Barbie

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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?

I thought it was funny and fun.

I thought the feminist message was a mess though. It wasn't coherent. Theyjust got some simple soundbites in and mentioned 'patriarchy' a lot. I don't think that kind of reductive femisim helps young women. Yes you get a high on your 'girl power' feelings for a bit, but the real issues for young women in the West, and even the Barbies are around how we form and navigate positive realstionships and partnerships with men and how we incorporate motherhood into our lives.

A film which just shows the Kens as irrelevant idiots to be ignored isn't helpful as this isn't how men are, and most women do want decent men in thier lives. And a feminist film that doesn't deal with the real crux of women's vulnerability, our reproductive role, is just pointless too.

Otherwise what is the diffrence between the Barbies and the Kens? Just femininity and masculinity? In that way it is a trans film. The two groups were just different based on their looks, and the girly looking ones were the best ones.
That's just stupid feminism and trans ideology. Why didn't Ken just put on a dress and become a Barbie? The Dr was Barbie because she had a dress on.

I did think at the end when she went to her gynecologist that was finally a nod to this is the real difference for women, what our biology means for us.

But a film which really helps young women think about what the issues of being a women are wouldn't just nod to that at the end. it would make it central.

Having said all of that. I think there are many different interpretations so worth seeing because it poses some interesting discussions.

Shes a woman.

OP, honestly go and see it. Part of the points you've made are addressed. Its not just a film where theres lots of different barbies.

Its nloody brilliant.
Or don't , but dont criticise a film you havent seen.

I enjoyed the film more than I thought I would. The message I felt probably would ring true with women in their late 30s and beyond who had felt conflicted and pressured by everyday demands. I know it is clumsy in many ways but it started to show show how women were less pigeon holed - encouraging people to go a step further and think that we are just individuals.

I was pleased there was no mention of the trans debate in the movie with just male and females. I didn't know there was as man playing a Barbie until I read about this own MN - I don't think the casting should have allowed this.

The whole film was a trans film:

Feminine presenting people were oppressed, not people with female bodies.

If it has been about female oppression it would have covered puberty, periods, shame, rape, fear of male violence, abortion, contaception, pregnancy, beastfeeding, raising children.

Most of which wouldn't get a PG rating.

So it's Barbie Pink/ Spice Girls type feminism 'Girl Power' 'Girls are the best' 'Down with the patriarchy' type stuff.

All fine but superficial nonsense.

Oh stop it.

There wasn't. There was a woman playing the doctor.

Funnily enough the director wouldnt have been able to exclude them from the part due to their gender. I'm sure theres a word for that.

In glad the trans person didnt ruin your enjoyment of the film 🙄

Ken is a he. Doctor is a barbie

And she didnt treat men like irrelevant idiots at all the whole thing is a parody

Stop what?

I'm offering an interpretaion of a film.

I think it was more about oppression of feminine people rather than females.
Highlighted at the end by Barbie finally going to the gynecologist.

What do you want me to stop?

Nope, definitely a transwoman.
https://www.them.us/story/hari-nef-barbie-trans-representation/amp

Not a man then as regularly stated throughout this thread. And pronouns she.

Thanks for the picture though.

Pretending it had some trans agenda. Complete and utter nonsense.

How do we knoe Ken is ahe and Dr is a Barbie? Because of their clothes?

If there is no sex or reproduction in Barbie Land there is just gender based on what you wear.

The men were irrelevant idiots and yes it's a parody.

Trans women are men.

I don't think it had a trans agenda, I just think it's superficial feminism inadrvertently conflates with trans iedology.

How do you know anyone is anyone in any film?

FWIW, it definitely was because while they are regularly mocked and assaulted on films and tv shows, they are committing suicide in their thousands. Yet to see a film or tv show highlighting that (that is more aimed at the poster who thought we should focus on biological female issues).

No a woman was not playing the doctor - which I think is disappointing as the film really showed two genders male and female. There was not mention of moving between genders/sex - which I believe is not possible so the film as far as that is concerned followed the truth. The casting of the dr really shows that the real world is where the problem is!

No they're either women (imo,) or trans women.
Your statement is transphobic.

They had a black barbie, a wheelchair barbie, a bigger barbie, erc etc. Could you imagine I wrote in a public forum I wouldnt have gone to see if I knew there was a disabled barbie?

I'd have quite liked to see a trans man barbie personally but hed be a woman to you I assume?

They couldnt win that. Doctor barbie was cast with no mention in the film of it, yet people are claiming there was an agenda.

Are you suggesting hari should have been turned down based on her gender?theres a word for that.

Presumably a Trans Barbie is a Ken doll with Barbie's clothes on, and who got some tits added?

If no one has reproductive function there's only arbitary changable gender left. Or I guess Ken has a more chiselled jaw than Barbie so you'd still be able to tell?

What makes Barbie's different from the Kens? about from clothes?

Yes, a man, transwomen are men with XY chromosomes and man bodies and everything.

I’m glad I could provide you with a picture, would have thought you could get your own though, what with you being on the internet and all.

We know 99% of the time because men and women look different even if they dress the same.

We are choosing to use language differently.

Only men can be trans women, and trans women are men.

Women are not and cannot be men.

It's not transphobic it's just a fact. Nothing worng with being a man.

Citation please.

Of?

It is possible to employ either a male or female, someone of a particular ethnic background or someone who does not have a specific disability for some jobs. For example there jobs where you need to be able to see - which automatically rules out those who are blind. There are acting roles where they require someone to be a particular race or sex, just as a school can in some cases advertise for a female or male PE teacher.
I think this role is case where they should have only cast females