Barbie on Screen: Exploring Representations and Debating White Feminism

Written by: Allisya Shalimar

History of Barbie and White Feminism

Barbie was introduced to the world as a means of inspiring girls to envision possibilities beyond conventional gender expectations. The emergence of Barbie rejuvenate of once a simple fashion baby doll product. to a long lasting icon concerning matters such as body image and gender roles. Throughout much of her history, Barbie, as a cultural icon, initially embodied Western and white beauty standards with her blonde hair, blue eyes, and unrealistic proportions, reflecting a Eurocentric ideal. Yet, over the years, Barbie has come under scrutiny concerning her association with white feminism ideology.

This lack of intersectionality in white feminism has sparked discussions highlighting the issues it neglects. White feminism championing the interests of white, middle-class women, has been critiqued for its failure to challenge the patriarchal system and address the concerns of marginalized spectrums, including women of color, lower socioeconomic backgrounds, and LGBTQ+ individuals. Barbie’s lack of diversity reinforced her image as a representation only for the stereotypical middle-class white woman, failing to acknowledge the diverse challenges faced by marginalized communities.

Overview of the Barbie Movie

The latest release of the Barbie movie serves as the pinnacle of Barbie’s evolution through the changing portrayal of femininity while preserving its cultural icon aligned with its primordial vision. The film’s prominent focus is promoting inclusivity and showcasing diverse representation, which can be seen in fresh new faces of Barbie that come from a number of various backgrounds. The film highlights Barbie’s voyage to the human world, where her experiences lead her to a deeper understanding of the challenges faced by women in a patriarchal society such as real-life issues including misogyny, self-image concerns, and power imbalances within the patriarchal structure and many more.

Critics

The movie has garnered significant scrutiny from both film critics and feminists concerning its content and the intended message it seeks to convey. As the movie aims to promote inclusivity and equality, many have criticized the movie for doing the opposite. Athough the movie itself does include a diverse range of characters from various backgrounds, and career opportunities for the Barbies that are usually characterized as that belong to a man, it has failed to highlight the intersectional experiences and challenges of other women from different backgrounds, particularly those from a marginalized background. The movie has been criticized for celebrating a kind of hollow feminist representation which primarily centers around the vocalization of concerns from women that are already seen as the standard. For instance, while the movie features characters in prestigious roles like the President of Barbieland, doctors, and Nobel Prize winners, critics have underscored the absence of career recognition for a Barbie from a less privileged background. This highlights the potential challenges such a Barbie might encounter in pursuing career opportunities compared to their counterparts who have already attained higher societal standards. The movie is being criticized for being too far from reality itself that it has failed to cover the underlying issues of racism, poverty, disability, etc.

Author’s note

While it is true that Barbie, as a cultural icon, to a certain extent predominantly embodies white feminism, it’s essential to acknowledge the ongoing efforts by Barbie creators over the years to introduce more diverse and inclusive iterations of the character. Furthermore, the movie has taken these efforts to a new and heightened level. Though the Barbie movie may be open for interpretations and broader conversations, Barbie does not possess the ideological accountability of representing the full spectrum of diversity or inclusivity. Let alone treating the movie as a political manifesto, to which this deviation itself has moved significantly away from the heartfelt message conveyed by the movie. The movie’s core message embodies empowerment, whether it’s personal empowerment or empowerment of women as a whole. It urges the audience to challenge societal norms and expectations. This message isn’t exclusively aimed at only those who critique Barbie for its focus on white feminism; it’s intended to resonate with a broad audience, including those who may or may not have a deep understanding of feminism. This movie is meant to dissect feminism on a surface level which simplifies the complex concepts of feminism for better comprehension. This accomplishment alone merits the movie the recognition it rightfully deserves.

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