In the Barbie movie, Ken is exposed to the concept of the patriarchy. What happens next is a humorous yet surprisingly accurate depiction of radicalisation.
I haven’t seen this movie yet, but this article ends by saying that
Barbie and Ken reach a middle ground. Barbie encourages Ken to work out who he is outside of his relation to Barbie, and to learn being Just Ken is enough.
So, in reality, maybe the movie comes to the same conclusion for both genders. Being dependent on another person for happiness is not productive. Cultivating hobbies and interests, and being ok with who you are, is key.
I think it’s notable that Barbie never really looks to Ken for happiness or personal satisfaction. He is largely treated as a friend and sometimes an obstacle (in that he brings patriarchy to Barbieland). Instead, Barbie’s story is focused on coming to terms with the modern world and how it treats women.
I haven’t seen this movie yet, but this article ends by saying that
So, in reality, maybe the movie comes to the same conclusion for both genders. Being dependent on another person for happiness is not productive. Cultivating hobbies and interests, and being ok with who you are, is key.
I think it’s notable that Barbie never really looks to Ken for happiness or personal satisfaction. He is largely treated as a friend and sometimes an obstacle (in that he brings patriarchy to Barbieland). Instead, Barbie’s story is focused on coming to terms with the modern world and how it treats women.