Barbie is the blockbuster of the summer, shattering various box office records. Many, including myself, my family, as well as Canada’s prime minister and his son, dressed in pink to watch a group of live-action Barbies challenge the patriarchy. The film has sparked a media frenzy, even before a photo of the pink-clad Justin Trudeau and his son circulated on social media. A significant portion of the discussion around Barbie focused on men and masculinity.
First, the frequent use of the term patriarchy by the Barbies in the film upset some commentators, who argue that the film is “anti-male.” Conservative British journalist Piers Morgan reacted to the photo of Trudeau and his son in pink with a tweet saying, “so glad I’m not Canadian” (to which many Canadians replied, “we’re glad too”).
Others believe that Barbie didn’t go far enough in its critique of the patriarchy. If you haven’t seen the film, Barbie and Ken live in a woman-centric (plastic) world until they inadvertently discover the real world. There, they must confront the reality of patriarchy. Ken, played by Ryan Gosling, finds the “real world” empowering. He becomes “super cool,” wearing a big fur coat, showing off his muscles and abs, and decorating his home with horse motifs.
The strong, independent Barbies, however, suddenly find themselves in subordinate roles. Meanwhile, Allan, Ken’s best friend played by Michael Cera, remains his helpful, quiet self. Though seen as awkward by some, Allan is clearly a favorite among audiences. Demand for the Allan doll has surged, and many have suggested that men should be more like Allan. Ken eventually learns he doesn’t need to be the macho man and realizes he is “Kenough” as he is, showing acceptance of leaving patriarchy behind.
Can men in the real world follow Ken’s example? Can we stop striving to prove our masculinity and instead be “Kenough?” Can we aim to be more like Ken’s best friend, Allan — a more suitable ally to women? And more importantly: How do we know if we are more like Ken or Allan?
Although not entirely the same, the concept of becoming more like Allan — or an “ally to women” — was essentially the subject of my latest collaborative study. My research focuses on white men’s allyship in areas such as anti-racism, anti-colonization, and gender justice. Over the past five years, I worked with the Alberta Men’s Network and the Alberta Network of Immigrant Women to examine white men’s allyship. I collaborated with a diverse group of study advisors, who developed a curriculum to teach white men about allyship.
The study included insights and guidance from community leaders on allyship, as well as the experiences of white men striving to become allies. These men shared their starting points and challenges. They spoke about struggling with societal expectations of manhood. Some also mentioned being bullied and wanting to protect others from similar pain. Those who had been bullies expressed deep regret.
Many men identified a turning point that redirected their lives toward allyship. For some, it was learning about patriarchy in university. For others, it was hearing stories from marginalized individuals that challenged their worldview. They began to commit to human rights and social justice, often under the mentorship of women who invested time and effort in guiding them.
If you are uncertain whether you are more like Ken or Allan, here are five questions to ask yourself:
1) How do I act with the group I want to ally with? Reflect on why you are joining the group and what activities you should undertake. Be open to learning from critique and feedback. For example, in the Barbie movie, Allan supported Barbie’s plans without taking over and explained his motivations for helping.
2) How do I interact with other allies? Avoid competing with them and instead create supportive spaces to share learnings.
3) How do I act within powerful organizations? Do you defend these organizations, think about ways to make them more diverse-friendly, or listen to women and marginalized individuals and support their endeavors? Consider what Allan should do if offered the position of Executive VP of Barbie Inclusion at Mattel.
4) How do I engage with people who are not committed to justice and challenging the patriarchy? Building relationships requires time and effort. Can you help others become “Kenough?”
5) Can I be accountable for changing my behavior? Reflect on your relationship with masculinity. Like Ken at the movie’s end, can you become “Kenough” and be receptive to women’s perspectives? Can you critique masculinity and its role in perpetuating injustice? Can you support the goal of equality?