Barbie's Heroine's Journey

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Barbie, the 2023 film critically acclaimed for its exploration of self-identity and feminism, fits the Murdock Heroine’s Journey perfectly. Maureen Murdock’s model centers on the heroine breaking away from the rigid structures of patriarchy, rejecting the traditionally feminine role she has been placed in, and embarking on a journey of self-discovery—only to realize that true wholeness comes from integrating both the "feminine" and "masculine" aspects of herself.

The journey begins with the separation from the feminine. At the start of Barbie, everything is perfect. Stereotypical Barbie exists in an idealized feminine utopia, Barbieland, where women hold all the power. But this world is, ironically, a fantasy built on the assumption that real women have already achieved equality. When Barbie starts malfunctioning—experiencing bad breath, falling from her house, and developing flat feet—this leads to the identification with the masculine and the gathering of allies. Barbie first meets Weird Barbie, who informs her about the breach between Barbieland and the real world. She is then forced to venture into the unknown to restore order. A symbolic shift occurs when Barbie trades her high heels—representing traditional femininity—for Birkenstock sandals, a symbol of functionality and deviation from her conventional image. Ken also accompanies her on this journey, though his role changes as the story progresses.

The moment Barbie steps into the real world, she encounters an entirely different system—patriarchy. She is objectified, dismissed, and stripped of the power she once took for granted. Meanwhile, Ken, who was an afterthought in Barbieland, thrives in this new environment because it validates him in ways he has never experienced. Barbie, in contrast, struggles to exist in a world that doesn’t revolve around her empowerment, which completely destabilizes her sense of self. Additionally, Sasha—the girl who once played with Barbie alongside her mother—rejects Barbie, criticizing her as an anti-feminist symbol.

As Barbie continues along her road of trials, she is captured by Mattel and placed into a box, symbolizing society’s attempt to contain her. However, she escapes and meets Ruth, the creator of Barbie and the film’s mother figure. The boon of success comes when Sasha and her mother, Gloria, rescue Barbie from Mattel. Their conflicts are resolved in the process, Sasha accepts Barbie, and together they return to Barbieland, fulfilling the original goal of the journey. However, upon their return, they discover that Ken has introduced patriarchy to Barbieland, completely reversing the power dynamic and forcing Barbie to experience powerlessness in her own world.

This marks Barbie’s death and descent, her lowest point. She is lost, uncertain of her purpose, and no longer the perfect version of herself. Desperate to reconnect with the feminine and find a space where she is understood, she takes refuge at Weird Barbie’s house. Here, she completely breaks down, struggling to reconcile what she has learned in the real world with the reality of Barbieland. It is during this moment of despair that Gloria delivers a powerful monologue on the contradictions and pressures of being a woman, inspiring the Barbies' to reclaim their power and marking the beginning of the healing of the mother/daughter split. After reclaiming power from the Kens, Barbie and her allies ensure that masculinity and femininity can coexist harmoniously—rather than "It's Barbie and Ken," it becomes "It's Barbie, and it's Ken," symbolizing the healing of the wounded masculine and the beginning of true integration.

The real transformation occurs when Barbie embraces her full self. She neither rejects her femininity nor conforms to a patriarchal system. Instead, she steps into something entirely new—humanity. This is where the story deviates slightly from the circular nature of the heroine's/hero's journey, and instead Barbie’s journey leads her into the unknown. She chooses imperfection, struggle, and real life over the illusion of perfection and simply being an object in other people's views. She becomes something beyond Barbie: she becomes real.

Works Cited

“Barbie.” Directed by Greta Gerwig, Warner Bros. Pictures, 2023.