What were we made for? 

This is a question that has haunted humanity for thousands of years, and was recently brought to global attention through the highly rated and successful 2023 film Barbie by Greta Gerwig. Throughout the emotional and humorous movie, a storyline of natural imperfection was perceived by Margot Robbie (Barbie) and Ryan Gosling (Ken). Though both of these characters brought happiness to many during the film, Barbie has always impacted children’s lives in unimaginable ways. Barbie is an influential character created by Mattel Co. that depicts independence, strength, individualism and confidence. The dolls have been used since 1959 to teach children the importance of their worth as humans, and they created a wide imagination for many. 

For a significant time, Barbie was controversial. The company was less inclusive than it should have been, and this was fixed because of their knowledge that inclusivity holds a powerful importance in society. In 2015, Mattel Co. began to value the true significance of diversity. After roughly a decade of prioritizing full inclusivity, Barbie’s image changed positively forever. The company wanted the world to feel beautiful, and they wanted to show the altitude of capability that humans have. Barbie has several jobs and personas; some of her careers include fashion designer, flight attendant, nurse, doctor, pilot, architect, game developer, police officer, and lawyer. Not only were her careers inclusive, but they shed light onto all of the accomplishments that young people can have in their lifetimes. 

Due to the change in the overall perspective of Barbie, Mattel Co. decided that it would be both nostalgic and impactful to create a movie for Barbie lovers and haters everywhere. Regardless of any opinions, Barbie has been around for decades and has had several good impacts on the minds of young individuals – especially since the prioritizing of full inclusivity.  

With a heavy heart, it is disappointing to reiterate the newly announced information that Margot Robbie – the actress playing Barbie – did not receive an Oscar nomination for her role in the film. Not only did Margot Robbie not receive a nomination, but Ryan Gosling received a nomination for “Best Supporting Actor.” 

Ryan Gosling reacted with a message saying, “But there is no Ken without Barbie, and there is no Barbie movie without Greta Gerwig and Margot Robbie, the two people most responsible for this history-making, globally-celebrated film. No recognition would be possible for anyone on the film without their talent, grit and genius. To say that I’m disappointed that they are not nominated in their respective categories would be an understatement.” 

Several people did not understand the meaning behind Barbie. The film was about recognizing that as a woman, you do not have to be flawless to be perfect. The term “imperfectly perfect” was conveyed throughout the film and executed greatly. Margot Robbie implemented the idea that women – or anybody – did not have to fit the societal standard of “beautiful,” and they could just be themselves. Within the film, she realizes that she does not want to be the “perfect” Barbie that she always had been, and she takes a leap of faith to be a regular person with regular experiences. The premise of the movie was to show people that you have worth regardless of your physical appearance or class status. 

Being that many children globally found safety and pride within their Barbie dolls, the movie shed light onto what it feels like to grow up and be unsure of what your meaning is. It is acceptable to not have a plan immediately, and it is acceptable to have insecurities. We are human. At the end of the movie, it shows Margot Robbie at her first gynecologist appointment, which showed the realism of womanhood. I appreciated this scene, along with many others, because of the emotion behind growing up and leaving your innocent mind behind. We carry our inner children wherever we go, but we have to grow up at some point. 

Margot Robbie deserved a nomination for Barbie. Without the role of Barbie, there could be no movie. There would not be a box office of $1.446 billion, and it would not be the highest grossing film of 2023 without the role of Barbie. Barbie is about womanhood! The Oscars did exactly the opposite of what the incentive of Barbie was, and that was treating women as inferior. Without the woman, there is no movie. 

Women deserve to be heard. Barbie is a coming-of-age, nostalgic, vulnerable and loving classic. It is the fourteenth highest grossing film of all time. It will be cherished for eternity, whether the importance was represented or not. It is disappointing to see another woman’s talent be disregarded; however, Margot Robbie won in a different way. She won in our hearts. 

Share