Sexualized Barbies

I recently watched the Barbie movie directed by Greta Gerwig, and it stayed with me far longer than I expected.

Barbie has long been a cultural symbol that represents unrealistic beauty standards and heavily sexualized ideals of womanhood. For decades, she has been portrayed as the image of who women are supposed to be. The ideal woman we blindly allow kids to play with and look up to as role models, the representation of a “perfect women”. I have never agreed with the Barbie standards, and avoided the movie refusing to promote a movie that continued to encourage these ideals. I finally gave in, and to my surprise this movie completely destabilized pre-dispositioned views and standards of what the Mattell company has always promoted. What surprised me about this film was how intentionally it challenged and reversed that image. Instead of reinforcing traditional expectations, the movie reconstructs Barbie as a way to explore the emotional, social, and psychological struggles women face, while also acknowledging the pressures placed on men.

The film addresses themes such as rigid gender roles, toxic masculinity, mental health, and identity. One of its strongest messages is that being different, imperfect, or uncertain does not mean failure. These ideas are woven throughout the story, creating layers of meaning that encourage the audience to look beyond the surface. Although the movie is colorful, humorous, and playful, it consistently pushes viewers to reflect on how societal expectations shape personal identity.

The moment that impacted me most was Gloria’s monologue. In this scene, she describes how women are expected to be confident but not intimidating, ambitious but still agreeable, and independent while remaining emotionally available to others. She explains how women are constantly adjusting themselves to meet conflicting expectations. The emotional weight of this monologue felt especially powerful because it articulated frustrations that many women experience but rarely hear expressed so directly, the total opposite of what Barbie has always stood for.

The line that resonated with me most was, “I’m just so tired of watching myself and every single other woman tie herself into knots so that people will like us.” That statement made me pause and reflect on how much emotional labor women perform simply to be accepted. The fact that these pressures are placed even on a fictional doll highlights how deeply embedded these expectations are within our culture. It suggests that these standards are not individual failures but systemic issues.

This moment connects closely with Camelia Phạm’s discussion in The Art of Storytelling, where she explains that effective stories resonate because they draw on shared emotional experiences and cultural understanding (Pham, 2025). Gloria’s monologue works because it feels authentic and emotionally honest. It blends frustration, humor, and sadness in a way that makes the audience feel understood rather than instructed.

The film operates on multiple levels. On the surface, it functions as entertainment filled with bright visuals, humor, and nostalgia. At a deeper level, it explores themes of identity, societal pressure, and mental health. Ken’s storyline, for example, demonstrates how men can also feel trapped by expectations surrounding dominance and validation. By including this perspective, the film avoids placing blame on one group and instead critiques the larger systems that restrict both women and men.

Experiencing this story as a film rather than a book or stage production added to its impact. The visuals, performances, music, and tone work together to create emotional depth. These elements help translate abstract ideas about identity and pressure into experiences that feel real and immediate.

Overall, Barbie is more than a movie about dolls or nostalgia. It is a story that reflects real emotional struggles and cultural expectations. It demonstrates how storytelling can move beyond entertainment to challenge assumptions and encourage self-reflection. The layered meanings within the film are what make it feel personal, relevant, and significant. This has created a societal new perspective on Barbie and what the brand supports. It promotes positive body image, and mental health because as we can be whatever we want, nobody is perfect and has their own individual beliefs, values, and personal struggles. Promoting these ideals re-creates Barbie’s identity and allows our future generations to live and accept real life experiences.

References:

Gerwig, G. (2023). Barbie. Warner Bros.

Pham, C. (2025). The art of storytelling. TED. https://www.ted.com/talks/camelia_ph_m_the_art_of_storytelling