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Women in China are telling each other to bring their boyfriends to see 'Barbie' — and to use it as a litmus test for their thoughts on feminism and patriarchy (www.insider.com)

submitted 1 year ago by Woland@lemm.ee to c/world@lemmy.world

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For some women in China, "Barbie" is more than just a movie — it's also a litmus test for their partner's views on feminism and patriarchy.

The movie has prompted intense social media discussion online, media outlets Sixth Tone and the China Project reported this week, prompting women to discuss their own dating experiences.

One user on the Chinese social media platform Xiaohongshu — a photo-sharing site similar to Instagram that's mostly used by Gen Z women — even shared a guide on Monday for how women can test their boyfriends based on their reaction to the film.

According to the guide, if a man shows hatred for "Barbie" and slams female directors after they leave the theatre, then this man is "stingy" and a "toxic chauvinist," according to Insider's translation of the post. Conversely, if a man understands even half of the movie's themes, "then he is likely a normal guy with normal values and stable emotions," the user wrote.

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[-] doggle@lemmy.world 366 points 1 year ago

Women in the US are doing that too.

I guess it works, to a point. If your man throws a Shapiro-esque fit over this movie he probably isn't great to be around the rest of the time.

[-] rosenjcb@lemmy.world 50 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago)

His critique of it is basically that it's too "woke" but he really has nothing to say about the essential elements of any movie (plot, tone, character development, etc). He's either unable or unwilling to separate politics from his review. It's like he doesn't know a movie can be well made even if you disagree with its themes.

[-] leftenddev@slrpnk.net 34 points 1 year ago

If you ever have (unfortunately) heard of his absolutely dogshit book, then his inability to understand deeper meanings, subtext, themes, and to grapple with a competent plot should not surprise you in the least. Robert Evans, Cody Johnston, and Katy Stoll read it through on Behind The Bastards in a few episodes. Imagine the novelization of a Steven Seagal movie adaption of a Jack Ryan plotline. Combine that with how ol Benny really wanted, and failed, to be a screenplay writer, and it makes sense his absolute hatred for modern Hollywood movies that don't say all the things he likes.

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[-] BetaBlake@lemmy.world 45 points 1 year ago

Shapiro-esque is such an apt description.

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[-] Colorcodedresistor@lemm.ee 41 points 1 year ago

Both my wife and i wanted to go equally. I wanted to thirst on Ken and I did...but on the serious note, its a good movie for both genders to see for seperate but equal reasons. Barbie gotta stand up and step out, be herself. and Ken has to learn what it means to be Ken without Barbie. This movie would of helped me not be such an incel in my formative years.

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[-] Arotrios@kbin.social 212 points 1 year ago

I have to admit, Barbie becoming a Chinese feminist icon was not on my 2023 bingo card. Anyone taking bets on when we're gonna get a kpop version of this classic?

[-] SuddenDownpour@sh.itjust.works 36 points 1 year ago

The Simpsons predicted it.

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[-] boredtortoise@lemm.ee 146 points 1 year ago

Barbie starting the revolution in China? Hopefully other countries as well. Good timeline.

[-] postmateDumbass@lemmy.world 36 points 1 year ago

Little Pink Cookbook!

Little Pink Cookbook?

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[-] spiderjuzce@lemmy.sdf.org 133 points 1 year ago

I think if anyone gets mad at a Barbie movie or some random article on the internet that has nothing to do with them, that's a good sign they're emotionally unstable

[-] oatscoop@midwest.social 77 points 1 year ago

I'd call it emotionally immature.

A surprising number of the people I grew up or work with act like they're still in high school when it comes to social/interpersonal skills -- these people are all well over 30 years old.

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[-] HawlSera@lemm.ee 116 points 1 year ago

I am genuinely amazed this movie wasn't banned in China

[-] MrApples@lemmy.ca 73 points 1 year ago

Well they included the nine-dash line in the movies silly map (I believe Vietnam banned the movie because of this) and there's no zombies or Winnie the Pooh references so all good as far as the CCP goes.

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[-] Hazdaz@lemmy.world 80 points 1 year ago

If you base your relationship on a fucken Hollywood movie then that should be a litmus test in and of itself.

Also, guys, if your girlfriend constantly feels the need to "test" your relationship, then she's not the right one. Thats a massive red flag.

[-] neptune@dmv.social 130 points 1 year ago

I mean there's no harm in using a cultural moment as a starting point to see if two people are compatible?

I think the language in the article and perhaps from the influencers is a bit rigid.

I don't think anyone is suggesting that if a man has valid reasons for disliking the movie they are automatically exist. The idea is that the film is causing a knee jerk reaction in men who are otherwise prone to hiding their misogyny.

I didn't get a lot of the inside jokes about the product. And the barbies and Ken's did not unite to kill Will Ferrell.

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[-] Laticauda@lemmy.ca 78 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago)

Wanting to test if your new boyfriend is a misogynist is hardly a red flag. The article doesn't say anything about testing dudes constantly. It doesn't even say he has to like the movie, just understand some of its themes.

[-] mojo@lemm.ee 72 points 1 year ago

It's not basing the relationship off of the movie. It's just a way to test if any red flags come up.

[-] sjatar@sjatar.net 50 points 1 year ago

I think it's healthy to observe your partners reaction to things. Especially when it comes to things that are quite important for a long term relationship, like their thoughts about gender roles. If you organically went to see the movie and your partner is clearly displaying red flags from it, then that's just good (not the red flags but that you now know).

