What started as a summer blockbuster quickly became a cultural moment. Barbie wasn’t just a movie (though it did make over 1.4 billion dollars at the box office)—it reflected the pressures, stereotypes, and aspirations that shape us all.

Summer 2023 belonged to Barbie, but the movie’s lessons are still as relevant as ever. Grade 8 teachers Jill Engler and Shira Meyers‘ students are analyzing the movie, focusing on identity, writing and editing, and emotional vulnerability.

A Lesson in Understanding

For many people, America Ferrera’s speech in Barbie is the highlight of the movie—an emotional moment in which her character, Gloria, vents her frustrations about the struggles of womanhood.

It’s a profound moment in the film and an excellent teaching opportunity.

Over the past weeks, Ms. Engler and Meyers’ students (three classes in total) have been building Barbie-inspired personal responses. Ms. Engler’s previous Grade 8 class had watched the movie last school year to create speeches, but working with other teachers in the grade, she wanted to add more depth.

After viewing the movie, students identified biases and stereotypes present throughout and analyzed how the movie compared to real life. Then, they analyzed articles on the Barbie movie and its cultural impact to consider what the doll (or similar toys) means to them.

“This project has become a combined effort of what Ms. Helman and I came up with last year and how Ms. Meyers has added her depth and emotional lens this year.” – Ms. Engler

The unit concluded with each student handing in a personal reflection based on their lived experiences, crafting their learnings into a speech, poem, rant, or other medium they felt inspired to use.

Ms. Engler notes how beneficial this process has been for students, both emotionally and academically. The film analysis and critical reflection have supported the students’ work in language arts and their future studies in Grade 9 when Provincial Achievement Tests occur.

“The specific outcomes we’re hitting with the Barbie movie is building up respect and empathy for diverse groups and cultures and being able to respond with respect and dignity to those groups. Additionally, the outcome is being able to write personal responses, which will become a huge part of the students’ future exams.”

Pop Culture in the Classroom

Ms. Engler first identified Barbie as a learning tool when she and other teachers reflected on how impactful the movie was for them. They had seen themselves reflected in the film’s themes and saw the benefits it could have in the classroom.

Pop culture can be one of the best ways to tie education to relevant examples. Students may more easily connect with a recently seen movie than with a novel or paper.

In Ms. Engler’s words, “when you can spark that dopamine, you can make learning interesting and highly engaging.”

“Many of my male students have said, ‘I never played with Barbies,’ and I ask, ‘what was your toy as a kid?’ We all had something we were supposed to model ourselves after and aspire to be. When there’s that common experience—because, unfortunately, sexism and stereotypes apply to everyone, it’s something we can all relate to.” – Ms. Engler

Growing up is challenging, whether in elementary, middle, or high school. Between the stresses of daily life, bottling up negative emotions, experiences, and memories can feel like the right thing to do, but they continue to impact children. When students can be vulnerable, they can “share a side of themselves that gets overlooked.”

As the Barbie unit concludes with personal responses from the classes being handed in, Ms. Engler looks forward to seeing what her students discuss in their reflections.

Regardless of what students write, she hopes they understand themselves more. Acknowledging their unique challenges enables them to reflect. It empowers students to advocate for others, fostering a supportive and understanding community.

“I am excited to see how they have taken this project to heart. When there is no structure or framework to follow, I’m excited to see where the inspiration takes them in their writing… If they’re more at peace with themselves, that will be a good end product for me.