Barbenheimer, the weekend when both “Barbie” and “Oppenheimer” were released, we chose to see Barbie after initially poopooing it as fluff but getting a laugh out of the trailer. We decided fun was better than seriousness of Oppenheimer. Hmmm…
It was fun at first…a perfect, pink girls world where girls get to do anything and be everything- become President or work construction, in pretty clothes with perfect hair and bodies. What’s not to like?
But then for me, it got heavy when Ken … who was of no consequence and certainly not perfect before he came to the real world, suddenly learns about ‘patriarchy’ and takes it back to the beach and the rest of the Kens who embrace it, and all start one-sided monologues with the rest of the Barbies. Then a white, male board tries to put Barbie back in the box. The audience laughed at the brazen misogyny and the male domination references, but I couldn’t. This world still exists!
Am I taking this too seriously? Am I a feminist if I don’t? Am I no fun if I do? I am not sure. I’ll see Oppenheimer next and hope I walk out less conflicted! Let me know what you think.
My book, Redeemed, A Memoir of a Stolen Childhood will be published June 25, 2024.
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