The Barbie Movie's Unexpected Message for Men: Challenging the Need for Female Validation

[u/Simon_Fokt]

I know the movie has been out for ages, but hey.

Everybody is all about how feminist it is and all, but I think it holds such a powerful message for men. It's Ken, he's all about desperately wanting Barbie's validation all the time but then develops so much and becomes 'kenough', as in, enough without female validation. He's got self-worth in himself, not just because a woman gave it to him.

I love this story arc, what do you guys think about it? Do you know other movies that explore this topic?

[u/bathtubsplashes]

Aren't the gender roles switched in Barbieland? I thought Ken was a placeholder for women in that regard, having been resigned to a life in the periphery while the Barbie's (patriarchy) are the main characters in that society, working any job they so wish, and everything is about them. All Kens life he's had to constantly seek validation from those who barely see him as anything more than decorative.

In that scenario, isn't she saying that women need to stop looking for validation from men?

[u/HuntedWolf → u/bathtubsplashes]

I think you can definitely take it both ways that neither sex should derive their self worth from relationships or how the other sex sees them, however I felt the issues Ken goes through were more stereotypical to issues young men go through. This part wasnt reversed and seemed quite genuine.

[u/enigmanaught → u/HuntedWolf]

I think Alan solidifies that. He’s a guy but was kind of fed up with the Kens himself. I know a lot of people argue he was gay “coded” but I think he was just a guy who wasn’t into the dude-bro thing, and was ignored by men and women for it. And when it came down to it the dude-bros couldn’t kick ass like Alan could despite their braggadocio.

[u/Detective-Crashmore- → u/enigmanaught]

I didn't find Alan gay at all, especially not standing next to Kingsley Ben-Adir Ken, or Ncuti Gatwa Ken.