What the Barbie movie got wrong about relationships
What the new Barbie movie got wrong about relationships and what we can learn from it
The movie “Barbie” has taken the world’s box office by storm generating over 750 million dollars globally (as of this writing). Another record set was the fact that it was the highest grossing opening weekend movie directed by a woman. With a 91% on rotten tomatoes we have to ask ourselves why are people of all genders flocking to this movie? More importantly what is the message of the movie they are portraying and how are we to process this when it comes to its impact on couples relationship dynamics? Read on, we got you covered.
Warning: spoilers ahead. The film starts off with the character Barbie, played by Margo Robbie, who feels totally indifferent to Ken or any male figure and at the same time starts to experience feelings of death and possibly a deeper meaning of life. She is told to venture into the real world where she discovers from her viewpoint a patriarchy filled world opposite to that of Barbie land.
The basic implied idea of the film is that if the men ignore the women and the women ignore the men then the world would be a happier place. In the initial part of the film it seems as if women only exist if they are free from men and their existence is based upon their longing for being noticed by women.
Barbie, while not directed at a specific audience, definitely targets young adult impressionable viewers, extending their influence beyond the realms of childhood entertainment. Surprisingly, this seemingly lighthearted movie has left a significant impact on ideologies of couple dynamics. By analyzing the messages and values (whether agreeable or not) conveyed throughout the film, we can gain insights into how these colorful tales contribute to shaping perceptions of love, relationships, and gender roles.
These are the main issues that I believe the movie just got flat-out wrong:
Challenging Gender Stereotypes
One of the most remarkable aspects of the Barbie film is their ability or should we say inability to challenge traditional gender stereotypes. We witness female protagonists taking on diverse roles, ranging from Presidents and Doctors to explorers and scientists. Such portrayals present an empowering message to young girls, inspiring them to break free from conventional gender norms. Which is great! But they chose to showcase this only in Barbie land! As soon as Barbie reaches the real world they depict it as a male dominated patriarchy nightmare. Last we checked Mattel has 5 Women out of 11 currently serving on its board.
As couples we can engage in discussions about gender equality, encouraging both partners to reevaluate their own beliefs and biases to further connect with each other.
Empathy and Communication
Barbie revolves around themes of friendship, empathy, and open communication. But surprise, surprise mostly only when it came to friendships with women! Couples can learn valuable lessons by challenging the aforementioned lack of emotional IQ that the Barbies had towards men. When it comes to relationships of all kinds, understanding the importance of emotional intelligence and active listening in a relationship. All couples may be inspired to implement these qualities in their own interactions, fostering a deeper understanding and connection.
Reimagining Romantic Narratives
While romance remains a central theme in films in general, the narratives often portray love in diverse and unexpected ways. Not so in Barbie: we are presented with the exact opposite! Characters are not falling in love based on shared values, mutual respect, and genuine affection rather than relying solely on external appearances or material possessions. In Barbie women don’t necessarily need anyone at least for Barbie. By watching such narratives, couples can reassess their own notions of romance, focusing on building lasting connections founded on emotional compatibility and personal growth.
Cultivating Shared Interests
The film did encompass a wide range of genres and storylines, appealing to a broad audience. As couples watch these films together, they may discover shared interests, sparking conversations about hobbies, dreams, and aspirations. This process of finding common ground which was ignored with all of the “Kens” can enrich the bond between partners, fostering a stronger sense of unity and cooperation in their relationship.
Ultimately Ken should have been respected and Barbie should be respected as well. The importance of balance and equality in couple dynamics can not be understated. No one gender should be made to feel less than. Respect needs to be mutual.
This isn’t about left, right, down or up conservative, liberal democrat or republican. It’s about relationships. As a professional couples therapist in order for ANY relationship to be successful it is up to all of us irrespective of gender to create safety for ourselves and everyone around us and only then can we truly thrive independently and as a whole.
As a marriage and relationship therapist, I love to pick apart a good existential crises. Contact me if you want to explore your own Barbie inspired existential crisis.
Embracing Sexual Wellness: A Journey into Sex Therapy
These days, where personal growth and self-care are prioritized, embracing sexual wellness has become an integral part of overall well-being. Whether you’re starting a new relationship or embarking on the “second time around,” seeking support from sex therapy can be transformative.
