Movie | Barbie
Reflecting On "Barbie"
The monologue
Let's start from here. THE famous America Ferrera's monologue. I personally think that this should be ingrained in the textbook every single person should read in school.
"It is literally impossible to be a woman. You are so beautiful, and so smart, and it kills me that you don't think you're good enough. Like, we have to always be extraordinary, but somehow we're always doing it wrong.
You have to be thin, but not too thin. And you can never say you want to be thin. You have to say you want to be healthy, but also you have to be thin. You have to have money, but you can't ask for money because that's crass. You have to be a boss, but you can't be mean. You have to lead, but you can't squash other people's ideas. You're supposed to love being a mother, but don't talk about your kids all the damn time. You have to be a career woman but also always be looking out for other people. You have to answer for men's bad behavior, which is insane, but if you point that out, you're accused of complaining. You're supposed to stay pretty for men, but not so pretty that you tempt them too much or that you threaten other women because you're supposed to be a part of the sisterhood.
But always stand out and always be grateful. But never forget that the system is rigged. So find a way to acknowledge that but also always be grateful. You have to never get old, never be rude, never show off, never be selfish, never fall down, never fail, never show fear, never get out of line.
It's too hard! It's too contradictory and nobody gives you a medal or says thank you! And it turns out, in fact, that not only are you doing everything wrong, but also everything is your fault.
I'm just so tired of watching myself and every single other woman tie herself into knots so that people will like us. And if all of that is also true for a doll just representing women, then I don't even know."
The Day I Kissed My Heels Goodbye
Picture this scene from the Barbie movie: our plastic protagonist, flabbergasted as her feet flatten out of her trademark heels. It's a moment that's more relatable than a Sunday brunch with friends. It yanked me back to my own 'heel-drop' revelation.
Let's rewind. My mom, a high school teacher-turned-model, was the epitome of beauty - a real head-turner in every crowd. Growing up under her shadow in South Korea, I wrestled with beauty standards that didn't quite fit my tanned, athletic build. It was like trying to squeeze into Cinderella's slipper when you're clearly more of a comfy sneaker gal. When I veered away from my rhythmic gymnastics path, I began gaining weight at the age of 12. Of course, this happened during my puberty when my growth hormones were raging.
Fast forward to my teenage years in Canada, a drastic shift from my roots in South Korea (note I left South Korea alone to study abroad in Canada). I found myself grappling with bulimia amidst the turmoil of adolescence and a new culture. This battle trailed into my university life in NYC, coupled with depression and health woes. I was on a relentless pursuit for a model-like figure, clinging to my four-inch wedges like a life raft, terrified that without them, I'd appear - dare I say - FAT.
It was during the grind of job hunting in NYC that reality kicked in. Who had time for beauty parades when there were resumes to send and interviews to ace? I ditched my high heels for practicality, trading in glamour for efficiency. And then, entering the finance world, I donned my 'nun in suits' armor, sidelining makeup and charms to sidestep the unwanted attention and 'yellow fever' gazes in the corporate jungle.
But here's the twist: the 'Me Too' movement swung open the gates of liberation. It was like someone finally turned on the lights, illuminating the subtle, unspoken pressures we faced daily. Suddenly, we had a voice, a roar against the insidious norms that had kept us in check for far too long.
Conclusion
In the profound words of America Ferrera, we women are often caught in a whirlwind of unrealistic expectations, constantly pushed and pulled in a dance of societal whims. Our stories, much like Barbie's foot-bound shock and my own heel liberation, unravel the intricate tapestry of challenges we face. Thanks to the seismic shifts brought about by the 'Me Too' movement, we're charting a new course towards self-acceptance and equality. It's high time we embrace this journey, supporting each other every step of the way - heels or no heels.
Resources for Further Study on Women's Movements and Feminism:
- "The Second Sex" by Simone de Beauvoir
- "The Feminine Mystique" by Betty Friedan
- "We Should All Be Feminists" by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie
- "Bad Feminist" by Roxane Gay
- "The Yellow Wallpaper" by Charlotte Perkins Gilman (a classic short story highlighting women's mental health issues)
- "Lean In: Women, Work, and the Will to Lead" by Sheryl Sandberg
- "Sister Outsider: Essays and Speeches" by Audre Lorde
- "The Vagina Monologues" by Eve Ensler
- "Women Who Run With the Wolves" by Clarissa Pinkola Estés
- "Composing a Life" by Mary Catherine Bateson
