What The Barbie Movie Gets Right About Mental Health

Remarkable insights from a movie I didn't plan to see but am very glad I did

Photo by Sandra Gabriel on Unsplash

I didn’t plan to see the Barbie movie. I wrongly assumed it would be superficial and perpetuate cultural stereotypes about the ideal woman that are unrealistic and unhealthy. But I was curious enough to agree to go with a friend who wanted to see it.

Much to my surprise, I loved the Barbie movie. I was moved to tears at one point and laughed uncontrollably at others.

I certainly did not expect the movie to accurately portray how detrimental to our mental health traditional gender role expectations are. I never imagined watching it would be an emotionally powerful experience I’m still pondering a week later.

The movie features a diverse group of Barbies and other characters. The one who resembles the photo above calls herself “stereotypical Barbie.” I won’t give too much of the plot away, but suffice it to say that when stereotypical Barbie and Ken visit the real world both are shocked by what they observe and how they are treated.

The scene that moved me to tears was when one character (Gloria, played by America Ferrara) talked about how impossible it is for women to live up to society’s expectations. This is an excerpt from her speech, as quoted here:

You’re supposed to stay pretty for men, but not so pretty that you tempt them too much or that you threaten other women because you’re supposed to be a part of the sisterhood. But always stand out and always be grateful …

You have to never get old, never be rude, never show off, never be selfish, never fall down, never fail, never show fear, never get out of line. It’s too hard! It’s too contradictory and nobody gives you a medal or says thank you! And it turns out in fact that not only are you doing everything wrong, but also everything is your fault.

The humorous scenes often involved reversals of gender stereotypes. In one, Ken wears a shirt that says “I am Kenough.” In another, the narrator says “Barbie has a great day every day, but Ken only has a great day if Barbie looks at him.”

By far the most hilarious scene in my opinion, perhaps because I’ve battled depression and anxiety for years, was an advertisement for a fictional depressed Barbie doll. As this article about fans’ reactions recounts, “She is seen binging on sweets and wearing sweatpants all day long … while watching reruns of BBC's Pride and Prejudice.” I couldn’t stop laughing when the ad ended with this voiceover: “anxiety and OCD Barbie sold separately.”

What I loved about the movie was that it pointed out how harmful society’s gender stereotypes and role expectations are without leaving viewers feeling hopeless or powerless. It addressed a serious problem in a creative and entertaining way. It criticized patriarchy without bashing men (one scene shows how liberating it can be for men to be free of gender role expectations too). It didn’t suggest that happiness is only possible if one is in a romantic relationship.

I also love that the Barbie movie is breaking box office records partly because women aren’t the only ones who appreciate its message. Before I went, my sister told me her teenage son had seen it and said it was good. He went on his own, not because a girl he liked talked him into going.

I see the movie’s popularity as an encouraging sign that more people of all genders are realizing that we are healthier and happier when we are free to be our authentic selves. Confining people to specific roles based solely on their genders is harmful to both individuals and society.

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Have you seen the Barbie movie? If so, what did you think of it? If not, do you plan to see it? Why or why not? How have traditional gender role expectations affected your mental health and overall well-being?