Barbie (2023)

Barbie centrally introduces a vision that blurs the natural roles between men and women, presenting Barbieland as an idyllic matriarchy where the dolls govern and the Kens are mere accessories. Upon arriving in the real world, it inverts the roles to criticize the patriarchy as the source of all oppression, culminating in a restoration of the feminine order with minimal concessions to men. This satire uses humor and emotion to normalize the fluidity of identities: Ken explores his 'identity' by dressing and acting like Barbie, which is celebrated as self-discovery. The film instrumentalizes compassion and empowerment so that the viewer accepts this redefinition as desirable, without showing negative consequences or a real counterweight to the proposed disorder. Although there are flashes of witty humor and criticism of consumerism, the underlying message seeks to change the perception of the person and the family, equating traditional structures with tyranny. For parents, this poses a subtle risk: under the guise of lighthearted fun, it invites children and young people to question the common sense of sexual difference. The story does not resolve towards stable bonds or mutual responsibility, but towards a relativistic individualism disguised as liberation. It is worth discerning whether such ideas strengthen or weaken growth in virtue.