Barbie: Exploring a Key Theme or Issue for LC English

The central barbie theme or issue for the Leaving Certificate Comparative Study often revolves around gender roles, identity, and the superficiality of societal expectations. Here’s what you need to know for the exam.

Greta Gerwig’s Barbie (2023) offers a rich text for comparative analysis, presenting a world initially defined by rigid, albeit empowering, gender stereotypes. Understanding how these roles are challenged forms a crucial part of your study. For context on tackling societal constructs, consider how texts like A Raisin in the Sun also explore oppressive environments; our A Raisin in the Sun Cultural Context Guide offers valuable insights into that.

Gender Roles and Identity as a Barbie Theme or Issue

Barbie presents a stark contrast between Barbieland, where women hold all positions of power, and the Real World, where patriarchal structures dominate. This contrast allows students to explore:

• The social construction of gender: Barbies believe they have solved real-world feminism, only to discover the complexities and inequalities that still exist. Their manufactured world breaks down on exposure to realism.
• Stereotypes and archetypes: The film exaggerates traditional gender roles (e.g., ‘Stereotypical Barbie’, ‘Just Ken’) to critique their limitations.
• Self-discovery: Barbie’s journey to the Real World forces her to question her purpose and identity beyond her predefined role as a doll. This theme of questioning one’s place in society is also prevalent in The Banshees of Inisherin, where characters grapple with existential purpose.

Patriarchy and Matriarchy

The film explores both matriarchal (Barbieland) and patriarchal (Real World, then ‘Kendom’) societies, demonstrating the pitfalls of extreme systems. Neither world offers true equality or fulfilment, prompting a discussion on balanced societal structures.

Societal Expectations: A Key Barbie Theme or Issue

A significant barbie theme or issue is the burden of unattainable perfection and the pressure to conform. Barbies are designed to be perfect and represent ideals, but this expectation becomes a source of existential crisis.

• Body image and beauty standards: The film subtly critiques unrealistic beauty standards perpetuated by dolls themselves, and the discomfort Barbie feels when she experiences self-consciousness for the first time.
• Consumerism and commodification: Barbie represents a product, and her existence is tied to her commercial success. The film examines how identity can become intertwined with market value.
• The ‘Male Gaze’ and objectification: Barbie’s experience in the Real World introduces her to being objectified, a new and unsettling concept for her. This can be compared to how female characters are perceived in other texts, such as those discussed in The Big Sleep.

💡 Examiner insight: A common mistake is to oversimplify Barbie‘s message as purely feminist. Examiners reward analyses that acknowledge the film’s nuanced critique of ALL rigid societal structures, including the initial matriarchy of Barbieland, and how the pursuit of any extreme can be limiting.

Key Takeaways for Comparative Study

• Focus on how Barbie critiques and subverts traditional gender roles through its narrative and character development.
• Analyse the journey of identity and self-discovery undertaken by the main characters, especially Barbie and Ken.
• Compare the initial utopian vision of Barbieland with the complexities of the Real World, highlighting the film’s commentary on societal ideals.
• Use specific scenes and dialogue to illustrate your points about consumerism, perfection, and the impact of external expectations.