Barbie was the film of last summer (some would argue that it was Oppenheimer, but that’s irrelevant to this article). Greta Gerwig, Margot Robbie, America Ferrara, Ryan Gosling, & company came together to create a piece of film that made feminism accessible to children and adults alike. The film made over a billion dollars at the box office. But with box office revenue, comes criticism. One of those criticisms has come from an unlikely source, Shakira. 

In a profile for Allure, Shakira stated, “My sons absolutely hated it [Barbie]. They felt that it was emasculating. And I agree, to a certain extent. I’m raising two boys. I want ’em to feel powerful too [while] respecting women. I like pop culture when it attempts to empower women without robbing men of their possibility to be men, to also protect and provide. I believe in giving women all the tools and the trust that we can do it all without losing our essence, without losing our femininity. I think that men have a purpose in society and women have another purpose as well. We complement each other, and that complement should not be lost.”

Now, it is easy to read this quote and assume that Shakira is anti-feminist. But when looking closer, she actually seems to be looking for equality, or a balance of the genders. Maybe she did go about it the wrong way, however, but that does not erase her intent.

As a feminist myself, I did not read this quote and immediately think that Shakira was wrong or evil, maybe just a bit misguided. When looking at Barbie, one can see how it can come across as anti-man or anti-masculinity. But to truly understand the film and its stance on gender politics, you have to consider the film industry as a whole. Men may be portrayed as weak or sensitive in the film, but those weaknesses and vulnerabilities are important to portray. Men are not often allowed to be sensitive, so portraying that encourages men and boys to let their emotions show. 

All this considered, Shakira’s feelings about the film are valid, but it may not be a bad thing for her, and women who think similarly to reflect on why they feel the way they do.