can barely walk down the street safely. I don’t care if they have a slightly overweight barbie, a disabled barbie, a doctor/lawyer/farmer barbie, it’s not good enough. I have no desire to hear a feminist message from barbie’s mouth, nor defend my feminism against it.
I get that for some people it’s just a movie about a doll and they don’t care, that’s fine. But it means something actively negative to me. Can anyone either commiserate or help me to come around to the idea?

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CrazyArmadilloLady · 02/08/2023 03:31

Well, I’m a dyed-in-the-wool feminist, and I have no desire, or intention to see it.

But nobody cares either way, so I haven’t had to once defend my position. 🤷🏻‍♀️

MinnieTruck · 02/08/2023 03:40

It’s a live action film of Barbie. Is it even remotely that serious? If you don’t want to see it then you don’t need too

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h1d1ng1npla1ns1ght · 02/08/2023 03:49

It is serious for me. I think I made that clear. Of course nobody has to see it, nobody is making me see it. But I’m having to defend why I, a feminist, am not seeing a movie that is being touted as a feminist movie. I am interested and frustrated by the discussion around it.

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Coyoacan · 02/08/2023 03:49

I don't think I need to get my feminism from Hollywood through the medium of a doll I have hated all my life.

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h1d1ng1npla1ns1ght · 02/08/2023 03:51

I think that’s how I feel, cocoyan, I’m just not nearly as succinct 😂

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drhf · 02/08/2023 04:04

It’s corporate purple-washing - using spurious feminist credentials to increase sales. Mattel have hired a well-regarded feminist filmmaker to rebrand their product via a 2-hour advert which people pay them for the privilege of watching. It will go down as one of the most successful marketing campaigns in history.

Whether you or I see the film won’t worry Mattel one bit, OP. But it is important to keep explaining why these toys are harmful to girls through idealising being dangerously underweight, focused on physical appearance, and always having to seem “perfect”.

The film encourages viewers to believe that these aspects are somehow no longer present in the toys, but this is pure marketing spin. Supposedly now more realistic, the dolls still represent a woman with a significantly underweight BMI of 16.2. Suggesting this toy is a good role model is toxic propaganda, and it needs to be rebutted.

MaggieBsBoat · 02/08/2023 04:15

YANBU of course. But of course women aren’t a homogenous blob and there is room for all of us to disagree - especially on anything with regards to our rights - and feel a whole spectrum of things about such movies. I’m sorry that you feel you aren’t allowed your voice in it.
I love women. I don’t really give a shit what films they watch or don’t or even why. We ought all to try it.

DrJump · 02/08/2023 04:23

When I go I am going to pretend I am not a feminist for 2 hours. I will enjoy the costumes and filmneas of it. A bit like when I watch period dramas that have QE1 heading to Scotland and back in a day. I enjoy the scenery.

Kay286 · 02/08/2023 04:31

@h1d1ng1npla1ns1ght why who is making you defend it ? Ugh this is just … why cant people watch a movie cause you know it might be for enjoyment only rather than to having to be anything deeper and huge movement reason for or againist ? This is literally wanting to pick it apart for the sake of it ….

autienotnaughti · 02/08/2023 04:37

Ive seen it. It's a great film that explores patriarchy vs matriarchy vs equality. Whilst having a few digs and laughs at western society along the way. I don't thinks it's trying to tell feminists anything they don't know. So unless you like barbie and fancy a nostalgia fest, you probably don't need to watch it.

I would say it's a good message for teen/young adult females who are trying to figure out their place in society. The 'big speech' is very much aimed at a teen audience. There's nothing wrong with reminding young women that they don't have to put up with shit from men and to be aware of the pressure society puts on them simply for having a vagina.

WarriorN · 02/08/2023 04:41

Suggesting this toy is a good role model is toxic propaganda, and it needs to be rebutted.

Aye, the whole thing stinks of consumerism.

On top of the news that Mattel have been giving free barbies to schools with some clutching at straws evidence it increases social skills, I smell a lot of rats.

I'll watch it and probably enjoy the entertainment - I did like barbies till I really didnt and realised his toxic they were, but it does bother me that this is a new round of extra plastic and micro plastics about to be hurled at the world.

