Year: 2025
Type: article
Abstract: The Barbie movie, directed by Greta Gerwig, sparked global discussions on gender roles and self-identity, offering a unique lens to examine media's impact on adolescent mental health. With rising mental health concerns among teenagers, 1 in 7 experience disorders, and media's documented role in body dissatisfaction, this paper explores how the film influences self-identity formation. Through a literature review of 15 peer-reviewed studies, the paper analyzes four key scenes (Barbie’s perfection, self-doubt, Ken’s crisis, and diversity themes) and critiques conflicting research on idealized versus diverse media representations. Findings indicate that while the film’s “perfection” imagery risks reinforcing harmful social comparisons, its later deconstruction of norms and inclusive messaging fosters self-acceptance. The study underscores the need for media literacy programs and responsible content creation to mitigate negative impacts.
Author: Xianjing Cheng
Language: English
Topic: Media Influence and Health
Subfield: Literature and Literary Theory
Field: Arts and Humanities
Domain: Social Sciences
Open Access status: hybrid
OpenAlex ID: W4412495366