Barbie Movie (2023)
The recent movie “Barbie” was criticised by some audiences for example, the backlash from critics like Ben Shapiro, who called the movie as “anti-male” and accused it of pushing feminist propaganda. This criticism ignored the film’s true intentions and instead framed it as a threat to traditional gender roles. This backlash reflects the discomfort in mainstream society with women-centered narratives that challenge patriarchy.
The way audiences and critics reacted shows how difficult it is for mainstream films to challenge traditional gender roles, especially if the narrative centres around female empowerment.
Some critics exaggerated the film’s feminist themes by accusing it of being overly political. The Daily Mail’s headline “Barbie – the woke movie that’ll leave men running for the hills!” show how media exaggeration can distort the actual messages and intentions of a film. This shows how the media tends to exaggerate female-led stories, by classing them as controversial or divisive, even when the true intention was to be uplifting and start a change in society.
Media Treatment of Female Celebrities.
Female celebrities are often treated differently from men in the same industry.. They face unbalanced scrutiny over their appearance, personal lives, and behaviour, with less focus on their talents or achievements. Female celebrities are expected to maintain a flawless and well kept image, and if they don’t they’ll be heavily criticised by the media.
The media often focuses on the personal lives of celebrities like Britney Spears, Jennifer Lopez, or Ariana Grande, scrutinising their relationships, weight, and style, while male celebrities are rarely subjected to the same level of personal scrutiny and hate.
For example, the media’s portrayal of Britney Spears during her public breakdown, where she was labeled as “crazy” and “out of control,” contrasts with how male celebrities’ struggles, such as Robert Downey Jr.’s battles with addiction, were shown by the media as part of a journey rather than a mental health crisis.
The media often exaggerates “scandals” involving female celebrities, such as the constant coverage of Kim Kardashian’s personal life or Taylor Swift’s dating history, reducing them to their relationships and appearance rather than focusing on their professional achievements. The media’s portrayal of female celebrities serves to reinforce old fashioned expectations and that women’s worth is primarly surface level by focusing on their looks, relationships, and behaviour rather than any of their awards or achievements.
Both the Barbie movie and female celebrities are subjected to stereotypes that limit their portrayal in the media. The Barbie movie critiques the “perfect” feminine image, but the backlash after the movie reinforces this stereotype. Similarly, female celebrities are often judged solely based on their appearance or personal lives, rather than being recognised for their professional talents.
: The stereotype of the “perfect woman” in the Barbie movie mirrors the way media treats celebrities, where women’s worth is often reduced to how they look or who they are dating, rather than their professional achievements.
Comments