The Boss Babe and Burnout

 I think the Barbie movie was beautiful. What I expected, was that it would be cute, fun, and leave me with some real kick-butt vibes, but what I found was incredibly poignant and respectful of men as individuals.

The movie did an excellent job of how women have to overcompensate in order to earn respect. I think this is why girls excel in school- because they HAVE to. In my own life, I get mocked for being a walking Google, for working overtime to substantiate every thing I say. I organize and document all the facts. Oftentimes, I have to do it over and over. It seems that the men in my life don't have to substantiate any of their claims at all. Their claims are merely accepted on the basis that they possess both chromosomes. (I'm trying my BEST to not be crass here.) If you know a woman burning the candle on both ends, take a look and try to find the ways she isn't being respected in her life. And I agree with Gloria- I'm tired.

Read Gloria's full monologue from Barbie (2023):

"It is literally impossible to be a woman. You are so beautiful, and so smart, and it kills me that you don't think you're good enough. Like, we have to always be extraordinary, but somehow we're always doing it wrong.

You have to be thin, but not too thin. And you can never say you want to be thin. You have to say you want to be healthy, but also you have to be thin. You have to have money, but you can't ask for money because that's crass. You have to be a boss, but you can't be mean. You have to lead, but you can't squash other people's ideas. You're supposed to love being a mother, but don't talk about your kids all the damn time. You have to be a career woman but also always be looking out for other people.

You have to answer for men's bad behavior, which is insane, but if you point that out, you're accused of complaining. You're supposed to stay pretty for men, but not so pretty that you tempt them too much or that you threaten other women because you're supposed to be a part of the sisterhood.

But always stand out and always be grateful. But never forget that the system is rigged. So find a way to acknowledge that but also always be grateful.

You have to never get old, never be rude, never show off, never be selfish, never fall down, never fail, never show fear, never get out of line. It's too hard! It's too contradictory and nobody gives you a medal or says thank you! And it turns out in fact that not only are you doing everything wrong, but also everything is your fault.

I'm just so tired of watching myself and every single other woman tie herself into knots so that people will like us. And if all of that is also true for a doll just representing women, then I don't even know."