Susana Moscatel

Are we in Barbieland?

In Barbieland they all have their place and it doesn't even occur to them that they have to ask permission to be who they have always wanted to be.

By Susana Moscatel

One of the first things that went through my mind as soon as I got out of watching Barbie, the movie, is that there are many aspects of it that remind me of Opinion 51 and I say this with the huge disadvantage of not being able to explain exactly why, as that would go hard and straight to the spoiler universe, but here's what I can say: it blew my mind. And no, it wasn't just overdosing on Pantone 219C (aka Barbie Pink).

I'll try to explain without ruining the delicious surprises for anyone who goes to see the film this weekend. Barbie is, without the slightest doubt, a reinterpretation of an icon, but at the same time it is an icon that has been redefined more times than we can remember. The duality and contradiction of the doll that can be anything she wants in this life, except standing upright in real life due to her dimensions and her eternally raised toes, is a big part of the theme of this love story. Of love for oneself and for others.

I imagined all the Opinion 51 columnists living in our equivalent of Barbieland, a place where women have made equality and self-improvement their daily lives. I think the colors would be different and the festivities slightly more sporadic (unless they bring in the karaoke), but the point is sorority. Not all in agreement and definitely different between them and us, but in Barbieland they all have their place and it doesn't even occur to them that they have to ask permission to be who they've always wanted to be. Writer, president or even - and here the fantastic Margot Robbie - the "stereotypical Barbie". There are Ken's around, yes. But it's not about them there. That, in fact is one of the big pivots of the conflict because ... well real life (suspense) ... turns out NOT to be Barbieland. Neither in the movie nor in the comfort of where you are reading this from.

But therein lies the delight of this tape. She knows the problems she has to deal with generationally. She knows how many girls never had Barbies because "it generated impossible expectations about beauty." The other one I love is "that it's just a patriarchal construct to maintain social order and rampant capitalism." And I couldn't argue against either of these two well-researched theories, but instead I guffawed for almost two hours because of the way Warner and especially Mattell admit they've always been part of the problem, making fun of their marketing, doing marketing. It's like a spiral that doesn't end and suddenly the plastic has depth and meaning. From the most absurd and fantastic of our childhood fantasies this adventure of the "Utopia of pink feminism vs. the patriarchy of voracious capitalism" manages to say very important things without losing its sense of humor and taking care not to create even more division in a world in which we already live in extremes.

The trailer says it right. If you love Barbie this movie is for you. If you hate Barbie this movie is also for you. And I know that in this distinguished and deeply supportive space where we women write there are sure to be both. But, as my favorite doll from the Weird Barbie tape (Kate McKinnon) says "I'll take it" (she's the weird, broken Barbie who was played too hard, thus or better interpretation?). The beauty is knowing that as this space is, there are little oases of Barbielands everywhere and how wonderful that it is so. That alone makes the horrible and repressive realities of real life more bearable. Real life, by the way, in which the tape also finds many values, though many more battles. So thank you, Barbie. Sincerely the girl who still hasn't decided whether to wear her orthopedic flip-flops or her pink heels to go out tonight. But what I do know is that whatever I decide, I will continue to walk, feel and exist in stride. And very well accompanied in doing so.