Understanding and Differences in Contemporary Women's

Perception of Gender Role Positioning and Social Expectations

from Barbie Movie Watching Interviews

Xuanjiao Zhang

The School of Marxism, Mudanjiang Normal University, Mudanjiang, Heilongjiang, 157000, China

Keywords: Barbie Movie, Gender Role Positioning, Undoing Gender Theory.

Abstract: In contemporary society, gender role positioning and social expectations have attracted much attention, but

there is still a lack of research on the micro-evolution mechanism of gender concepts among female audiences

from different backgrounds in movies. This study focuses on the film 'Barbie' and interviews female

undergraduate students, graduate students, new professionals, and retired women. Research has found that

women's gender cognition is influenced by their environment at different stages before watching the movie;

And the movie 'Barbie' promotes positive changes in women's gender concepts in various aspects such as

career motivation, social structure reflection, and women's mutual assistance and empowerment. Given this,

it is recommended that the education system strengthen early education on gender equality and diverse case

teaching, the media disseminate balanced views, and society improve equal opportunity policies.

1 INTRODUCTION

In the diverse landscape of contemporary society,

gender role positioning and social expectations are

core issues closely related to individuals and society.

Nowadays, there is a new dimension of understanding

in the field of gender studies: "gender" is regarded as

a constructed category rather than a biological

variable (Megan, et al., 2023). Although women have

enhanced their knowledge and literacy through

education popularization and have made their mark in

the professional field, gender inequality persists

stubbornly. This stereotype continues to constrain

women's comprehensive development in aspects such

as the "glass ceiling" in career advancement, the

imbalanced distribution of family responsibilities, the

biased access to social resources, and the deep

confinement by traditional beliefs. As a highly

penetrative and influential cultural medium, movies

are deeply involved in shaping and reshaping social

gender concepts. Once released, "Barbie" sparked

widespread social discussion and provided valuable

samples for gender studies. However, existing

research has shortcomings in exploring the micro-

evolution mechanism of gender concepts among

female audiences from different backgrounds in this

film.

The undoing gender theory is important in the

field of gender studies, initially proposed by scholars

such as Judith Butler. This theory not only

deconstructs traditional gender concepts but also

increasingly emphasizes that individuals can break

through established gender role norms through

practical actions in social interactions, giving

individuals more agency. Individuals are no longer

confined by roles determined by their biological sex

and can actively challenge and change the gender

restrictions set by society. In contemporary society,

the concept of gender performativity in the undoing

gender theory indicates that gender is not an essential

attribute but a performance constructed through

repeated individual behaviors, language, etc.

Empowerment is the power and ability that

individuals acquire when breaking through traditional

gender limitations, inspiring women to break free

from stereotypes and pursue personalized and

autonomous development, thus helping society move

towards gender equality (Liu, 2020).

This study adopts qualitative research methods,

mainly the interview method, guided by the undoing

gender theory. It deeply explores the viewing

experiences of diverse groups such as undergraduate

female students, graduate students, new professionals

in the workplace, and retired women, revealing the

evolutionary trend of contemporary women's gender

Zhang, X.

Understanding and Differences in Contemporary Women’s Perception of Gender Role Positioning and Social Expectations from Barbie Movie Watching Interviews.

DOI: 10.5220/0013999100004912

Paper published under CC license (CC BY-NC-ND 4.0)

In Proceedings of the 1st International Conference on Innovative Education and Social Development (IESD 2025), pages 449-453

ISBN: 978-989-758-779-5

449

role cognition. This study also focuses on the

interaction between the movie "Barbie" and

contemporary female gender concepts, exploring the

differences among women at different stages of life

before and after watching the movie, analyzing the

empowerment path and impact of the movie, and

providing support and inspiration for breakthroughs

in gender research and practice.

2 RESEARCH METHODS AND

PROCESSES

2.1 Research Objectives and Design

This study adopts the interview method and conducts

semi-structured interviews. Guided by the undoing

gender theory, the research collects first-hand

information through movie interviews and

emphasizes diversity in sample selection, which

covers women from different educational

backgrounds and career stages, to enhance the

universality of research results. The problem design

revolves around the connection between film

elements, personal experiences, and social reality. It

aims to explore the deep thinking and practical

experience of women in the process of gender

cognition, provide rich empirical materials and

theoretical basis for gender equality research, and

promote social attention and reflection on women's

gender issues.

