All Things Pink and Barbie Movie Discussion Questions

June 23 is National Pink Day, a day to celebrate all things pink. This year, the day also coincides with the release of the new Barbie movie on July 21st, directed by Greta Gerwig, director of the beloved Lady Bird movie. This version of the Barbie movie is a live-action take on the iconic doll, and it has been praised for its positive portrayal of female empowerment.

Based on the trailer, Barbie is a young woman who is struggling to find her place in the world. She is told that she can only be successful if she conforms to traditional female stereotypes. However, Barbie refuses to give up on her dreams. She sets out on an adventure to find her true self, and along the way, she learns that she can be anything she wants to be.

My relationship with Barbie

I was a girly-girl through and through growing up. I loved dressing up, my favorite color was pink, and I slayed Barbie dolls. Barbie was my creative outlet, and I loved using my imagination to create elaborate stories with her. I even used rubber bands to keep her shoes on! So, Barbie did teach me some great problem-solving skills that I still use today.

Some things from childhood never change. My office is still an explosion of pink, and I’m still a girly-girl at heart.

When I was a kid, the best gift I could ever get was a Barbie. I dreamed of getting my very own Barbie Dreamhouse for Christmas, and I would spend hours playing with my dolls and making up stories. Besides my play therapist, Barbie helped me through my parents’ divorce. Quiet time with Barbie helped calm my mind and gave me the time I needed to heal.

However, as I got older, I started to realize that Barbie wasn’t exactly realistic. Her proportions were wack, and she promoted unrealistic beauty standards. I started to feel insecure about my own body, and I wished I could be more like Barbie.

The Barbie movie is a timely reminder that we should all celebrate our differences. We should not let stereotypes define us. We should be free to be ourselves, no matter what.

Here are some fun ways to celebrate National Pink Day and the new Barbie movie:

Wear pink! This is a no-brainer. Get out your pink clothes, accessories, and makeup and show your support for National Pink Day. Also known as Barbiecore (the phenomena of hot pink everywhere, of course inspired by Barbie). Here’s one of our favorite games UNO Barbiecored

Watch the new Barbie movie! This is the main event, of course. Get your tickets and head to the theater to see the movie for yourself. [Link to a Barbie movie screening in Austin]
Donate or volunteer to a non-profit that supports women and girls. We have a great local group here in ATX called GEN (Girls Empowerment Network). Also nationally here are two of our favorites: Girls INC and Girls Leadership. There’s also a national mother/daughter organization called NCL (National Charity League) that teaches mothers and daughters valuable life skills and service learning.
Start a conversation about female empowerment. Talk to your friends, family, and colleagues about the importance of female empowerment. Let’s all work together to create a world where women and girls can reach their full potential.

Try these short discussion questions before or after the movie: note this movie is PG-13

What/Whom are your biggest influences when it comes to being a girl or young woman?
Who is a role model that embraces the values/strength/messages that you want to receive?
What was your “takeaway” from the Barbie movie?
Have you ever felt like someone put you in a box? How did you handle it?

Let’s all celebrate National Pink Day and the new Barbie movie by being positive role models for young girls. Let’s show them that they can be anything they want to be, no matter what. Looking for a way to ease the transition to high school, check out our GYST workshops HERE.