Summary:
- Shakira and her sons found ‘Barbie’ to be “emasculating,” prompting discussion on gender dynamics in pop culture.
- Despite the film’s acclaim, Shakira advocates for empowering women without undermining traditional gender roles.
Greta Gerwig’s highly praised film “Barbie” took the 2023 box office by storm, raking in an impressive $1.4 billion globally and securing eight Oscar nominations, including Best Picture. Set in the female-centric society of Barbieland, the movie stars Margot Robbie as Barbie and Ryan Gosling as Ken, unveiling a captivating narrative.
In the movie, Ken learns about patriarchy during his journey in the real world and tries to bring it back to society upon his return. Despite the widespread praise for Greta Gerwig‘s “Barbie” film from many celebrities, Shakira has chosen to voice her criticisms.
In a feature story with Allure, Colombian singer Shakira talked about her new album “Las Mujeres Ya No Lloran” (Women No Longer Cry), which explores themes of empowerment after heartbreak. During the interview, she was asked about her opinion on the Oscar-winning movie.
Shakira revealed that her sons, Milan (11) and Sasha (9), had a negative reaction to the movie, finding it “emasculating,” a sentiment she somewhat agrees with. The artist hopes her sons will feel empowered and maintain a respectful attitude towards women.
“My sons absolutely hated it,” Shakira admitted. “They felt that it was emasculating. And I agree, to a certain extent. I’m raising two boys. I want ’em to feel powerful too [while] respecting women.”
“I like pop culture when it attempts to empower women without robbing men of their possibility to be men, to also protect and provide.”
“I believe in giving women all the tools and the trust that we can do it all without losing our essence, without losing our femininity.”
“I believe in giving women the tools and confidence to achieve without compromising our essence or femininity.”
“I think that men have a purpose in society and women have another purpose as well. We complement each other, and that complement should not be lost.”
Barbie is now available for streaming on Max