2.2 Research Process

The interviewees include female undergraduate

students, female graduate students, women who have

just entered the workforce, and retired women,

ensuring a comprehensive exploration of the

perspectives of women at different stages of their

lives. Before watching the movie, the researcher has

a brief conversation with the interviewees to provide

them with a detailed introduction to the research

purpose and process, ensuring that they understand

their basic background information and initial views

on the ideal female image after voluntary

participation. After watching the movie, in-depth

interviews are conducted according to the

predetermined interview outline, which lasts for

about 30-60 minutes. In setting interview questions,

the logic of going from concrete to abstract and from

shallow to deep is followed. Firstly, questions about

the characters and plot of the movie "Barbie" are

asked, such as "What professional images of Barbie

left a deep impression on you in the movie?" "How

did the setting of Barbie Land make you feel?" to

guide the respondents to make preliminary

explanations based on the movie content. As the

interview progresses, the questions gradually delve

into the social reality level, such as "Have you ever

encountered gender inequality situations similar to

those reflected in movies in your life?" "How do you

think society's expectations of women affect your

career choices and personal development?"

Encourage respondents to connect movies with their

own experiences and social phenomena, and deeply

analyze their understanding of gender role

positioning and social expectations. During the

interview, questions are flexibly asked based on the

interviewee's answers and they are encouraged to

fully express their views. After the interview, the

collected data is organized and coded, and the theme

analysis method is used to summarize the cognition

of women in different stages in terms of gender

cognition, film influence, and social expectations

response. Then, the impact path and effect of the

movie "Barbie" on women's gender concepts are

systematically analyzed, the research findings are

summarized and relevant suggestions are proposed.

3 ANALYSIS OF INTERVIEW

RESULTS

3.1 Differential Analysis

The purpose of this section is to conduct a differential

analysis of women at different stages of life and

explore in depth the differences presented by

undergraduate female students, graduate students,

new professionals in the workplace, and retired

women in multiple dimensions related to gender roles

before and after watching movies. These differences

cover multiple factors, including pre-viewing

cognition, the impact of movies on women at

different stages, gender role positioning, and coping

strategies for social expectations. Through such

analysis, one can gain a clearer understanding of the

characteristics and developmental trajectories of

women at different stages of life, as well as the

influence of various factors on them.

First, there are significant stage differences and

developmental trajectories from the idealistic pursuit

of undergraduate female students to the macro

cognition of retired women based on their lifelong

experiences. The importance of people's living

backgrounds cannot be ignored, especially education,

IESD 2025 - International Conference on Innovative Education and Social Development

450

customs, morality, and religious norms, which have a

huge impact on individual opportunities (Nanni,

2023). Moreover, women at different stages of life are

influenced by various life background factors before

watching movies, forming unique gender perceptions

and pursuits of the ideal female image.

Second, the characters and plot of the movie

"Barbie" have had a targeted impact on women at

different stages of life. Undergraduate female

students focus on motivation for academic and career

starts, graduate students focus on changes in the

academic field, new professionals in the workplace

focus on solving practical difficulties in the

workplace, and retired women focus on enriching

their retirement lives. This fully reflects the diversity

and adaptability of the film's influence.

Then, this study holds that gender roles are not

inherent but the result of the influence of social

gender norms. Gender roles embody different societal

expectations for different gender groups and regulate

the roles played by genders in society (Wang & Qin,

2023). Women at all stages actively respond to the

impact of traditional gender norms on career choices

and role positioning. Undergraduate female students

start by breaking through the restrictions on major

selection, graduate students persevere in the academic

field, new workers adjust in their career development,

and retired women achieve significant changes in

their later years. This showcases the continuous

efforts and progress of women in challenging and

reshaping gender roles at different stages of life.

Last but not least, women at different stages of life

adopt different strategies when dealing with society's

unreasonable expectations of women. From the

immature attempts of undergraduate female students

to the active advocacy of graduate students to the

pragmatic balance of new professionals in the

workplace, and the community influence of retired

women, it reflects the gradual development and

diversified expansion of women's social expectation

coping abilities from immaturity to maturity and their

influence scope from individuals to society.

3.2 In-Depth Analysis of Women's

Empowerment in The Movie

"Barbie"

3.2.1 Deep Transformation and

Empowerment Process from Role

Presentation times Self-Identity

Barbie's diverse professional images and independent

and brave personality traits are in the movie.

