Exploring gender performativity in Greta Gerwig’s Barbie (2023): Barbie Land vs. Real World
Arjay D. Guinto- Hannah Lettice M. Collantes
- Marzhadel S. Aquino
- Angeline Barbero
- Jacqueline Givero
- Brent Cedric Ambasa
Published 08-04-2026
Keywords
- Barbie,
- Barbie Land,
- feminist,
- gender performativity,
- Real World
- spatial analysis ...More
Copyright (c) 2026 Christian Loid Valenzuela, Arjay D. Guinto, Hannah Lettice M. Collantes, Marzhadel S. Aquino, Angeline Barbero, Jacqueline Givero, Brent Cedric Ambasa (Author)
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.
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Abstract
Greta Gerwig’s Barbie (2023) presents contrasting worlds—Barbie Land and the Real World—that examine gender, identity, and societal expectations. This study analyzes how these spatial narratives shape Barbie’s identity and feminist awareness through Judith Butler’s (1990) Gender Performativity Theory. A qualitative content analysis was conducted, focusing on key scenes in both Barbie Land and the Real World. Emergent coding identified patterns related to gender performance, identity construction, and agency. Findings show that Barbie Land reinforces idealized, performative femininity, while the Real World exposes patriarchal systems, objectification, and social constraints. Barbie’s journey illustrates feminist awakening, embodied resistance, and identity redefinition, confirming that gender is performative rather than biological. The study highlights mainstream media as a site of ideological resistance and gender discourse. Barbie’s transformation from an idealized figure to a self-authored identity demonstrates the fluidity of gender roles and the emergence of feminist consciousness. This research provides a nuanced interpretation of Barbie as both a cultural artifact and a medium to explore gender, power, and identity.
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