Summary
-
Barbie
‘s depiction of gender dynamics sparks fierce debate, with some viewing it as empowering and others as emasculating and divisive. - The film is praised for its feminist message by some, while others criticize it for allegedly undermining men’s roles in society.
- Singer Shakira voices concern over how the movie affected her sons, emphasizing the need to empower women while also allowing men to be protective and provide.
Barbie’s message of female empowerment continues to be a divisive talking point almost a year after the Margot Robbie movie’s release. Singer Shakira is the latest to share a disapproval of the way the movie goes about depicting the dynamics between men and women, and the way the world views them.
Barbie
4.5/5
- Release Date
- July 21, 2023
- Studio
- Heyday Films, LuckyChap Entertainment, Mattel Films
Barbie became the biggest box office hit of 2023, but that doesn’t mean that everyone was quick to praise the film. Instead, it received extreme reactions from both those who wanted to take on board the ultra-feminist vision of the movie, and those who believed its entire purpose was just to take shots at men. With so many ways to interpret the movie, outside what it appeared to be on the surface, Barbie was always going to cause controversy one way or the other.
Now, while speaking to Allure, Shakira has opened up the can of worms once again, by explaining how her young sons felt “emasculated” watching the movie, and how she doesn’t believe the film sent the right message to them. As someone who often promotes the power of women, when asked what she thought about Barbie, the Colombian singer’s response was a little unexpected. She said:
“My sons absolutely hated it. They felt that it was emasculating. And I agree, to a certain extent. I’m raising two boys. I want ’em to feel powerful too [while] respecting women. I like pop culture when it attempts to empower women without robbing men of their possibility to be men, to also protect and provide. I believe in giving women all the tools and the trust that we can do it all without losing our essence, without losing our femininity. I think that men have a purpose in society and women have another purpose as well. We complement each other, and that complement should not be lost.”
Barbie Continues to Split Opinions Over Its Message
Before Barbie was released in cinemas last summer, the film was something of an unknown entity. The actual story of the movie was unclear – even after several trailers – and everything became overshadowed by the phenomenon of “Barbenheimer.” However, as soon as the movie opened, the online arguments began.
Whether it was complaints that the movie was just bad-mouthing men for the sake of it, or it promoted the idea that women are better than men, or the simple fact that it included a central speech about what it is to be a woman in the world, there were many people who just wanted to slam the film in any way possible.
Barbie: The Ironic Mission of the Film, Explained
For a movie supposedly about rejecting unrealistic standards, Barbie only serves to enforce them.
However, many of these comments did not mention the success of the song “I’m Just Ken” from the film, or the way the movie at several times focuses on Ken’s insecurities – something which became a counterargument time and again online. Shakira’ s comments will no doubt once again spark the same debates, especially for those who are raising children and attempting to teach them how men and women can equally respect each other and compete in the world with each other at the same time.
For those who have not yet seen
Barbie
, the movie is now available across VOD platforms and streaming on Max.