AllOfThemWitches · 02/08/2023 05:16

"symbol of female oppression and body dysmorphia."

Wow

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h1d1ng1npla1ns1ght · 02/08/2023 05:17

I’m not picking anything apart, I’m reacting negatively to being told by multiple men in my life, that as a feminist, I should go see the new Barbie movie.

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h1d1ng1npla1ns1ght · 02/08/2023 05:18

I did read the text of the speech on another post on here, I think. I agree, it’s something that a lot of young girls could benefit from hearing.

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h1d1ng1npla1ns1ght · 02/08/2023 05:23

The marketing and the polished pink feminism messaging is some of the best I’ve ever seen.

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Romitofrincone · 02/08/2023 05:30

For me the fact that the film pushes the message that women can be anything they want to me, than have Doctor Barbie played by a male, tells me all I need to know.

Isn’t one of the jokes in the film that Ken can’t believe a woman in the real world could be a doctor? Then the film doubles down on his misogyny by... hiring a male to play Doctor Barbie!

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h1d1ng1npla1ns1ght · 02/08/2023 05:31

Romitofrincone · 02/08/2023 05:30

For me the fact that the film pushes the message that women can be anything they want to me, than have Doctor Barbie played by a male, tells me all I need to know.

Isn’t one of the jokes in the film that Ken can’t believe a woman in the real world could be a doctor? Then the film doubles down on his misogyny by... hiring a male to play Doctor Barbie!

Yes, I agree.

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TheAntiGardener · 02/08/2023 05:38

I’d be annoyed by the insistence that this film is must-watch viewing for feminists. Sounds like fun entertainment and a decent feminism 101 for young women, but nothing I’ve heard about it suggests it has anything new to say for those of us with a decent grounding in feminist issues. So if it doesn’t appeal from the entertainment perspective, why would you see it?

If someone was really badgering me about this I’d say the above. Great it’s got men thinking about feminism. But the info isn’t new to all of us.

BeingATwatItsABingThing · 02/08/2023 06:17

Romitofrincone · 02/08/2023 05:30

For me the fact that the film pushes the message that women can be anything they want to me, than have Doctor Barbie played by a male, tells me all I need to know.

Isn’t one of the jokes in the film that Ken can’t believe a woman in the real world could be a doctor? Then the film doubles down on his misogyny by... hiring a male to play Doctor Barbie!

I have seen the film and somehow managed to miss this fact. That’s really disappointing!

I found this article about it which is quite interesting.

https://www.dailysignal.com/2023/07/06/this-barbie-is-transgender-woman-new-movie-gone-woke/amp/

Transgender Actor to Portray a Barbie Doll in Upcoming Movie

The "Barbie" movie is focused more on the inclusion of non-women into a brand originally intended specially for women and girls.

https://www.dailysignal.com/2023/07/06/this-barbie-is-transgender-woman-new-movie-gone-woke/amp/

Ritasueandbobtoo9 · 02/08/2023 06:18

Two good reasons to see Barbie:

  1. It’s funny
  2. They seem to realise that their are two sexes.
Iwantyourloveiwantyourspirit · 02/08/2023 06:28

Fgs it's a doll and a film. If you don't want to see it, don't. Nobody is making you. If people keep talking about it just say it's not your thing and change the subject

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h1d1ng1npla1ns1ght · 02/08/2023 06:30

For people saying it’s just a movie, don’t see it if you don’t want to: it matters to me. I posted about it here because it matters to me. Leave this post alone if it doesn’t matter to you and don’t tell me what should matter to me.

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sorrynotathome · 02/08/2023 06:35

No real need to get so snippy OP. The film is a marketing exercise and I won’t be going. The comment about doctors is astonishing however. In the UK there are more women GPs than men and currently more female medical students than male. What planet is Ken supposed to be from?

Iwantyourloveiwantyourspirit · 02/08/2023 06:40

If it matters to you fair enough, but it isn't mandatory to go and watch it. Unless you're a film critic you won't lose your job if you don't see it

HappiDaze · 02/08/2023 06:48

But I don't see how you can comment on a film that you haven't seen