The Unsung Benefits of Sex Therapy
Many of us are unaware of the genuine necessity for sex therapy. For the most part, we don’t talk about sex openly. Consider the following benefits of sex therapy to break out from that cocoon:
- Improved Communication: The foundation of any successful relationship is effective communication. Couples benefit from sex therapy by learning crucial communication skills that allow them to express their wishes, concerns, and boundaries in a courteous and helpful manner. Couples can improve their emotional connection and intimacy by encouraging open discussion.
- Increased Intimacy:Intimacy transcends the physical environment. Sex therapy allows couples to explore emotional intimacy and strengthen their bond. By addressing underlying emotional blocks and fostering vulnerability, couples can experience a more profound level of closeness and intimacy in their relationship.
- Resolving Sexual Concerns: Sex therapyprovides a specialized approach to addressing sexual concerns such as erectile dysfunction, low libido, or difficulties reaching orgasm. Through personalized strategies, techniques, and exercises, individuals and couples can overcome these challenges and regain sexual confidence and satisfaction.
- Healing Past Traumas:Past traumatic experiences can significantly impact an individual’s sexual well-being. Sex therapy offers a safe environment for individuals to process and heal from these traumas, allowing them to reclaim their sexuality and build healthy relationships based on trust and intimacy.
Seeking Support from Sex Therapy Jerusalem
For those in Jerusalem and surrounding areas, LovingWisely is a leading sex therapy firm that provides professional and compassionate guidance. Our team of experienced sex therapists is dedicated to helping individuals and couples navigate their unique sexual journeys, providing tailored support and evidence-based interventions.
Conclusion
Embracing sexual wellness is a courageous and transformative journey. Sex therapy offers the tools and support necessary to navigate this journey with confidence and understanding. Whether you’re starting anew or rekindling the flame in a long-term relationship, seeking guidance from sex therapy professionals, such as those at LovingWisely, can empower you to embrace your sexuality, enhance intimacy, and experience a more fulfilling and satisfying sexual life. Remember, you deserve to love and be loved wisely, and sex therapy can be a valuable resource on this journey.
The Benefits of Online Marriage Counseling for Busy Couples
Love is a beautiful feeling that binds two individuals together, but navigating the ups and downs of married life can be challenging, especially for busy couples. With our hectic work schedules and never-ending to-do lists, finding time for traditional in-person marriage counseling sessions may seem like an impossible feat. That’s where an online marriage psychologist comes in! Lovingwisely.in offers busy couples a convenient and effective way to receive professional support without sacrificing their already limited time. In this blog post, we’ll explore the numerous benefits of online marriage counseling and how it can help you strengthen your relationship with your partner even amidst a busy lifestyle.
Benefits of online marriage counseling
In addition to being accessible from anywhere and at any time, online marriage counseling offers couples a flexible option – they can attend sessions as often or as rarely as they need them – making it an ideal option for couples who live far apart or are busy with work and other responsibilities.
Married couples will get more understanding of each other and will start to resolve their problems easily with the help of online marriage counseling. And in person and EMDR therapy also benefits them more. But there are a lot of conflicts involved in it. Both of them should accept and be ready to visit the counseling. Online counseling will make the couple build trust between them. It will allow them to communicate more. If any one of the partners is suffering from any kind of anxiety or depression, they may find relief from resolving these issues in an individualized setting. In this, they don’t have to go through the trouble of visiting a therapist in person.
What types of couples should consider online marriage counseling?
A marriage counseling session online is an important and beneficial one for couples who live very busy lives. And also would like to improve their relationship. Through online marriage counseling, couples can get help to strengthen their relationship and sit and talk about the problems they had. This will help them to resolve the issue and go back to the lost happy days.
Online marriage counseling has many benefits for couples, including convenience, affordability, and accessibility. Couples can sit in a corner, and resolve their problems no matter where they are. And they don’t have to go through the trouble of their scheduled plan changes.
Couples who are facing difficulties in coming offline and meeting everyone in person. They can avail themselves of an online marriage psychologist. This is actually a cost-effective one and most of the time, people face a lot of trouble in contacting their therapist. But here online, you don’t have to worry about it. You will get access to a personal therapist.
In conclusion
Consider seeking out online marriage counseling from Lovingwisely if you are struggling with your relationship. Online counseling can offer flexibility and convenience while still having access to support from a counselor who understands your unique situation.
Why It’s Easier for You to Commit to Cheesecake than Love
With so many cheesecake recipes clogging up my instagram this time of the year, it’s excusable to forget that the holiday is about more than just yummy food. Commemorating the giving of the Torah and our commitment to G-d, Shavuot is truly about commitment . When G-d offered the Torah to the Jewish people, we responded instantly without hesitancy, “Naaseh, v’Nishma.” We will do and we will hear.” In other words, we will do as we are told and find out the details later. That’s commitment!
