If Barbie Were a Stepmother
Because Barbie can be anything.
Intrigued by the whiplash of ‘woke’ reviews on Barbie, my daughter and I watched the movie. Some say it would make you cry. Some claim it breaks barriers. Some say it is one silly attempt to challenge the status quo.
Personally, all the pinks gave me a headache as it seemed to be a pretentious pink. The movie channeled inspiration and revolved around the values embraced by the awakened generation but the entire Barbie product relaunch is proving to fuel consumerism to powerful heights.
As the Kens did their lengthy sing-dance-act segment, I wondered, “What if Barbie was a stepmother?”
A stereotypical Barbie stepmother in a stereotypical world.
Barbie as a stepmom is like social media in the flesh.
The ex-wife will probably die of envy. Or if she lives, it will be a constant battle with vanity and beauty. Imagine the first meeting when the ex-husband introduces the new wife —- pink lips, tiny waist, lush hair, svelte figure, cheerful voice. Barbie as a stepmom is like social media in the flesh. Beauty, glamour, and seeming perfection have come to life, courting interesting ex-wife, new wife dynamics.
The husband will probably be soaked in his ego, being the emerged, victorious Ken.
The husband will probably be soaked in his ego, loud and proud of how Barbie chose him over an ocean of Kens, with children and all. The term ‘trophy wife’ is not far from his territory, reducing the new wife to physical attributes and traditional gender roles.
The stepchildren will be in awe with the presence of an
‘always-beautiful’ creature in the household.
The stepchildren will probably be in awe, astounded by the presence of an ‘always-beautiful’ creature in the household. Imagine the child coming out of the bathroom, finding stepmom Barbie in a real ‘woke-up-like-this’ morning perfection. Or walk into the kitchen with stepmom Barbie glamorously preparing peanut butter jelly sandwiches. Or finding stepmom Barbie elegantly folding clothes in the living room. It would be so hard to hate her, or not like her, at least. The stepdaughter would probably be so giddy to share pink clothes and shop bijoux.
If Barbie were a stepmom, the ‘evil stepmother’ stereotype will don a prettier, friendlier face. It would be hard to equate Barbie’s face with that prejudiced perception. ‘Evil stepmother’ face will no longer be confined to witches or Cinderella’s tormenter, Lady Tremaine.
But in a world that is woke, Barbie can be anything.
She can step out of the stereotypical world.
But Barbie can be anything. Anything!
Barbie as a stepmother can be a woman who knows her place in the household, in her stepchildren’s hearts, and her husband’s life. She can navigate complicated family dynamics with patience, understanding, and prudence. She is an expert at respecting boundaries as she expects her limits to be recognized too. She can choose her battles and knows when to let go, cultivating daily dynamics for a richer relationship in the long run. Sure, she can lose it sometimes and pull at her hair but she comes back to herself, breathes, and tries again.
Barbie as a stepmother can be steadfast enough to choose love over the most critical circumstances.
She can step out of the stereotypical world.
We can too.