July 27th 2023.
The influence of Barbie on the zeitgeist can't be denied. Enquiries for blonde hair are up 83%, and if you're not wearing pink right now, you're probably the odd one out. But it turns out that Barbie is having an unexpected influence on our love lives as well. People are questioning their relationships, and even dumping partners, over their reactions to the Barbie movie.
This might seem strange, as the movie was about female empowerment and anti-patriarchy. But if you take a look at TikTok, you'll start to understand the divide. In one video, Reina Dombrovska claims that 'getting' the Barbie movie 'should be a standard in a relationship'. Comments under the video suggest that women are breaking up with their partners if they don't understand the movie and don't 'get' it.
This conversation is also taking place on Twitter and Reddit. On Reddit, one woman asked if she was the ar*ehole for telling her boyfriend that she was rethinking the whole relationship because of the Barbie movie. Another woman said she had to 'leave a cis man on read' because he didn't 'get it'. It's clear that some women feel that men should appreciate the movie for its anti-patriarchy message, not take it as an attack.
Jennifer Maytorena Taylor, a filmmaker and professor at the University of California specialising in film and feminism, believes that the movie is exposing 'male fragility'. She says that it seems as though some men can't handle the movie's gentle critiques of patriarchy and that this is an indication of 'toxic masculinity'.
Emma Kenny, a TV psychologist, agrees that it's healthy to have disagreements and like different things, but also says that it's unrealistic to expect your partner to appreciate everything you do. You can't expect them to feel the same way about the Barbie movie if their views and experiences of the world are different.
In the end, it all comes down to compatibility and understanding. While some men will cry with their partners and message their mums to say they love them, others won't be interested. It's about understanding that different people will react differently, and not trying to cause unnecessary fractures in the relationship.
So if your boyfriend won't go to the movie with you, go with a friend instead. And maybe they can appreciate Barbie for what she is - a strong, independent woman who stands for something bigger.
[This article has been trending online recently and has been generated with AI. Your feed is customized.]
[Generative AI is experimental.]
