On July 21, 2023, Greta Gerwig released a movie that made the world explode. Not literally, but the impact of “Barbie” worldwide within the economy and communities was massive and shocking, making over $150 million within the first three days of release and $1.45 billion overall, ten times the budget of the movie and bonding women from all over the world with something they can all understand. Gerwig, the director of “Barbie” is not the only one responsible for the outstanding success of this movie. Actors and actresses such as Ryan Gosling, Ariana Greenblatt, Emma Mackey, and especially Margot Robbie and America Ferrera made this movie one of the most influential movies of not only 2023, but the 21st century, in my opinion. Moments like America Ferrera’s speech as Gloria in the movie moved thousands of audience members around the world and sparked conversations about what comes with being a woman in today’s society.
Barbie Land, ruled by the Barbies and home to all the Barbies and Kens, is morphed into Kendom due to the influence of the patriarchal culture of the “Real-World ”. A trip only made necessary due to the rip in fabric between Barbie Land and the “Real- World ” causing stereotypical Barbie to turn into as Gloria put it “Anxiety-ridden depressed Barbie” because of Gloria’s sadness and depression in life. Homeless, brainwashed Barbies is what Gloria, her daughter Sasha, and stereotypical Barbie arrive to after their adventure in the “Real-World”. Suffering a major shock and experiencing a malicious verbal assault from Ryan Gosling’s Ken, the now “Depressed Barbie” loses all hope of going back to stereotypical Barbie or of ever being exceptional at anything in life. Flabbergasted, Gloria had a compelling and empowering monologue that explained the tribulations of actually being a woman. Moving people beyond the intended audience of young girls and girls entering adulthood such as men, who often help develop the standards of what a woman should be, make this speech powerful and thought provoking for everyone hearing it.
Casting America Ferarra and writing this speech for her was a stroke of genius by the casting director. Ferrara’s past works such as “Ugly Betty” and “The Sisterhood of Traveling Pants” have made her known as someone who is relatable to people outside of the entertainment business. Ferrara has never been the white, skinny, blonde cliche that has graced our screens for decades. She portrays what most of the population looks like, curvy and diverse. She’s human. She is a true representation of a woman in America. Having her give an inspiring speech that tells women they are not alone in their attempts to “tie herself into knots so that people will like us.” as Gloria, Ferrara’s character, says was the best move the director could have made. The image Ferarra has provided through her previous works naturally makes her relatetable and real. If the casting director would have gone with a white woman or a woman more like Barbie, then I believe the speech would have been less meaningful and would have had a lesser impact on women as a whole. Women can see themselves in her, not only through her portrayals as an actress but as her character Gloria in the movie. Gloria works at Mattel, which is male dominated, and seems to be the main carer for her daughter Sasha throughout the movie. The narrative allows for representation of multiple groups of women. Minorities and working moms can identify with the character and are able to relate more with the speech.
Gloria establishes an emotional connection with the audience through her explanations of the double standard provided for women by society: “You have to be thin, but not too thin,” she explains. “And you can never say you want to be thin. You have to say you want to be healthy, but also you have to be thin. You have to have money, but you can’t ask for money because that’s crass. You have to be a boss, but you can’t be mean.” These are just some of the restrictions that Ferarra’s character says to show this obvious double standard– restrictions so basic that it doesn’t matter if you’re black, white, Latina, gay, or straight if you’re a woman, you signed up for these expectations the minute you were born. The cinematography provided by the director Greta Gerwig furthers the emotional connection made to the audience. As Ferarra’s speech progresses the audience sees Gloria become more exasperated and frustrated. She starts the speech like she is talking to all women and then the speech progresses to a point where she starts connecting with the speech herself. Gloria connecting with the speech shows how women from the real world should be able to connect with it. Along with showing Gloria’s connection with the speech, the cinematography shows cutaways where the audience sees the brainwashed Barbie’s reactions. Seeing their reactions and how they slowly become unbrainwashed due to the speech, shows the impact the speech has on other women and how all women can relate to it, even women who are made to be perfect like Barbies.
The whole monologue touches base with the inequality seen between men and women. Mid-way through the speech, Ferarra’s character describes how women are expected to take up for their own mistakes and the mistakes of men around them : “You have to answer for men’s bad behavior,” she argues, “which is insane, but if you point that out, you’re accused of complaining. You’re supposed to stay pretty for men, but not so pretty that you tempt them too much or that you threaten other women because you’re supposed to be a part of the sisterhood.”. Women are expected to live up to the standards of others in society and be complacent, otherwise, they are considered whiny and spiteful. Not only that but it heavily implies that while those things are true for women, the exact opposite is true for men. Men are able to do as they please without being called controlling, mean, or manipulative. While this idea of a double standard is harmful, it is exactly what brings women together in society. It is always going to be something that all women have in common, as of right now, women are not able to escape it. Not only does the speech connect women with other women, but it also connects women with themselves. Bringing attention to the presence of a double standard in society is what helps correct the double standard. Talking about issues such as this one is not an easy thing to do, most people avoid it because it makes them uncomfortable. I believe the most difficult part of talking about issues is the ability to start the conversation. The “Barbie” movie does a great job of starting the conversation and making it okay for other people to start talking about it. The speech provokes women to think about their place in society and realize they are not alone. Someone out there is going through the same thing they are.
At the beginning of her speech, Gloria says “It is literally impossible to be a woman.”. I think that statement alone captures the theme of her monologue. Expectations of women have been changed hundreds of times throughout history. Back when Barbie dolls were first created women followed strict societal rules. Beth Handler in 1959 defied these social standards and created the iconic doll we now know as Barbie, her society was dominated by masculinity and made Barbie in reflection of what a woman was supposed to be in her time, a beautiful, unproportional, blonde who certainly fits the cliche of some man’s dream woman. As a society, we have lessened the inequality surrounding women in the workplace and in society as a whole, but as Gloria, or America Ferrera, put it, women are still expected to maintain a perfect image to avoid those inequalities rising up again. Men in this world are, normally, given a certain amount of respect the minute they are born, while women have to jump through hoops to get even half that respect. Sometimes speaking up about issues of inequality is difficult. Starting the conversation is the hardest part. Having Gerwig and Ferrera bring attention to an issue that is present every day in fifty percent of the population gives people the opportunity to talk about it. Talking about it, opens up opportunities to improve the state of things in your own community. Gloria’s monologue was a beautiful and impactful speech that could change the state of the world today by giving women the freedom to speak up and support each other when discussing these issues. Isn’t it easier to stand up for a cause when there are people that are willing to stand up for it with you?
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