Women Inspired By 'Barbie' Movie Contemplate Whether Or Not To Dump Their Boyfriends

Aug 09, 2023

“Barbie” is a fantasy comedy film directed by Greta Gerwig and written by her and her partner, filmmaker Noah Baumbach. The movie, which is based on Mattel’s Barbie fashion dolls, is the first live-action Barbie film after several animated versions.

On July 21, 2023, “Barbie” premiered in cinemas worldwide and has become an instant phenomenon and has since been considered a pop culture treasure. What made the movie special, according to many, was how relatable and poignant the film was as opposed to those who mistook it to only be a fluff comedy about the famous doll. 

“Barbie” follows Barbie and Ken on their journey to self-discovery following Barbie’s existential crisis. The film is nothing like any of the other CGI animated versions that were earlier released. It is progressive, portraying a matriarchal society where all women are self-confident, self-sufficient and successful. While their male counterparts spend most of their time engaging in recreational activities, the Barbies hold on to important job positions. They are decision-makers like lawyers, politicians and doctors in Barbieland.

The film features a star-studded cast, including Margot Robbie as Barbie and Ryan Gosling as Ken. Other cast members that appear in the movie include America Ferrera, Kate McKinnon, Michael Cera, Ariana Greenblatt, Simu Liu, Issa Rae, Rhea Perlman, Helen Mirren and Will Ferrell.

Since “Barbie” was released, fans of the wildly popular film have grown very empowered because of its feminist message. Some even suggested that if one’s boyfriend or partner does not understand or disagree with the film’s message, then they should be dumped. Keep on reading to learn more about “Barbie” and why people are dumping their partners because of it.

As of Aug. 6, 2023, and barely three weeks into its phenomenal run worldwide, “Barbie” has reached the billion-dollar box-office threshold, making Gerwig the first solo female director to have been a member of the so-called Billion Dollar Club, CNN reported. 

Part of that success was the actual relatability of the characters and the representation it brought for many people worldwide. Like many iterations of “Barbie” in the real world, the movie showcased their variation very brilliantly. Other supporting characters were Doctor Barbie, Diplomat Barbie, Pulitzer-Winning Author Barbie, President Barbie, Journalist Barbie, Supreme Court Justice Barbie, Physicist Barbie and even Weird Barbie. 

However, one of the most talked-about parts of the film was when Ferrera’s character Gloria broke down and gave a very impassioned speech about women and society. 

"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," her character said in the movie. 

People who watched the film have taken to social media to express their thoughts about Ferrera’s monologue. 

“Think I’m going to frame America Ferrera’s That Speech from #Barbie. Is it possible to be a woman from my generation and not sob when you hear it? Here’s hoping that when my 11yo is all grown up she has no idea why that speech is so moving,” a user shared. 

Many, if not all, of the women who have watched the film felt very empowered by it, which is why some have even gone to the lengths of using it as a make-or-break for their relationships. 

For some, it was the understanding that Barbies do not necessarily need Kens to become great, while Kens were only powered through the validation they needed from Barbie. On the AITAH Thread on Reddit, a user revealed that the “Barbie” movie made her boyfriend “uncomfortable.” For user, u/notalaskakidd, the film made her reach her limit in settling with her boyfriend. 

Some women also became angry at their boyfriends, who thought the movie was shallow for women to cry on. 

“did anyone watch Barbie and suddenly want to break up w their boyfriend or was that just me?🤒'are you crying???' you’re just a guy and you’ll never understand how difficult it is to be a woman in a man’s world. there’s this attention to detail that a lot of men don’t have,” a user posted. 

A woman suggested on TikTok that women should start using the “Barbie” movie as a relationship test to decide if one’s boyfriend is a good long-term partner. While some seemed to have failed this “test,” other boyfriends passed it with flying colors. One TikTok user uploaded a video of her and her boyfriend together after watching the “Barbie” movie.

“The best part about the barbie movie is that my bf proved to me more than ever that he’s the best. He dressed in pink. He got all the jokes and the moving parts. Afterwards he discussed with me what a masterpiece this movie is and how hard it must be to a woman. I’m a lucky girl,” the woman said on the video. 

Have you watched the “Barbie” movie? What can you say about it? Do you agree that women should use it as a relationship test to decide if they should dump their boyfriends? Let us know, and pass this on to your family and friends!