Barbie, Mom, and Me

[spectrumbot]

Much ink has already been spilled on the meaning and power of Greta Gerwig’s Barbie, and I could write hundreds of words about my love for its sharp satire and dazzling visuals, or the film’s critique of toxic masculinity and its compassion for men. Like so many others, I wore pink to see the movie on opening weekend and got misty-eyed at the sisterhood I felt with the little girls and old ladies wearing pink too. 

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This is a companion discussion topic for the original entry at https://spectrummagazine.org/arts-essays/2023/barbie-mom-and-me

[Oriental34 (Herold Weiss)]

Among Catholics the impossible ideal is even worst. Women should copy the virgin Mary and have children.

[timteichman]

@spectrumbot

What I think drove my mother to distraction, however, as she tried to raise a good Adventist girl, was the fact that I also shared Anne Shirley’s obsession with puffed sleeves. I hoarded lip gloss and body glitter and sparkly barrettes, and spent hours daydreaming about evening gowns and wedding dresses.

That sounds perfectly normal and healthy.