Barbie fan or not, like it or not, pink is the IN colour this year! Not surprisingly, much of this is down to the recently released Barbie movie; definitely the highlight of 2023’s summer! Whether you’ve seen the movie or not, its theme has captured the hearts of many people, men and women. Yes, we say men as well for one good reason; Gloria’s speech to Barbie.
To be honest, you don’t need to have watched the movie to know the immensely inspiring, extraordinarily moving, overwhelmingly transparent message it portrayed. But just in case you haven’t watched it already it, here it is:
“It is literally impossible to be a woman (she tells Barbie). You are so beautiful, and so smart, and it kills me that you don’t think you’re good enough. Like, we have to always be extraordinary, but somehow we’re always doing it wrong.
You have to be thin, but not too thin. 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. You have to lead, but you can’t squash other people’s ideas. You’re supposed to love being a mother, but don’t talk about your kids all the damn time. You have to be a career woman, but also always be looking out for other people. You have to answer for men’s bad behaviour, which is insane, but if you point that out, you’re accused of complaining.
“ou’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. But always stand out and always be grateful. But never forget that the system is rigged. So, find a way to acknowledge that but also always be grateful. You have to never get old, never be rude, never show off, never be selfish, never fall down, never fail, never show fear, never get out of line. It’s too hard! It’s too contradictory and nobody gives you a medal or says thank you! And it turns out in fact that not only are you doing everything wrong, but also everything is your fault.
“I’m just so tired of watching myself and every single other woman tie herself into knots so that people will like us. And if all of that is also true for a doll just representing women, then I don’t even know.”
America Ferrera
Well, apart from asking ourselves, how America Ferrera managed to remember all these lines, you can’t escape nodding your head and agreeing with every single word – and that’s just reading it! Imagine the impact it had on the big screen in a cinema… It’s that impact that not only had women applauding in their seats but men, too.
The underlying message…
Throughout the movie, Greta Gerwig’s script has highlighted the struggles women face today and conveys the social expectations a patriarchal society subjects them to. Women the world over are relating to the words and given many pause to self-reflect on their lives. Without doubt, many are starting to feel a sense of empowerment they may not have felt before – bravo Greta Gerwig!
But it’s just a film, right? It’ll all be forgotten soon… Well, not quite because although the overall message of the movie is powerful, it’s Gloria’s speech – monologue – that is proving to be exceptionally influential.
How does the monologue impact women?
The speech by the character, Gloria in the Barbie movie has become a social media sensation and has tapped into the hearts, and minds, of many women globally. But let’s delve a little deeper into understanding what’s so special about it?
Throughout the whole monologue, Gloria vocalises the never-ending list of prejudice battles which women face. She states, “It is literally impossible to be a woman” and there is a very strong element of truth in this. From periods, pregnancy, motherhood and the menopause, it feels like women are literally set up for pain, stress and multiple emotional breakdowns; something that many men find difficult to understand, let alone help with.
But as we go further into the monologue, Gloria also mentions, “You have to be thin, but not too thin”… Many aspects of society expect women to conform to a certain body image from a young age, often representing unrealistic expectations. Is it any wonder so many of our younger generations (and older people, too) are suffering from eating disorders, like anorexia or bulimia? But we also have to remember that it isn’t just women suffering from these issues; men, too, are subjected to the same pressures to bow down and immortalise themselves into this almost impossible-to-achieve image.
The most revealing aspect of this monologue is that whilst it shows just how far women have come in the world, it also highlights how very much further society needs to go in the women-men equality battle. Greta Gerwig has gone a long way in highlighting the importance of these issues but there is an ever-pressing need to continue to fight the patriarchal structure and social barriers laid down over the years; rather ironic when you consider the idealised world, or image, the Barbie doll has been championing for the last 50 years. But that is exactly why Gerwig wrote these words…
Gloria’s speech certainly resonated with all of us at Really Helpful Club, which makes our upcoming new conference, “Your Power Decade: Discover Your Superpower!” so important to all of us. Through the sharing of valuable insights, great tips and exciting discussions, we’ll help you to discover, or re-discover, you! Our inspirational speakers and thought leaders will share the real life experiences with you, showing you how it really is possible to build your self-confidence, empowering you to reach out and grab those opportunities before they pass you by. Find out more about Your Power Decade: Discover Your Superpower and book your place before you miss out! Early bird tickets are available for £45, so check out our Events page to buy your ticket today!
