God said it first: You are Kenough

When it comes to identity, it’s easy to be critical of the stereotypes, or the lack of answers provided by Barbie, but has the Church done any better? We can only understand what it is to be human in light of the larger God story that has shaped our world, says Peter Lynas

Barbie is a billion-dollar blockbuster movie with a philosophical edge - wrestling in a pink paradise with existential angst and an identity crisis. And it’s generated plenty of commentary, both in culture at large and within the Church. For some, its peak feminism - for good or bad. For others, it perpetuates all the worst stereotypes. But whatever line you take, it is resonating with audiences across the world - including three generations of my own family, which is a rarity!

It’s important to remember that Barbie is, at heart, satire, poking fun at nearly everyone. It is laugh out loud funny in parts, but also uses humour to ask some hard questions about feminism, patriarchy and much more. “Thanks to Barbie, all the problems of feminism have been solved,” the narrator tells us, tongue in cheek. While Ken “does beach”, until he discovers patriarchy, only to conclude it’s really just about horses! In one stand out quote, a character observes: “Woman hate woman. And men hate women. It’s the only thing we all agree on.”