The Hidden Messages in the Barbie Movie: Critical Gender Issues We Can’t Ignore

In 2023, the world was swept off its feet by the cinematic juggernaut that was Barbie. What many anticipated as a light-hearted romp about a fashion doll turned into a surprisingly introspective film about patriarchy, identity, governance, and gender dynamics. Directed by Greta Gerwig, Barbie transcends its commercial origins, becoming a cultural conversation starter. The movie’s depth is layered beneath its pink gloss, and the issues it tackles are as relevant as ever.

Her choice reflects a deeper feminist message: true empowerment comes not from meeting external expectations but from defining one’s own path.

Yet, in a satirical attempt, we’ll “try” to ignore the key lessons Barbie raises — knowing full well they are inescapable.

Barbie Land: The Patriarchal Utopia in Reverse

“Barbie Land” is an idyllic matriarchy where “Barbies” rule everything, from the Supreme Court to the beach. The opening sequence presents a utopia where the women are confident, successful, and, as far as they know, the source of all global inspiration. The Kens, on the other hand, are relegated to a mere accessory role, performing shallow tasks to affirm their self-worth.

This role reversal is the movie’s first major challenge to patriarchal norms. By inverting societal gender roles, the film exposes the absurdity of patriarchy. The Kens, reduced to a single-dimensional existence, showcase what centuries of women have experienced in patriarchal societies. When Ken (played by Ryan Gosling) visits the “Real World” and discovers patriarchy, the simplicity with which he adopts its ideals illustrates how arbitrary these power dynamics are.

Ken’s Patriarchy: A Childish Reflection of Male Dominance

Ken’s simplistic view of patriarchy — horses, trucks, and “beach” dominance — is as ridiculous as it is insightful. He introduces patriarchy to Barbie Land with the excitement of a child discovering a new toy, building an empire rooted in his shallow understanding of masculinity. This highlights how many patriarchal ideals are constructed; not from inherent truths but from generations of unchecked assumptions and conditioning.

Ken’s takeover is not malicious, but rather an attempt to find his identity. His inability to exist outside of his relationship with Barbie mirrors how women, for so long, were expected to define themselves by their relationships with men. His confusion, vulnerability, and ultimate crisis of identity challenge the toxic ideal of what men are supposed to be, offering commentary on male fragility in a system designed for their supremacy.

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Barbie’s Identity Crisis: What Happens When Perfection Isn’t Enough?

Margot Robbie’s Barbie begins the film as a symbol of perfection, embodying the impossible standards women have faced for decades. She’s beautiful, successful, and endlessly admired in her world — until the cracks start to show. When Barbie begins to experience existential doubts and physical imperfections (cue the “flat feet”), she embarks on a journey to discover what it means to be truly human.

This existential crisis symbolizes the struggle many women face when they’re expected to be perfect in every aspect of their lives — professional, personal, physical, and emotional. Barbie’s journey reflects the feminist movement’s evolution, from demanding access to professional spaces to challenging the unrealistic expectations placed on women in those spaces.

Barbie and Stereotypes: A Lesson in Self-Realization

Throughout her journey, Barbie encounters many different versions of herself, from the “weird” Barbie (played hilariously by Kate McKinnon) to Doctor Barbie, Lawyer Barbie, and President Barbie. The diversity of “Barbies” emphasizes the multifaceted nature of womanhood. Yet, each version is still confined to a stereotype or a role.

The fact that Stereotypical Barbie starts to break down and question her identity suggests that even the roles intended to empower women can be limiting. The film begs the question: Can women truly be free if they are constantly trying to live up to an ideal?

Women’s Empowerment: Beyond Symbolism

While Barbie makes excellent use of satire to critique patriarchy, it also delves into the notion of women’s empowerment in ways that go beyond surface-level girl power. For instance, Barbie Land’s governance structure, entirely dominated by the Barbies, is a tongue-in-cheek reversal of the real world. The initial scenes show the Barbies effortlessly running every important institution, from government to media, which on the surface appears to reflect the feminist dream.

However, the movie points out that a simple role reversal isn’t true empowerment. When Ken’s patriarchal system takes over, the Barbies lose their agency, falling into subservient roles without resistance. This reflects how, in the real world, women have been conditioned to accept patriarchal structures. The ease with which Barbie Land falls into patriarchy serves as a critique of how deeply internalized gender norms can be.

Gloria’s Speech: The Heart of Women’s Struggles

One of the most powerful moments in Barbie comes when Gloria (played by America Ferrera), a human character who works at Mattel, is deeply disillusioned by the expectations placed on women. Gloria’s heartfelt monologue articulates the frustration of living in a world that demands perfection while punishing women for trying to meet those standards.

She delivers a searing monologue that articulates the impossible standards placed on women in society:

“It is literally impossible to be a woman. You are so beautiful, and so smart, and it kills me that you don’t think you’re good enough. Like, we have to always be extraordinary, but somehow we’re always doing it wrong. You have to be thin, but not too thin. And you can never say you want to be thin. You have to say you want to be healthy, but also, you have to be thin. You have to have money, but you can’t ask for money because that’s crass. You have to be a boss, but you can’t be mean. You have to lead, but you can’t squash other people’s ideas.”

Gloria’s words cut to the heart of the unrealistic expectations placed on women, offering one of the film’s most poignant critiques of gender norms. She critiques the impossible balancing act that society demands from women. They must be strong but not too strong, successful but not intimidating, beautiful but not vain, maternal but not overbearing. This speech encapsulates the core feminist message of the movie, underscoring how societal pressures shape the way women think and behave.

