We all know the sound of the tune. Our heart skips a little tween beat and our brain activates “dance floor” mode immediately when we hear Aqua’s “Barbie Girl” song.
“I’m a Barbie girl…” in a boy world.
I have two boys. When Barbie hit theaters, my 5-year-old son, my mother, and grandmother all went to see the movie. And we ALL loved it!
I asked him on the way home what his favorite part was. His answer was, “When Ken slides down the slide, throws his hands in the air and screams, ‘Ken is MEEEE!'” After asking him a few more questions, I understood more it is the emotional expression and range of Ken that he adores the most about the movie. We practice sharing our emotions and using our words on a daily basis.
He enjoyed seeing a character that does just that.
Being emotionally open is a contrast to many of his favorite characters that are often pushed to the more serious and stoic side of the emotional spectrum, like Batman and Darth Vader. To be clear, these characters are incredibly beloved in our household. We also make room for role models that work toward emotional intelligence by processing their feelings in healthy ways, like Daniel Tiger, Bluey, Spiderman (and His Amazing Friends) and now the evolution of “Barbie Movie” Ken.
Overall, by the end of the Barbie movie, we love how Ken’s identity has evolved. From “I’m just Ken,” to “Ken is MEEEE,” he has a truer sense of self and positive relationship with himself. He encourages men and boys to embrace their emotions, loving and accepting who they truly are… with or without Barbie.
