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Tbh, I was kinda skeptical of Barbie as I walked into the theater. Surrounded by moviegoers decked out in practically every shade of pink, I didn't really know what to expect.

But *nothing* could have prepared me for how I felt as I immersed myself in the mystical Barbieland. 

Leaving the theater, my mind was swirling with thoughts—both reverence for the production and insights about the deeper message of it all. Aside from the hysterical interactions between the Kens and the heartfelt mother-daughter moments, Barbie is full of hidden messages, values and meaningful takeaways for its viewers.

Psst: Major spoilers ahead!

Girls can literally be anything they want to be 

@barbie

From the onset of the movie, we saw tons of different Barbies. Some worked as pilots and nurses, while others were leaders or even mermaids. The message? Women and girls can do *literally* anything they set their hearts out to do. 

A good day is dependent on your own attitude

@barbiethemovie

In the beginning of the movie, Barbie has a sunshine-and-butterflies attitude about everything. In Barbieland, every day is the best day *ever*. Even though she ends up thinking about death and throwing off the whole universe (oops!), everyone can learn to lean into some positivity from Barbie. It all starts from within!  

Girls have the power to say no 

@barbie

Even though we *all* thought Barbie was absolutely in love with Ken, it's comically revealed that this isn't the case. Ken desperately wants Barbie's love and affection, but she clearly isn't into it. After dodging Ken's kiss and telling him to go home, she skips inside for her long-awaited slumber party. Sure, this might be a silly example, but Barbie shows us that we can say no to anything we don't want to do (even a hug). 

Being boy crazy does not define femininity 

@issarae

One thing about Barbie: She is going to pave her own path. The Barbies in Barbieland don't really long for male attention. Instead, they fulfill themselves through showing kindness to neighbors, following their dreams as leaders or scientists or even just enjoying a solo breakfast. They define their femininity through their fashion, demeanor and occupations—not by obsessing over boys.  

The ridiculousness of worrying about cellulite 

@barbiethemovie

Once Barbie triggers the decay of Barbieland (namely, thinking about death), weird things start to happen, including the development of cellulite. It's almost comical how the rest of the Barbies react: gagging, crying, screaming and eventually a send-off poster with a motivating message about ending cellulite. In the end, Barbie actually desires to be human—appreciating all the nuances of age. This shows us that it's sort of ridiculous to worry about such trivial things. Not only is cellulite natural, but it also embodies how much our body does for us (hint: you should actually appreciate it).

Beauty at every age

@toschenation

As Barbie traverses into the real world, she sees an older woman waiting for the bus stop (this is actually Ann Roth, an award-winning costume designer!). For a moment, Barbie is confused. Then, her expression changes. It seems that she understands age differently. Instead of fearing it, she begins to admire it, telling the woman how beautiful she is. The woman responds with a simple "I know." Age shows maturity, grace and wisdom—all things that should be celebrated, not lamented.  

It's ok to fail (in fact, it makes the wins better) 

@hckentstate

Throughout her journey, Barbie fails. A lot. But Barbie has never had to deal with failure like humans do. (In Barbieland, everything is perfect all the time.) After encountering some roadblocks, including being shunned by teen girls (who she thought would be her biggest fan), Barbie cries for the first time ever. At first, she seems uncomfortable with the sadness and disappointment. Throughout her journey, she becomes more in tune with her emotions. And eventually, her successes feel more rewarding. So we learn that happiness and excitement cannot exist without disappointment and sadness. 

The concept of Barbie was misunderstood

@barbie

The biggest takeaway I had from Barbie was how misunderstood Barbie actually is. In a time when only men had rights and authority, Barbie was meant to empower women to be or do anything they wanted. But a lot of that was overshadowed by the doll's sexualization and negative discussions about her unrealistic body standards. While those claims are somewhat valid, I gained a new appreciation for Barbie: She's is a symbol of power, feminism and a hopeful future.

Tag us in your Barbie pics on Insta for a chance to get featured @girlslifemag!

Loved Barbie as much as we do? Check out these posts:
🎀 Your Barbiecore beauty handbook, right this way
🎀  5 times Barbie reminded us we can do everything
🎀  I saw Barbie and Oppenheimer in the same day–this is what happened

Top and slider images: @barbiethemovie

by Frankie Smith | 8/16/2023