The Barbie Phenomenon: a feminist legacy?
Event Details
We have devised this forum in response to the many charged and thoughtful conversations surrounding the Barbie movie. We want to open discussion to the wider community after mulling over how the film reflects – if it does? – a shift in female presentation and representation. In other words, what does the energy released by Barbie, in both celebration and criticism, tell us about where we are in the arc of female representation and feminism itself?
The Salon community has developed into a rich and diverse space for conversations that, in addition to focusing on works of literature, can illuminate the issues of our times. Towards that end, we are making these discussions available to a wider audience through the format of larger virtual gatherings, of which this will be the first. For each event we will assemble a panel of speakers whose expertise and literary, artistic, professional or project experience overlaps with our theme.
Our panel will be chaired by Salon Founder and Director, Toby Brothers and places will be allocated on a first-come-first-served basis. We are asking for a minimum contribution of £5.00, but you are invited to pay whatever amount you think fit, knowing that donations will be used both to administer the event and to contribute to a relevant charity.
Toby explains the genesis of the Barbie forum:
“When I first heard about the Barbie movie, I rolled my eyes so hard. NO thank you. I had Barbies, I hated Barbie, I outgrew Barbie, my daughter utterly rejected Barbie. Weren’t we done? Even when Mattel – in their clunky and awkward way – tried to introduce diversity and feminism while retaining absurdly bodied figures? But my husband, who is at the far end of cynical, was intrigued because of Greta Gerwig’s involvement . . . and then the reviews started to roll in. So, we went to see it (going out to a movie is a very rare occurrence in my life, so this was a BIG DEAL). And then we couldn’t stop talking about it: what worked, what didn’t work, all the cultural and classical references, the humour, the strangeness – and I realised that this film was capturing something new in female representation. I then sought out a few articulate, passionate and outspoken friends and associates who have expertise in connected areas: Anne Boyd Rioux who is reviving awareness of significant women writers lost to history; Leah Jewett, whose work encourages open discussions between parents and young people around sex and relationships; Julie Sutherland who, from her base in Canada, confronts anti-Indigenous racism and advocates for rights for populations who have been marginalised; Farah Ahamed, editor of the anthology Period Matters: Menstruation in South Asia, and co-founder of ‘Panties with Purpose’, a campaign in Kenya promoting menstrual dignity. Together, we will present our own responses and questions and open up the virtual space to participants.”
From a blog post by writer and panel member Leah Jewett, Director and Co-founder of social enterprise for parents Outspoken Sex Ed:
“Barbie is a game changer. It’s girl positive, female driven. A sociological phenomenon. And it’s an unexpectedly emotional rollercoaster which, though it didn’t always work for us the first time, left us a bit sad for our kids but got us laughing.
“The second time we saw it, we felt right at home in the static neon-pink escapism and revelled more in several songs and dances, the comic timing and cultural commentary.
“While Stereotypical Barbie (Margot Robbie) is assured, glowing and cheerily likeable, Ryan Gosling is endearing as decorative-not-functional Ken, who postures, aspires, falls apart. His asserting his own identity mirrors what women often go through in propping up men, and reflects how boys have to work out which aspects of masculinity to call their own.
“We should all see Greta Gerwig’s film – boys and men too. (Anecdotally we know that lots of them like it.)
“Why watch Barbie?
– To be in on this female-affirming cinematic moment that is provoking cultural interrogation beyond the big screen.
– And of course to bring up with your child some of the sex and relationships topics that jump out at you from the film.”
Click here to read Leah’s full blog post (which includes a valuable reading list).
