The Barbie Movie Revived Hyperfemininity- Should We Be Worried? Emily Kim

Image Source: Warner Bros

Ever since its release, Barbie, the movie, has taken the globe by storm; or, rather, by glittering hot pink hurricane. On ticket sales alone, the film has made $1.3 billion, with approximately 1 in 5 Americans flooding to theaters around the country to see it with popcorn and soda in hand. Whether it be its equally glamorous official album, iconic outfits, or even the Kenergy that emanates off the silver screen, it’s no doubt that Barbie is the film of the summer, if not the entire year.

Aside from its popularity alone, there’s just so much to unpack in this film: the outstanding performances, the near-perfect production design, the meta-ness of it all. Yet, instead of discussing the qualities this diamond contains, I’d instead like to talk about how far it shines and what souls it has astounded

To put it simply, how has Barbie changed the world?

The answer: the feminist movement.

Yes, I know–declaring Barbie as a feminist movie is like saying humans have two legs. The film doesn’t require you to read between the lines nor think critically about a deeper meaning- it even goes as far as having rather frequent full-on feminist monologues.

But, if you compare Barbie to other recent female-empowering works, say any female superhero movie or show in the past decade, the film sticks out like a sore thumb.

It’s pretty clear why: Stereotypical Barbie, the film’s main character, isn’t a strong, bold, flawless, justice-seeking fighter: she’s simply a plastic fashionista having an existential crisis.

Some might even say she’s the opposite of Hollywood’s established feminist formula, where women are portrayed as emotionless, tough, and unrealistically enduring to the point of plasticity.

Whereas Barbie, a doll who, though initially opposed to the concept, begins to understand the true beauty of imperfection (of being human!) somehow poses as a more effective feminist role-model in every way. Ironic, isn’t it?

If you want the evidence, take the sudden rise in hyperfemininity in the mainstream.

To define hyperfemininity, think of what you see when you hear the term “girly girl.” Think of cult classics like Clueless and Mean Girls. Think of 2000s celebrities strutting the red carpet clad in all pink glitter.

Hyperfemininity, by its dictionary definition, is the quality of being extremely, exaggeratedly feminine. It essentially embodies everything that is tokened as “female,” but raised to the highest degree possible.

Take its opposite concept, hypermasculinity (i.e. the sigma male mindset), American Psycho… even Ken, with his “mojo dojo casa house.” The focus on overpowering dominance and physicality is exaggerated to the point of toxic male prevalence.

And, just like its counterpart, the concept of hyperfemininity is also thought of as unhealthy, being labeled as misogynistic and representative of the male gaze. As with the color pink, makeup, and sparkly skirts came also the demanding beauty standards and patronizing film portrayals of bedazzled female characters, conveying them as “dumb blondes.” In essence, to be hyperfeminine was to dress up for a man- to be his shiny, glittery accessory.

Hence, as the feminist movement became more and more portrayed in film, dresses and lipgloss had less and less screen time. Characters who were tomboyish, unafraid to challenge feminine beauty standards–take the manic pixie dream girl–became more prevalent, further demonizing hyperfemininity as a trend. So, when Barbie, who is the literal epitome of hyperfemininity, steps into the picture, the movement is suddenly revived all across social media, coining the new name of “barbiecore” and becoming a staple of the feminist movement.

Easily, this all seems counterintuitive. But in the revival of hyperfemininity, Barbie has made a massive stride in feminist culture. If we refer back to recent feminist works or even the manic pixie dream girl trope, we can see that by villanizing hyperfemininity–something we believed to be conformative of a woman–actually restricted the woman even more.

The female protagonist was fearless, intellectual, and stylistically unique, subverting female beauty standards, while the female antagonist was attractive, dumb, and lustful. There were two sides of the feminist coin, rather than a spectrum.

However, the Barbie movie proves that you can embrace your femininity while also being female-empowering - that you can like the color pink and still be a feminist. That, regardless of what you love, or what society expects of you, you are ken-ough.

Accepting hyperfemininity is just one out of many feminist messages the Barbie movie conveys. It touches on toxic masculinity, unachievable feminist standards, the coexistence of men and women in society, and so much more in one beautiful hell of a ride that is this monumental film.

In the end, the film asks us to look at a new side of femininity, separate from obtuse social constructs, held in the feminist vacuum that Barbieland embodies.