As a woman in middle age, I feel like I am *just finally* coming to terms and in comfort with my own femininity, and (perhaps sadly?) a lot of that stems from being in the age demographic that suddenly makes you less visible or entirely invisible to many men.
You might think feeling "unseen" by men might hurt my self esteem, but at this same time I find that OTHER WOMEN (even younger women) have been so kind and generous in ACTUALLY SEEING ME in a way that feels genuine and taking the time to let me know they see and LIKE how the outfit I've put together is a reflection of my personal style and my sense of self, even though nothing I own or wear is probably what would be considered "style" in a more mainstream sense.
i really appreciate the way you navigated this. from the framing (especially for those of us who haven't seen the movie), to the conversation about the performance of gender & feminity in particular, to the role that camp & drag both engage & inform gender. i didn't think id make it through a barbie thinkpiece but this was time & energy well spent. well said.
I've read a few things on the Barbie movie ahead of finally going to see it. This is absolutely one of the most thoughtful pieces, deconstructing the narratives of femininity that sit around it. Thank you ever so much for writing and sharing it!
Those in my life who have seen the movie have celebrated the clever and funny writing. I wonder if they too, like Sontag, perhaps felt liberated as 'stereotyped femininities–by exaggerating them, by putting them between quotation marks' - were undermined.
It's a little disappointing, though predictable, to know that the movie has made official collaborations on beauty products - and whilst it wouldn't remotely surprise me, I can't actually find evidence to suggest that skin-lightening creams are one of them?
As a woman in middle age, I feel like I am *just finally* coming to terms and in comfort with my own femininity, and (perhaps sadly?) a lot of that stems from being in the age demographic that suddenly makes you less visible or entirely invisible to many men.
You might think feeling "unseen" by men might hurt my self esteem, but at this same time I find that OTHER WOMEN (even younger women) have been so kind and generous in ACTUALLY SEEING ME in a way that feels genuine and taking the time to let me know they see and LIKE how the outfit I've put together is a reflection of my personal style and my sense of self, even though nothing I own or wear is probably what would be considered "style" in a more mainstream sense.
i really appreciate the way you navigated this. from the framing (especially for those of us who haven't seen the movie), to the conversation about the performance of gender & feminity in particular, to the role that camp & drag both engage & inform gender. i didn't think id make it through a barbie thinkpiece but this was time & energy well spent. well said.
I've read a few things on the Barbie movie ahead of finally going to see it. This is absolutely one of the most thoughtful pieces, deconstructing the narratives of femininity that sit around it. Thank you ever so much for writing and sharing it!
Those in my life who have seen the movie have celebrated the clever and funny writing. I wonder if they too, like Sontag, perhaps felt liberated as 'stereotyped femininities–by exaggerating them, by putting them between quotation marks' - were undermined.
It's a little disappointing, though predictable, to know that the movie has made official collaborations on beauty products - and whilst it wouldn't remotely surprise me, I can't actually find evidence to suggest that skin-lightening creams are one of them?