Why Barbie (2023) is the Future of Feminism

Megan Hayes | Editor-in-Chief

Picture credit to Envato.com.

Feminism is a touchy subject for many and often sparks many debates... often when speaking to different generations. You'd think that our generation would be better, however, this is unfortunately not the case! Sometimes, it is hard to stomach these topics as these days we are so politically and socially divided. On this topic, though, before we start, I'd like to delve into two important points: intersectionality, and equity. The concept of intersectionality is that not everyone shares the same experiences and inequality in the same way, as different aspects of identities can intersect and shape each person's experience differently. Next, equity means striving to give everyone what they need to have the same chance at success - but this does NOT mean equality. So, why do these things matter? Why on earth does a doll made in the 50's matter now, in 2025? In this article we will delve in -- all I ask is to keep your mind open and listen!

Contrary to popular belief of the internet, feminism does not align with the "Kill All Men" vision that some more radical folks may spread or believe under the guise of feminism, when it is just plain hatred. Modern day feminism means fighting for equity in terms of pay gaps, political representation, reproductive rights, and gender-based violence among women and marginalized communities, just to name a few missions. Feminism does not only help women, as it strives to lessen strict gender roles, allowing for more freedom for any gender to exist -- men, women, and nonbinary-people alike. It allows for people to fight for a movement that supports them instead of facing backlash like some political supporters may experience when an ideology ends up being different in practice than when preached. The goal of intersectional feminism is a fair, equitable, and inclusive society for everyone.

First off, let's make a claim -- Barbie (2023) is one of the most important milestones in feminist literature as it is now a widely famous piece of media, unlike other major feminist media that has been lost in time and relevancy. What we see now, as modern day feminists and observers of the ideology, is that a large margin of feminist literature is ignored and disregarded for it's radicalism or use of jargon -- what is not easily understood is just as likely to turn people off as content that calls them out directly. The Barbie movie is a piece of media that uses widely known Hollywood stars like Margot Robbie, Ryan Gosling, Will Ferrell, and even John Cena to garner the attention of viewers. The casting, paired with humor, nostalgia, exciting visuals, and intriguing music, sets the stage and allows room for the concept of feminism to be discussed in a more open, widely known setting. It starts a discussion between millions of people who may have never even engaged with feminism before and makes them want to discuss gender roles, beauty standards, and inequalities. It makes feminism and the idea of equity more accessible for younger people, especially young girls and women.

In the movie, the writers satirically flipped the roles of society, where in Barbieland, the Barbies run everything and the Kens are seen mostly as accessories, similar to how misogyny and sexism works in the real world. (Misogyny: hatred, dislike, or strong prejudice towards women). The humor behind it comes from the extreme exaggeration of the Kens figuring out the patriarchy (social system where men hold most of the power)... they initially find it appealing because it is "all about horses". By pairing tough messages with comedy, it keeps the audience (especially those who may not often interact with topics like feminism) engaged and not defensive. Humor also helps relate viewers to the movie more.

Some critics say that the humor in the Barbie movie is one-sided, belittling and sexist towards the Ken dolls (representing men)... and one of the main arguments for this is that in the end of the movie, the Kens ask to hold space in political offices and are denied by President Barbie. She tells them they will not have full equality, but can start in lower-level positions, and many critics were outraged by this, claiming that the movie embodies KAM (Kill All Men) ideology and spreads the idea of hating men. My rebuttal to this, however, is that although it may seem like Barbieland is entirely sexist towards Kens, it is a direct reflection of how women are treated in the real world, which we can see when Barbie visits and is belittled, sexualized and cat called by men. Women are constantly at risk of these things in the real world, not in a fictional world like Barbieland. There is no fiction behind losing jurisdiction over reproductive rights, political power, and the equity needed to try to make a successful life. Besides... any negative attitude towards the Kens is purely satire, which is made plainly clear throughout the movie. Barbie even apologizes at the end of the movie, and says "it’s Barbie, and It’s Ken", versus the original "it’s Barbie and Ken".

At the end of the movie, to “What Was I Made For?” written and performed by Billie Eilish, Barbie, now named “Barb” as she enters the real world, shows us a montage of all of the key events of being a woman as she is transformed. Her creator asks her if she is ready to embark on the journey, to which Barb says yes. This movie is beautiful as it relates women in a nostalgic, tear-inducing way to the experience of growing up as a female, and invokes an emotional response for how things in life can sometimes be so bad, but so good and so painstakingly beautiful at the same time. It helps to relate different genders in the audience through different movie elements and ensures that no one in the audience feels excluded. Truly, this is a beautiful scene that makes me cry every single time I watch it - akin with many viewers. Overall, Barbie (2023) paves the way for the future of feminism. It invites everyone—women, men, and nonbinary people alike to ponder what the future of feminism could be if we gave everyone an equal chance from the beginning. Feminism is about possibility, and this movie is all about what feminism and the world can be. The movie shows the complexity of womanhood today, and overall, what it means to live the human experience. This, in conclusion, is why Barbie (2023) is the future of feminism.