March’s Letter From Denise

March 2025

I have a confession: I finally watched the Barbie movie from beginning to end. I started the film multiple times, stopping so often that I lost count. I constantly changed the channel around the scene where Ken has an epiphany about the role of men after leaving Barbie World to visit the real world. There's something so cringe-worthy about watching him absorb a diabolical amount of testosterone that l couldn't get through the rest of the film.

Well, several weeks ago, I decided to watch the entire movie. WOW. There are so many metaphors about male/female roles and responsibilities, male ego, women's insecurities ... the list goes on and on.

Barbie represents all women. She embodies every body type, race, religion, and nationality. She owns a home and a car, works in every career imaginable, and even has an entire world named after her.

In the movie, we also meet Weird Barbie. You know who Weird Barbie is. Her hair has been cut in an inconceivable style, her face is painted, the clothes she came with have been removed, replaced, or torn, and sometimes, she is missing a limb or two.She's an outcast, and Barbie in all her forms looks down at her because she is different. As women, we have all encountered Weird Barbie. And at some point in our lives, she is us.

When Ken returns to Barbie World, he rallies the other Kens, and together, they take control. Right before our eyes, the Barbies transform from powerful, independent women into individuals engulfed in self-doubt, submissive to their male counterparts, and questioning everything about themselves.

This part of the movie made me sad. It reflects life imitating art, and as a woman, l find myself in this role—we all do. Barbie, who had not succumbed to Ken's charm, then works with Weird Barbie to remind the other Barbies of their strength, and together, they embark on a quest to restore Barbie World to its former state.

Watching them work together reminded me of the importance of women aligning with those who may not look, pray, or love as we do. Although we differ on the outside, we are far more alike than we realize, and those shared strengths make us most potent.

Women are currently being targeted. Our rights and power are being stripped away, and just like in Barbie World, the Kens are taking over. But if Barbie and Weird Barbie can look past their differences to fight for a brighter future, why can't we?

I challenge us to stop letting the Kens make decisions for us and to unite as women. To the Kens out there, let me assure you that we are not trying to take over; we want to be treated fairly and given the right to make decisions that serve the best interests of women. If you don't believe me, trust President Barbie when she said "No Barbie or Ken should be living in the shadows." We all deserve to be seen and treated equally.

Signing off,

Denise

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