THE ANALYSIS OF FEMINISM IN RESISTANCE TO STEREOTYPES IN GRETA GERWIG’S BARBIE (2023) MOVIE

This study analyzes the forms of resistance to gender performance and stereotypes, as well as the critiques of body image and beauty standards presented in “Barbie” (2023) movie, directed by Greta Gerwig. The analysis is grounded in Judith Butler’s (1990) Gender Performativity Theory and Susan Bordo’s (2003) Feminist Body Theory, which collectively explain how gender identity and the women’s body are socially constructed, performed, and regulated within patriarchal culture. The data were obtained from selected scenes and dialogues in the film, collected through scene capturing, transcription, classification, and interpretive analysis. The findings show that the film presents multiple forms of resistance toward restrictive gender roles, including Barbie’s rejection of idealized femininity, her confrontation with patriarchal structures, and the collective awakening of the Barbies in Barbieland. The movie also critiques unrealistic beauty standards through representations of bodily imperfection, aging, and the emotional burden placed on women to maintain perfection. Ultimately, Barbie’s decision to become human symbolizes her liberation from objectified femininity and her shift toward autonomous selfdefinition. This study concludes that “Barbie” (2023) movie serves as a postmodern feminist text that challenges gender norms, disrupts patriarchal constructions of womanhood, and promotes a more inclusive understanding of gender and the body.