We recently watched the Barbie movie (I know, a bit late to the party).
It really wasn’t what we expected.
Yes, the main character is blonde and beautiful and loves the colour pink.
She lives in her perfect home, with her perfect friends and boyfriend, Ken, in her perfect world, Barbie Land.
But the film is so much more than that.
Without spoiling anything, things start to be not so perfect and Barbie is forced to find out why.
She visits ”Weird Barbie’ – who is not perfect.
I actually found this storyline a bit sad – even in this perfect Barbie world there’s still judgement, if someone’s a bit different to the ‘norm’.
It made me dig out my Barbie doll.
Yes, I still have her.
Mine would be ‘Weird Barbie’ too – a little over-played with, messy, (but not blonde) chopped hair, feet permanently poised for high heels and a missing little finger (I honestly have no idea how that happened).
Turns out ‘Weird Barbie’ is actually very wise and is able to help perfect Barbie.
Again without any spoilers, Barbie has to encounter the Real World of humans.
Here she meets Gloria and becomes aware of the unrealistic expectations placed upon women (and ironically represented by the Barbie doll).
The highlight of the film for me (and I think many people) is Gloria’s monologue, which starts:
“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.”.
Now described as ‘famous’ and ‘iconic’ – I don’t know how anyone could watch, read or listen to this speech without developing a lump in their throat.
I attended a retreat many years ago and I remember in one guided meditation, the teacher kept repeating the line ‘you are good enough’.
I was lying on the floor and by the end of the session tears were pouring down my face.
Why do we doubt ourselves?
What makes us think we are not good enough?
Just by doing what we do, as best we can, why do we always feel we have to be or give more?
It’s a hard question to answer.
But people are so judgemental these days, and if you don’t ‘fit’ then you’re like ‘Weird Barbie’ – an outcast.
You see it on social media all the time.
One person asks an innocent question or makes a comment – and the insults start piling in.
I look at some of these comments and just shake my head.
Why would you write that?
But back to Barbie.
As the end credits role there’s a haunting song ‘What was I made for…?’ by Billie Eilish.
Again it’s that doubting of our role and purpose.
Why can’t we just be who we are?
As Gloria says: “I’m just so tired of watching myself and every single other woman tie herself into knots so that people will like us”.
So take a few deep breaths and know this…
YOU ARE GOOD ENOUGH ❤️
Ann 🙏