Sounds a bit nuts as this wasn’t a small matter to agree to. It begs the question, “What made the Jewish people so agreeable? And what can we learn from this in our own relationships?
G-d displayed an unwavering love towards the Jewish people, exacting revenge on their enemies, shepherding them out of Egypt into the desert, providing free food in the form of manna…. Why would the Jewish people think for a moment that the Torah would be anything but good for them? They were courted by G-d and then when he finally asked for a commitment, there was no hesitation. After all, when people are presented time and again with goodness, this builds feelings of trust. We almost take it for granted that things will go smoothly over time. For some, commitment is as easy as eating cheesecake, for others, it’s a fear greater than climbing Mount Sinai.
What makes us agreeable in relationships?
- When the person we are speaking with smiles at us and expresses interest and validates our feelings
- When we find mutual topics of interest
- When the other person nods and uses positive body language to invite us in
What makes a person commit to lifelong love?
- Building up positive shared experiences
- Having positive experiences with our close friends and family
- Letting them into the rich inner recesses of our lives
- Being vulnerable
What if you just can’t commit?
Identify what your blocks are. Is it fear of getting hurt, fear of not being enough, fear of growing bored, fear you won’t be able to get through life’s challenges, fear of someone better coming along?
Work through the fear and let it go: Once you have identified the fear you should be better equipped to face it head on. This is commonly an area that trips people up as they aren’t entirely sure what the fear is about and then they have a hard time clearing it. Often, one can experience multiple obstructions and feel too overwhelmed to deal with on your own. If you find yourself in this bind, unable to clear the blockage, therapy is the way to go. Together we will work on identifying your obstruction, working on a way to clear it and build your best self so you can be open to a committed relationship.
Why are some people afraid to commit while others find it easy to jump right in ?
Those who can’t commit have one or more of these issues that bar them from pulling the trigger on an otherwise healthy relationship .
Sometimes, they’ve witnessed an unpleasant relationship between parents and they have a fear of recreating this. Other times they may have had a negative relationship with their parents or other family members which manifested in a fear of recreating this pattern with someone else.
Lastly, it’s possible they feel generally unlovable or incapable of giving and receiving love.
Can’t Commit? Don’t quit! If you are still struggling with the concept of commitment as a whole, feel free to reach out to me. I’d love to help you overcome your fears and find yourself in a committed loving relationship.
5 Advantages Of Sex Therapy Jerusalem
Marriage therapy is a type of counseling that helps couples to identify and address issues in their relationship. It provides a safe and supportive environment for couples to work through their problems second time around and build a stronger, more fulfilling relationship. Here are some of the advantages of marriage therapy:
- Improved communication
One of the most significant advantages of counseling is that it helps couples to improve their communication. A counselor can teach couples how to communicate more effectively, including active listening and assertive communication. This can help couples to build greater trust and understanding, which can lead to a more fulfilling relationship.
- Conflict resolution
Another advantage of marriage therapy is that it helps couples to develop effective strategies for resolving conflicts. A therapist can help couples to identify the underlying issues in their disagreements and work towards a resolution that is mutually beneficial. For example, sex therapy Jerusalem can help to reduce tension and improve the overall quality of the relationship.
- Strengthened emotional connection
Marriage counseling can also help couples to strengthen their emotional connection. By identifying and addressing the issues that are causing tension in the relationship, couples can develop a deeper understanding of each other and build greater intimacy. This can lead to a more fulfilling and satisfying relationship.
- Prevention of future problems
Counseling is not just for couples who are experiencing problems in their relationship. It can also be a useful tool for preventing future problems. By working second time around with a therapist to build effective communication skills and address potential issues before they become major problems, couples can build a strong foundation for a lasting and fulfilling relationship.
- Professional guidance
A marriage therapist is a trained professional who has experience working with couples. They can provide unbiased and objective guidance, and help couples to navigate the complexities of their relationship. This can be particularly helpful for couples who are struggling to work through issues on their own.
Conclusion
Sex therapy Jerusalem offers numerous advantages for couples who are looking to build a stronger, more fulfilling relationship. By improving communication, resolving conflicts, strengthening emotional connections, preventing future problems, and providing professional guidance, marriage therapy can help couples to create a lasting and satisfying partnership. Whether you are experiencing problems in your relationship or simply looking to strengthen your connection with your partner, marriage therapy can provide you with the tools and resources you need to achieve your goals.