I guess the trickery of going to assess them specifically can be seen as a asshole move. But I think it's a good move compared to alternatives ^^

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[-] Psyduck_world@lemmy.world 68 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago)

I thought the movie criticizes both extreme feminism and male chauvinism, or did I watch a different Barbie movie?

[-] boredtortoise@lemm.ee 75 points 1 year ago

That's what the article is saying as well.

Any gendered chauvinism sucks and patriarchy causes suffering to anyone.

And if someone comes out of the movie angered by this knowledge, they can be a troublesome person to other people.

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[-] tenitchyfingers@lemmy.world 53 points 1 year ago

Correct. Honestly, if a dude gets offended by a movie that says “hey dude, learn how to love and value yourself without basing all of your sense of self on your romantic relationship to a woman and you’ll be much happier”, they are NOT a catch at all and they need to shed some shit about their lives.

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[-] MossBear@lemmy.world 51 points 1 year ago

Of note....American conservatives/confederates absolutely detest the Barbie movie.

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[-] Chriszz@lemmy.world 48 points 1 year ago

For those who saw the movie: do you think this test is valid?

[-] CitizenKong@lemmy.world 93 points 1 year ago

As a man, I would say sort of. The movie does not shy away from a very obvious feminist message combined with an unsubtle (hilarious) spoof of toxic masculinity. On the other hand, it's still a matter of personal taste. I really liked the movie, but I could see how someone would find it a bit too simplistic and formulaic in its story, completely independent from its themes. Not liking female directors in general just because they're female is complete bullshit though.

[-] Laticauda@lemmy.ca 61 points 1 year ago

To be fair it doesn't say the boyfriend has the like the movie, just understand it and not bash it mindlessly.

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[-] Rayspekt@kbin.social 85 points 1 year ago

I don't know I one should derive a scientific test out of it, but if a guy gets batshit crazy over the movie, then he might not have the best relation towards independent women.

[-] archiotterpup@lemmy.world 40 points 1 year ago

As a gay man, I say yes. I get to watch the hetero world from the outside and yeah, Barbie nails it. Folks just don't like the mirror.

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[-] Phoebe@feddit.de 45 points 1 year ago

My boyfriend and i can't wait to watch this movie 😊 💕 (but cinema got expensiv dudeee 🥲)

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[-] veganpizza69@lemmy.world 44 points 1 year ago

Please partake in the culture war, don't just let conservatives win by default.

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[-] feedum_sneedson@lemmy.world 41 points 1 year ago

Is it cool if I just don't watch it? It doesn't really appeal to me.

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[-] UnbeatenDeployGoofy@lemmy.ml 40 points 1 year ago

That's interesting. I read that the film was about radical feminism, but gender switched with Ken as the feminist to overthrow the Barbie-dominating system. Really look forward to seeing the movie.

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[-] astral_avocado@programming.dev 37 points 1 year ago

They're allowed to watch Barbie in China? How censored is it?

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[-] boonhet@lemm.ee 32 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago)

According to the guide, if a man shows hatred for "Barbie" and slams female directors after they leave the theatre, then this man is "stingy" and a "toxic chauvinist," according to Insider's translation of the post

Nothing against female directors, but the movie went from pretty damn good to pretty damn boring after a while.

You've got a fun and quirky beginning that makes light fun of barbie, mattel and patriarchal society. Then you've got the bits where

spoiler

Barbie and Ken get to the real world, get arrested twice for doing stupid shit.

This part was funny and for a bit there I felt like it was mainly not about driving a message home, but still had SOME things to say. Great! Then you've got the parts where

spoiler

Ken went on his own journey to discover patriarchy (which he thought had something to do with horses and was disappointed to find out it didn't), Barbie meets her owner's daughter, goes to Mattel HQ, then gets chased out and rescued by her owner.

Many hilarious moments here, poking lots of fun at patriarchy again, but it never felt like it was too on the nose. I mean I kinda expected that from the trailers and everything.

Where the movie started changing for me was when

spoiler

Barbie, her owner, and the latter's daughter went back to the Barbie world to help fix the balance, only to find out that the Kens had completely taken over.

While the twist was predictable, it was still interesting because I wanted to know how they would resolve it. But it just kinda... fell off after that? At this point you have the expected low point in the protagonist's life, and then they figure out how to fix everything, but it was just so... boring and uninspired somehow. By this point, the movie's quirky and fun nature has worn down its' course and the

spoiler

battle of the Kens

just did nothing for me anymore.

What's worse, I was expecting

spoiler

the Mattel board of directors, particularly Will Ferrell's characters to be villains and instead they just... arrived by the end of the movie and had a change of heart.

That subverted my expectations for sure, but not in a good way whatsoever. Slightly reminiscent of the last seasons of Game of Thrones.

And lastly, I really expected the resolution of the plot to have something to do with horses and I was sorely disappointed about that too.

TL;DR: Movie starts out great, but foreshadows things it doesn't follow through on very well, ending is boring and sappy.

[-] BurtReynoldsMustache@lemmy.world 35 points 1 year ago

How dare you, that dance-off between Simu Liu and Ryan Gosling (and the other Kens) was incredible!

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this post was submitted on 03 Aug 2023

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