MOVIE REFLECTION

Movie: Barbie (2023)

At the beginning of the movie, in a fantasy world called Barbieland, Barbies were respected by Kens. Barbies are female dolls and Kens are male dolls. Barbies acquired some authority and leadership over Kens. Barbies became the supreme heads of the land. But they missed a point: showing some respect towards Kens. Barbies didn’t entertain the idea of treating Kens equally. They didn’t think from Kens’ perspective. Barbies only thought about themselves. This power structure would drastically change when the protagonist, the stereotypical Barbie, went on a quest to real world of men and women. She also took along her friend, Ken.

In real world, men treated the women just like Barbies treated Kens; but only a little bit worse in Barbie land. However, women were starting to take initiative and leadership roles, just like men. They were realizing their rightful place in society.

Ken was bewitched by the real men and their relative dominance over women. He would go back to Barbieland and help Kens understand their own position in Barbie land. Kens then brainwashed Barbies before the stereotypical Barbie could reach Barbie land. When the stereotypical Barbie returned, she would find Barbie land taken over by Kens and transformed it into Kendom. That’s when the realization occurred to Barbie that how they used to treat Kens. The stereotypical Barbie felt really bad about it and couldn’t resist the urge to enlighten the fellow Barbies and bring a positive change to their world, where equality lied. Barbies learned from their mistakes and proclaimed equal rights and positions in respect to Kens.

Just as the Barbies learned their lesson, I hope people in the real world can achieve the same realization and strive for gender equality, ultimately abolishing patriarchy.

by

Akshara Jasti

Class IX

Written in September 2023