In case you haven’t noticed, this summer, we are all being swept away by a huge shocking pink wave as the Barbie world conquers the big screen. The hype of the Barbie movie has had a grasp on me from the casting to the storyline to the costumes and more. For generations of young women, Barbie has been larger than life. Whether you see Barbie for the feminism, the nostalgia, the visuals, or a combination of all of these things, it’s likely that you will leave with a little more faith in the world. If you were a fan of Barbie growing up you may have been under the illusion that a romantic relationship existed between Barbie and Ken. Spoiler alert: Ken was an important part of her life but Barbie patiently explains to Ken that she does not love him and that he needs to find himself without her help.
#barbiecore and #kencore are on fire across social media. Lots of single women are questioning whether the Barbie movie is a good first date for those in search of ‘hard to come by’ men who are willing to engage in supportive conversations about feminism. Women are encouraging one another to use the movie as a gauge to whether their dates are receptive to its feminist messaging. Seeing the Barbie movie with a date has become the new ultimate relationship test and TikTokers are sharing whether their significant others have passed — or failed the “Barbie test”.
Many women are also asking their dates to see Barbie with hopes of answering one fundamental question: Is he “Kenough”? “You don’t have to be perfect, and neither does your future partner,” says Hoyt Prisock, host of the Behind the Swipe Podcast. Prisock, who met his wife on Bumble, says “visualizing an ideal mate may help you figure out what you’re looking for in a relationship, but it can also prevent you from connecting with a real person.”
That leads me to the question: Are single men looking to date a human girl with the relative looks and measurements of a Barbie doll? On Reddit, Why do men over 50 seem to want a Barbie Doll? is a heated discussion. One user writes “some men want Barbie dolls. Some women want Prince Charming with an American Express black card. Real people want real people, and at our ages, real people know that other real people come with lumps and bumps and maybe a few vices as well.”
Tonight’s Jewish Singles Radio Show is filled with Barbie level excitement! Do guys want to date a human Barbie? Will seeing the Barbie movie with your date serve as a new test of compatibility, or is it a catalyst for breaking up with incompatible partners?
Tune in to hear our conversation about the surprisingly deep life and relationship lessons we learn from Barbie and Ken and the complex issues around dating in your forties and beyond.