this post was submitted on 21 Oct 2024
268 points (94.4% liked)

196

16407 readers
1870 users here now

Be sure to follow the rule before you head out.

Rule: You must post before you leave.

^other^ ^rules^

founded 1 year ago
MODERATORS
 

"barbie truly created the ideal society. women in every career field without question and holding positions of power. wearing pink traditionally hyper-feminine outfits while doing so. modern urban planning that creates walkable utopian cities. unique architectural designs. himbos everywhere. neon colors as far as the eye can see. everyone slaying."

you are viewing a single comment's thread
view the rest of the comments
[–] Lyre@lemmy.ca 34 points 1 week ago (4 children)

It is kind of funny that the movie's ultimate message was that a society with strictly enforced gender roles and a dominant sex is good.

Also where was the queer representation? They showed magic earing Ken but no gay characters? Really??

[–] JoMiran@lemmy.ml 62 points 1 week ago (2 children)

The Barbie movie was primarily an excuse for Greta to put this epic monologue out into the world.

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. 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 women, then I don't even know.

I have never cringed harder at a movie than during this monologue. I like the rest of the movie though.

[–] masterofn001@lemmy.ca 34 points 1 week ago (1 children)

If you watched the movie you know that's exactly not what it said.

[–] Lyre@lemmy.ca 5 points 1 week ago

I mean by the by it was a funny movie and I liked it. But when you get right down to it, it was a hail-mary attempt by Matel to switch the narrative about their toys being unhealthy for young women's body image. I'd say thats the only consistent message it had.

[–] LePoisson@lemmy.world 14 points 1 week ago (1 children)

What movie did you watch? That's a terrible take on it. I'm not sure how you could even think that's the message. That's like literally the opposite of the movie's message.

[–] Lyre@lemmy.ca 6 points 1 week ago (1 children)

Do you think so? Consider the subtext, not just the genders of the actors.

The conflict of the film is, quite literally, an oppressed sex lashing out at the society that oppressed them and taking control. The resolution is the previously dominant sex regaining control and putting the oppressed sex back in their former, subservient positition.

The movie almost literally ends by asking the audience "Why is this resolution bad?" 💀

I haven't seen the movies, but I feel like the majority of kids who play with Barbies inevitably make them marry and/or screw each other. I had like 20 female dolls and only two male dolls, so I wasn't sure how else I was supposed to "pair" them off.