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Governance and the Fallacy of Perfection in Leadership

In Barbie Land, the Barbies hold all positions of power, and their governance is portrayed as flawless. But when Ken introduces patriarchy, their society collapses with shocking speed. This transition raises essential questions about governance and leadership: Is it possible for any system to be flawless when it rests on the exclusion of a group?

The film cleverly critiques not just patriarchy but the very idea of governance based on power imbalances. When Ken takes over, he imposes a system that mirrors our real world, where leadership often falls into the hands of those least equipped to wield it wisely. This power imbalance destabilizes Barbie Land, forcing the Barbies to confront their assumptions about their own superiority.

Restoring Order in Barbie Land: A Lesson in Collaboration

At the film’s climax, Barbie and the others reclaim power, but they do so by reasserting collaboration and mutual respect rather than dominance. The film rejects the notion that one group — whether men or women — should dominate the other. Instead, it advocates for a society where everyone can contribute, free from the confines of rigid gender expectations.

By the end, Ken acknowledges that his identity doesn’t have to revolve around Barbie, and Barbie herself realizes that she doesn’t need to be a symbol of perfection. These realizations represent a fundamental shift from hierarchical power structures to a more balanced, human-centric approach to governance and relationships.

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Gender Roles: The Absurdity of Binary Definitions

One of the movie’s most effective critiques lies in its dismantling of traditional gender roles. Both Barbie and Ken struggle with the identities prescribed to them by society, and their journeys reflect the confusion many people experience when trying to fit into rigid gender binaries.

The Kens: Toxic Masculinity as a Tragic Farce

Ken’s quest to find himself is an exaggerated commentary on toxic masculinity. His initial motivation is simple — to win Barbie’s approval — but his exposure to the patriarchy amplifies this into a desire for domination and validation from other men. His toxic masculinity, marked by his desire to control and dominate, is played for laughs, but it also underscores how destructive these norms can be for men.

Ken’s eventual realization that he doesn’t need to be defined by patriarchy — that he can be “Kenough” — is a poignant message about self-acceptance. This speaks directly to the pressure many men feel to conform to societal expectations of masculinity, which often come at the expense of their emotional well-being.

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Barbie: A Journey from Object to Subject

Barbie’s journey throughout the film reflects the transition from being an object of the male gaze to becoming the subject of her own story. Initially, Barbie exists to be admired and emulated, but as the film progresses, she begins to question her purpose. This mirrors the journey many women experience as they navigate a world that objectifies them based on their appearance or their roles in relation to men.

By the end of the film, Barbie’s decision to leave Barbie Land and become human is a powerful statement on agency. She chooses to live in the messiness of reality, with all its imperfections, rather than stay in a world where she’s seen as perfect but hollow. Her choice reflects a deeper feminist message: true empowerment comes not from meeting external expectations but from defining one’s own path.

Other Important Lessons on Life and Gender from Barbie (2023)

Beyond the obvious critiques of patriarchy and empowerment, Barbie offers a multitude of smaller, yet equally significant, lessons on life and gender.

The Importance of Community

Throughout the film, Barbie Land functions as a collective society where the Barbies support each other. Even when their world falls apart, it is the Barbies working together that ultimately saves them. This speaks to the importance of community, particularly among marginalized groups, as a source of strength and resilience.

Imperfection as Freedom

Barbie’s transformation from a flawless doll to a real woman symbolizes the freedom that comes with embracing imperfection. In a world obsessed with perfection — be it physical beauty, career success, or personal relationships — the film advocates for the messy, imperfect nature of real life. Perfection, it suggests, is not the goal. Living authentically, with all the struggles and vulnerabilities that come with it, is what makes life meaningful.

Embracing Imperfection: The Concept of Wabi-Sabi

The Japanese philosophy of wabi-sabi beautifully complements Barbie‘s message about embracing imperfection. Rooted in Zen Buddhism, wabi-sabi is the art of appreciating beauty that is “imperfect, impermanent, and incomplete.”

Wabi-sabi is a philosophy that finds beauty in imperfection, transience, and the natural cycle of growth and decay. Just as Barbie learns that life’s imperfections make it richer, wabi-sabi teaches that flaws and irregularities are what make things — and people — uniquely beautiful.

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The Fluidity of Identity

Both Barbie and Ken struggle with identity, but their resolution shows that identity is not fixed. Barbie moves from being a perfect, one-dimensional character to a complex, multifaceted human. Ken, too, learns that he doesn’t need to define himself through Barbie or the patriarchy. Their journeys reflect a broader truth about human identity: it is fluid and evolving, shaped by experience, self-reflection, and the courage to defy societal expectations.

Discovering Who Barbie Is Beyond the Plastic World

In Barbie, Greta Gerwig delivers a film that is as layered and complex as the issues it tackles. While it may be tempting to dismiss it as a mere comedy about dolls, the film is a sharp critique of the gender dynamics that shape our world. From patriarchy and toxic masculinity to identity and empowerment, Barbie dives headfirst into the cultural and societal issues that continue to impact men and women alike.

The Liberation of Women and What it Means for Patriarchal Society

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By the end of the movie, Barbie’s journey from a symbol of superficiality to a figure of empowerment is complete. But it’s not just Barbie’s world that has changed — it’s ours. The film challenges viewers to reconsider the roles they’ve been assigned and to imagine a world where we can all be more than the stereotypes we’ve been forced to inhabit.

In trying to ignore the important issues Barbie raises, we ultimately find them impossible to escape.