Barbie (2023) really had Barbie say “hey. I know the reason you hurt me is because I hurt you. I’m sorry I hurt you, because you didn’t deserve that. I know you are a better person than this, and you are fully capable of being that person. I can’t change the past, and I don’t think we can be in each other’s lives anymore without hurting each other, but i am sorry and I want you to be happy. I want you to find your identity and love yourself and live.” and then she realizes she’s also talking about herself.
she’s saying “I deserve to live. We both deserve to live.” it is one of the kindest things I have ever seen done to someone and to themselves in any piece of media ever
The Barbie Movie is the movie of all time for many reasons, but the core message being “Perfoming gender roles hurts everyone, you should be your authentic self no matter what society says” really knocked it out of the park
He’s a doll most people have never heard of. He got discontinued forever ago cause he was perceived as gay by consumers and they didn’t like that.
But I love that he had an actual role in Barbie. He was very queer coded, yeah, but he didn’t like when all the Kens turned to Patriarchy. He was so uncomfortable that he wanted to abandon Barbieland all together. He knew it was wrong.
And then he helped the Barbies get themselves back. He had a pink jumpsuit and sunglasses and went out all stealthy to get the Barbies in the van. He even voted at the end to keep the constitution the way it was.
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 wanna be thin. You have to say you wanna 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.
You’re supposed to love being a mother, but don’t talk about your kids all the damn time.
You have to be a career woman, but also, always be looking out for other people.
You have to answer for men’s bad behavior, which is INSANE, but if you point that out, you’re accused of complaining!
You’re supposed to stay pretty for men, but not so pretty that you tempt them too much or that you threaten other women because you’re supposed to be a part of the sisterhood, but ALWAYS STAND OUT and ALWAYS BE GRATEFUL. But never forget that the system is rigged, so find a way to acknowledge that but ALSO, always be grateful!
You have to never get old. Never be rude. Never show off. Never be selfish. Never fall down. Never fail. Never show fear. Never get OUT OF LINE. It’s too hard! It’s too contradictory, and nobody gives you a medal or says ‘thank you!’ And it turns out, in fact, that not only are you doing everything wrong, but also, everything is your fault.
I’m just so tired of watching myself, and every single other woman tie herself into knots, so that people will like us.
And if all of that, is also true for a doll just representing a woman, then I don’t even know.“ -Gloria the barbie movie
One thing that tickled me about the Barbie movie was how Gloria’s husband is (imo) a ‘Real World’ Ken.
We see very little of him in the movie. In both of his scenes, he’s trying to speak/learn Spanish. He does nothing important or if consequence in terms of the plot… But he’s trying to learn a language his wife and daughter speak. He’s not excelling, I’m not even sure if he’s succeeding. But he is kensistently trying.
For all of the 'Real World’ men who are antagonists or opponents to Barbie, El Esposo de Gloria (as he is listed in the credits) has true Kenergy.
Hello! I am a wee hobbit and friendly neighborhood librarian. I mostly reblog whatever my current hyperfixation is and things I just think are neat. Icon made by @noodles-and-tea
