Sameera Casmod | sameerac@radioislam.co.za
20 August 2023 | 15:05 SAST
3-min read

Picture: Logo Charts

The Barbie movie, released on July 21, 2023, has enjoyed great success, and reportedly crossed the $1.2 billion threshold in global box office earnings on August 15, 2023.

Despite its huge success at the box office, Barbie has been met with criticism. Several countries in the middle east including Algeria, Kuwait and Lebanon have banned the movie. Algeria banned the movie after it had already been screened in theatres because it “does not comply with Algeria’s religious and cultural beliefs,” according to a Middle East Report. Kuwait cited as the reason for banning the movie as protecting public ethics and social traditions, while the culture minister in Lebanon urged the interior ministry to “take all necessary measures to ban showing” the film before Barbie was due to be released in Lebanese theatres on 31 August 2023.

While certain Muslim countries imposed an embargo on the screening of the movie, others such as Saudi Arabia, the UAE, and Bahrain chose to sanction the film following a censorship review.

The opening scene of the movie, which is a reference to the movie 2001: A Space Odyssey, depicts little girls playing with nondescript dolls, their demeanour devoid of any distinctive delight. In this tableau, Barbie emerges as an extraterrestrial entity (or a fragment of contemporary society) in that supposedly ancient world. The Barbie is presented to the girls in the movie as a doll that looks like a woman, rather than merely embodying infants dependent on maternal care. The girls then smash the dolls into smithereens in the movie, supposedly symbolising the girls’ so-called ‘enlightenment’ and their transition into a novel stage of ‘development’.

The ideology in this scene has been criticised for portraying traditional female roles, like child-rearing, as archaic, whilst portraying the contemporary stereotypical Barbie as more favourable. Needless to say, little girls smashing dolls as a symbol of defying the magical role of motherhood is completely against Islamic beliefs.

The theme of supposed female empowerment continues throughout the movie and has been criticised for perpetuating the idea that traditional gender roles ought to be opposed. Additionally, criticism was levelled at Barbie for suggesting that all women are subjugated and oppressed by men in the “real world”. This is further reinforced by the plot which includes saving Barbieland from being ruled by Ken and other Kens- in other words, from being like the ‘patriarchy’-plagued Real World.

In addition, Barbie has been disapproved for the impact of Barbie’s appearance, which has, over the course of many years, propagated a slender body image as a societal standard for women. This influence has been so profound that the doll has frequently been held responsible for undermining the self-confidence of both girls and women (so much for advocating for ‘feminism’).

In a research study published in June this year, it was found that even brief exposure to online media images of contemporary Barbie dolls negatively affects positive body image in young women (Webb, Ford & Padro 2023:208). The movie’s portrayal of Barbie adheres to conventional standards of beauty, potentially reinforcing harmful body image ideals among young viewers. It has been suggested that the movie, although it addresses this issue, does not genuinely challenge normative beauty standards but instead reinforces them.

Another point of contention is that the movie’s narrative perpetuates a consumer-driven society, where material possessions and appearances hold an elevated status. It has been argued that the film’s depiction of Barbie’s opulent lifestyle reinforces the idea that one’s self-worth is tied to material wealth.

Entertainment media, including movies, can subtly influence our thoughts and perceptions. The Barbie movie could impart ideas that gradually seep into our consciousness. Although seemingly innocuous and frivolous on the surface, it is important to examine the messages it conveys and keep our distance from the realm of Barbie Land.

The opinions and viewpoints expressed in this article are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the official stance or views of Radio Islam International, its editorial team, or its affiliated organisations. While we strive for accuracy and fairness, readers should be aware that the content may reflect subjective interpretations and personal opinions of the author.