According to the undoing gender theory, Barbie's

diverse images provide female audiences with diverse

paths of self-identification that transcend traditional

gender norms. Stereotypes based on gender often

affect people's cognition of behavior, but they rarely

reflect the "actual" way people behave under the

structural constraints they are in (Banerjee, 2024). For

undergraduate female student (A), Barbie's

professional image in the technology field makes her

deeply believe in her potential for development in

computer science, no longer limited by society's

stereotypical perception of women's abilities in the

technology field. This transformation reflects the idea

of individuals breaking free from traditional gender

roles and pursuing personalized development in

undoing gender theory. This is also the process by

which A gains empowerment under the influence of

Barbie. She goes from doubting her abilities to firmly

believing in her potential, achieving an improvement

in self-identification. The diverse professional images

and positive personality traits represented by Barbie

have become key references for female audiences in

the process of building self-identification. Female

audiences see Barbie's success and integrate it into

their self-identification system, achieving a transition

from a traditional female role identity to a diverse and

positive identity. This process is an important

manifestation of the film's empowerment of women

based on the undoing gender theory. It provides

strong inner support for women in the face of social

pressure and traditional constraints, encouraging

them to actively challenge and break through gender

restrictions imposed by society. In this process,

women continuously gain empowerment, enhancing

their sense of self-worth and confidence.

3.2.2 Reflection on Social Structure and

Promotion of Agency Social

Mobilization

The unique gender setting in Barbie Land, based on

the undoing gender theory, has triggered profound

reflections among respondents regarding the real

social structure and holds the potential to drive social

structural change. A woman who has just entered the

workplace (C) reflects on the rationality of the gender

structure in the workplace from the Barbie Land

setting and realizes the hidden gender barriers that

women face in the real workplace. The female-

dominated model in Barbie Land provides a new

perspective, prompting her to recognize that the

gender structure in the workplace can be changed.

This kind of thinking aligns with the individual's

reflection and challenge of traditional gender power

structures in the undoing gender theory. It further

Understanding and Differences in Contemporary Women’s Perception of Gender Role Positioning and Social Expectations from Barbie

Movie Watching Interviews

451

prompts her to actively strive for equal development

opportunities in the real workplace, demonstrating

C's connection between personal agency and social

structural change. Through her actions, she mobilizes

more women in the workplace to pay attention to

gender issues and promotes social structural change.

The movie breaks the inherent cognitive patterns of

traditional gender structures through its unique

settings, inspiring women's desire for social structural

change. When more women, like C, reflect and take

action, gender relations in the social structure will

undergo changes in multiple fields. Women will

strive for equal pay and promotion opportunities in

the workplace, equal sharing of household chores and

decision-making power in the family, and promote

the development of gender equality education in the

education field. This promotes the transformation of

the social structure towards gender equality and

inclusiveness from multiple dimensions. During this

process, women's agency is fully mobilized, forming

a powerful force for promoting social change,

realizing the positive practice of the undoing gender

theory at the social structure level, and promoting the

development of society towards greater equality and

inclusiveness.

3.2.3 Mutual Assistance and Empowerment

Among Women and Group

Reconstruction of Gender Performance

In the movie, all female characters face challenges

together, support and understand each other, and

promote their intellectual growth in the process. The

power and spirit of mutual assistance among women

not only enable Barbie and other female characters to

discover their true selves and values but also offer the

audience a deeper reflection and understanding of

women's growth (Hong, 2024). In the feedback after

watching the movie, the interaction and influence

among women of different age groups reflect the

importance of mutual assistance and empowerment

among women, which is highly consistent with the

undoing gender theory. A female graduate student (B)

actively pursues gender equality in the academic

field, such as striving for equal speaking

opportunities, and sets an example for a female

undergraduate student (A). Under the influence of B,

A becomes more determined to break through gender

restrictions. This kind of role model and mutual

encouragement among women form a mutual aid

network, jointly promoting the undoing gender

process. Starting from the concept of sisterhood in

feminist theory, women support each other in the face

of gender inequality due to their common gender

experience and interest demands. The film Barbie

inspires this kind of sisterhood and makes women

realize their strength and form a united group. They

achieve self-empowerment and group empowerment

by sharing experiences, and supporting and

encouraging each other to jointly challenge

traditional gender norms. In this process, the

interaction between women also involves the group

reconstruction of gender performance. They change

the competitive relationship between women under

traditional gender roles by supporting and

encouraging each other and constructing a

cooperative and mutually supportive group gender

performance model. Jointly demonstrating the power

of women and promoting the development of social

awareness and practice of gender equality is a vivid

embodiment of the undoing gender theory in the

interaction of women.