Why Do Couples Seek Services Of A Marriage Therapist?
Couples seeking the services of a marriage therapist Israel are often facing a range of challenges in their relationship. These challenges can range from minor disagreements to more serious issues such as infidelity or communication breakdowns. Whatever the issue, seeking the services of a counselor can be an important step in helping couples work through their problems.
One of the main reasons that couples seek counseling is to improve their communication. Communication breakdowns are a common issue in relationships, and can often be at the root of other problems such as conflict or lack of intimacy. Counselors can provide couples with the tools and strategies they need to communicate more effectively, such as active listening and assertive communication. By improving their communication, couples can build greater trust and understanding, which can help them navigate the challenges they face as a couple.
Another reason that couples seek the services of a marriage therapist is to address conflicts or disagreements. Whether the issue is related to parenting, finances, or intimacy, a counselor can help couples identify the underlying issues and work through them in a constructive way. In some cases, a counselor may act as a mediator to help couples find common ground and resolve their differences.
Couples may also seek the services of a counselor to address issues related to infidelity. Infidelity can be a devastating experience for both partners, and can often lead to feelings of betrayal, anger, and mistrust. A counselor can help couples work through these feelings, rebuild trust, and develop strategies to prevent future infidelity.
Finally, couples may seek the services of a marriage therapist Israel to improve their overall relationship satisfaction. Even couples who are not facing any major challenges in their relationship can benefit from working with a counselor to strengthen their bond, build greater intimacy, and develop a deeper understanding of each other. A counselor can provide couples with the tools and resources they need to create a more fulfilling relationship, and can help them navigate the challenges that arise over time.
Conclusion
Couples seeking the services of a counselor are often facing a range of challenges in their relationship, from communication breakdowns to conflicts and infidelity. By working with a counselor, couples can improve their communication, resolve conflicts, rebuild trust, and create a more satisfying and fulfilling relationship. Whether they are seeking help to address a specific issue or simply to improve their overall relationship satisfaction, couples can benefit greatly from the services of a qualified and experienced counselor.
Tinder in the Age of Corona…
(This story takes place after the 5th person in Israel was found to have Corona)
Ayelet and Ben both swiped right on Tinder https://tinder.com. After exchanging phone numbers, they had an incredibly long phone conversation. The likes of which are unusual for Ayelet. By the time the conversation was done, she wondered how much more she would learn about him from their first date. Her pre-date conversation length is usually no longer than 10 minutes tops.
She was excited for this date in a way she hadn’t been in the first time since her divorce 2 years ago. Her dates usually sound so dull over the phone. Especially the first time around, when they hadn’t yet met.
Tinder doesn’t offer you much info, so she doesn’t usually have much to go on. Over the phone Ben sounded open and fully invested. She even felt a little flutter in her tummy. Something she hadn’t experienced in years.
They arranged to go out two days after the phone call. By 8 o’clock on Tuesday night she was good to go.
- Babysitter- Check
- Makeup- Check
- Hair- Check
- Awesome outfit- Check
- Great Attitude- Check
At 8:05 Ayelet stepped out of her home to meet up with Ben when she heard a ping from her whatsapp. Instinctively, she checked her phone to discover a new message from Ben.
“Sorry, can’t meet you tonight. My big sister convinced me to stay home because of Corona. Hope I can meet up with you some other time. Bye.”
That’s right…”Ba Bye”, thought Ayelet as she carried along her merry way. Feeling awesome anyway! “At least I don’t have to spend my night with a dim whit,” Ayelet thought as she smiled to herself.
Relationship Take Home Lessons:
- Don’t listen to your sister…If you do, don’t tell your date…Man up…Make your own decisions.
- If someone does drop you suddenly, keep walking and keep smiling!
- Check out this blog for more…https://www.mickilavinpell.co.il/love-in-the-age-of-corona-is-corona-the-new-love-bug/
- Want more tips on dating during the times of Corona check out this article from Vogue https://www.vogue.com/article/coronavirus-dating-social-scene
- For more on Tinder dating warnings:https://www.jpost.com/OMG/Dating-app-Tinder-warns-users-to-take-precautions-against-coronavirus-620134
What You Can Learn From Your Anniversary with G-d!
Does a stress free Pesach sound like a bigger miracle than the splitting of the sea? Follow my step by step guide for preparing both mentally and physically for a calm and enjoyable Pesach your whole family will look forward to.