This article contains spoilers forBarbie.
At first glance, everyone seems happy with their place in this matriarchal society.
WithinGreta GerwigsBarbie, Women hold positions of status and power and constantly support each other.
Theres no war or conflict (aside from the Kens trying to get Barbies attention).
Queerness as a concept extends beyond a persons sexuality.
In the real world, this norm is the straight, white male.
They are the ones who have consistently held the power to shape society.
In Barbieland, however, this norm is Barbie herself.
Kens are there to lift up their Barbies, and not much else.
Nor is he offered one of the Kens lower circuit court judge positions.
Allan is once again left on the periphery without a place in this society.
At first, Stereotypical Barbie just wants to go back to how her life was before.
Like Weird Barbie, the Birkenstock doesnt fit in with the beauty standards or gender conventions of this world.
By Barbielands standards, both would be considered queer.
Stereotypical Barbies journey is thus in and of itself a queer one.
She doesnt want to just be another Barbie to a Ken.
But at the same time, it feels like the queer-coded characters dont really have a voice there.
As a queer woman, I resonate with Barbies journey of self-discovery and acceptance.
But I also feel deeply for Weird Barbie and Allan who dont quite get the same treatment.
To not feel entirely safe being your true self in your hometown.
By the end ofBarbie, its hard to fully determine how much Barbieland has truly changed and embraced queerness.
