#theres also the additional nuance of barbieland having a reverse world where men are oppressed and i think that definitely impacts

[gorgynei]

barbie is not an "anti man" movie at all. it's so obvious to me that the kens were written like idiots not to call all men idiots (well... maybe a little) but instead to show how easy it is for someone to get taken advantage of. it's important to remember that while the barbies and kens are played by and written as adults, they function in the real world and overarching narrative as adolescents that don't know very much about the world.

reading ken as a young boy, he's initially nice to the girls around him (if insecure, lonely, and feeling pretty disrespected) but as soon as he steps into the real world, he sees all these men who feel very secure in their masculinity and self-assured, and he wants that for himself. he falls into the trap of the patriarchy much like a lot of young boys in real life fall into extremist right wing ideologies. but ken's insecurity never really goes away, it just gets covered with faux fur and headbands and country music. it's why he cries and admits to barbie that leading was hard. he never really wanted to hurt the barbies at all, he just wanted to feel confident and accepted by everyone, but especially barbie.

ken was never the problem by himself. he wasn't made into the world hating women. he was manipulated and turned into a misogynist by society.

#i was struggling to put my finger on why i felt so strongly that barbie is not ''man hating'' as a lot of ppl keep saying #and i finally figured it out. hoorah. #theres also the additional nuance of barbieland having a reverse world where men are oppressed and i think that definitely impacts #ken as an individual but ultimately i dont think the implications of a matriarchal society are relevant to the greater themes #and thesis of the film #ramblings #barbie #barbie spoilers