Barbie is a fashion doll created by an American businesswoman Ruth Handler, manufactured by American toy company Mattle. The brand Barbie Doll was launched in the market in 1959. Barbie brand includes a range of fashion dolls and accessories. It’s a common norm of gifting Barbie dolls to girls and boys. Barbie’s male counterpart is Ken. Barbie & Ken have been leading brands of fashion toy market for over six decades. Mattel has sold over a billion Barbie dolls, making it the company’s largest and most profitable line. The brand has expanded into a multimedia franchise since the late 1980s, including video games and computer animated films.
Parents buy Barbie dolls for their children because the benefits of doll-play encourage creativity and imagination, helps in developing social skills and communication skills, it enhances finer motor skills. Some parents have observed the doll-play has boosted their children’s confidence and the children become more expressive.
The doll has been portrayed with many careers; they are sold with sets of clothes and accessories that fit the career being portrayed. She is a doctor, an engineer, an architect, a teacher etc. According to Mattle, the doll has portrayed 200 careers so far. Barbie is a strong, independent woman who confronts societal expectations.
In 2023, Warner Bros. Pictures brought the movie ‘Barbie’ on screen, directed by Greta Gerwig, produced by Margot Robbie and her associates, on theme ‘Barbie suffers a crisis that leads her to question her world and existence’. Margot Robbie plays the lead role of Barbie in the movie which depicts breaking stereotypes surrounding the character of Barbie. She is independent and does not need a man in her life. She provides a fresh and empowering narrative.
Greta Gerwig’s direction gives insights about female existence which resonate with majority women. Actress, America Ferrera’s interview about the gendered expectations placed on women and the value of play is a significant truth. A gender stereotype is a widely held belief or generalisation about the behaviours and characteristics attributed to women and men. Many viewers complain that the movie is anti-men; this is misunderstanding of what the movie is trying to say and reveals far more about the viewer’s own philosophy on life and expectations for cinema than it does about Barbie itself.
Females are often portrayed as being emotional, caring and in need of protection. Males are often characterised as being rational, career driven and strong. But gender stereotypes are fading away in today’s world because the society has realised gender stereotyping is an obstacle to the achieving equality between men and women. Apart from the personal and social consequences, for both women and men, it also has negative repercussions on a countries’ economic development and competitiveness. Supressing the woman, trying to fit them in their role perceived by the society, inhibits their natural talents and interests from developing. A nation develops more when women are given their space to advance, innovate, administer, and lead.
Why is Barbie an inspiration? She is hardworking, Barbie has fought her way into so many careers, she’s constantly on the go. After six decades she is still learning new things, making new friends, and generally archiving as much as possible. She is happy,
Sometime in past Barbie spoke “I love shopping” and “Math class is tough.” The latter phrase received criticism from several female advocates accusing Mattel of preserving gender stereotype. In present Barbie says, “Always leave things better than you found them.” “Anything is possible.” “Barbie always represented the fact that a woman has choices.”
In the movie, the last scene captures Barbie (Margot Robbie) dressed in business casual attire as she is dropped off in front of an office building by Gloria (America Ferrera) for what seems to be a job interview. However, when Barbie reaches the reception area, she proudly declares, “I’m here to see my gynaecologist.” So, Barbie accepts her own body and soul, and is ready to experience other womanly desires.