4 DISCUSSION

Feminist films promote women from being merely

symbols embedded in the coding system of

patriarchal ideology and help them construct a

discourse space that belongs to women themselves

and speaks for them. However, this does not mean

that women will replace men as the new monopolists

of power, thus giving rise to the so-called 'matrilineal

society'. Gender is not an opposing relationship, but

rather exists independently of each other (Wang,

2024). In the process of studying the impact of the

movie Barbie on contemporary women's gender role

positioning and social expectations, it is necessary to

recognize the possible extreme views that may arise.

These extreme situations will pose challenges to the

pursuit of gender equality. One possible extreme is

the excessive emphasis on gender differences, leading

to rigid division of roles. Some people may

misunderstand the message conveyed by the movie,

believing that women should completely reject any

behavior or profession related to traditional gender,

thus forming a reverse gender essentialism. For

example, in the workplace, instead of advocating

equal opportunities based on individual abilities,

promoting spaces or projects limited to women may

lead to male dissatisfaction. The other extreme is

believing that all gender-related discussions are

unnecessary. Some people may argue that gender

equality has already been achieved in modern society,

and further attention to gender issues is only creating

division. However, this view overlooks long-standing

inequalities such as gender pay gaps and the heavy

burden women bear in taking care of their families.

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Especially with the underrepresentation of women in

certain fields such as STEM, it is necessary to explore

effective intervention measures to enhance girls'

interest and performance in STEM fields such as

computer science (Fulcher, et al., 2024).

Education plays a crucial role in addressing these

extreme situations. Implementing comprehensive

gender equality education from an early stage helps

individuals understand the social construction of

gender and the importance of equality. Schools and

educational institutions should include diverse

materials and case studies to showcase successful

examples of gender integration and cooperation in

different fields. For example, highlighting the stories

of male nurses and female engineers can break

stereotypes. The positive evaluation given by teachers

and parents towards women's involvement in the

digital industry enhances their willingness and

confidence to participate in related fields, thereby

significantly increasing their chances of working in

the digital industry in the future (Zhang, 2022).

The media also has a responsibility to present a

balanced perspective. One should not spread one-

sided or extreme narratives but should report stories

that emphasize cooperation between genders and

personal achievements that are not limited by gender.

At the societal level, it is necessary to develop and

implement policies that ensure equal opportunities.

This includes legislation on equal pay for equal work

(Grabham, 2023), family-friendly workplace policies

that support gender balance in work and family life,

and measures to increase the representation of women

in leadership positions. Encourage the establishment

of mentorship programs that enable both male and

female mentors to support individual career and

personal development, and also contribute to creating

a more inclusive environment.

In short, although the movie Barbie has the

potential to inspire positive changes in women's

gender cognition, extreme views must be guarded

against. Implementing measures at the levels of

education, media, and society, aims to promote a

more harmonious and equal gender environment,

avoid gender opposition, and move towards a future

where gender is no longer a limiting factor but a

source of social diversity and strength.

5 CONCLUSION

This study systematically analyzed the impact of the

film on contemporary women's gender concepts

through in-depth interviews with diverse groups

including undergraduate female students, graduate

students, new professionals, and retired women who

watched the movie "Barbie". Research has found that

women at different stages of life show significant

differences and dynamic developments in gender

cognition, perception of movie roles and plots, self-

awareness, and response to social expectations before

and after watching movies. However, extreme views

may emerge during the process, which hinders the

pursuit of equality. Therefore, education, media, and

policies need to collaborate to address this issue. This

study explores the evolution of women's gender

concepts in depth through the movie "Barbie", aiming

to broaden the horizons for future gender research. It

endeavors to make gender truly a positive factor that

demonstrates the diversity and creativity of humanity

rather than a constraint on development. Thus, it

helps every woman freely and fully realize her self-

worth and social responsibility at all stages of life and

promotes the overall progress of society towards a

more just, equal, and inclusive ideal state.

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