Watch Tiny Shoulders: Rethinking Barbie

Tiny Shoulders: Rethinking Barbie is a 2018 documentary film that delves into the history, evolution, and impact of the iconic Barbie doll. Produced by Julie Pistor and directed by Andrea Nevins, the movie features interviews with experts, designers, cultural critics, and feminists to explore the controversies and challenges that the Barbie brand has faced over the past six decades.

The movie begins with an overview of the Barbie doll's creation in 1959 by Ruth Handler, the co-founder of Mattel. The film explores how Barbie was originally designed as a playful and aspirational toy for young girls, embodying the ideal of femininity and consumer culture of the postwar era. However, as Barbie became more popular and pervasive in the global market, the doll began to face criticism for its unrealistic body proportions, stereotypical gender roles, and lack of racial and cultural diversity.

The movie then takes a closer look at Mattel's efforts to rebrand Barbie in response to the changing social norms and demands of the 21st century. The film interviews key members of the Mattel team, including Richard Dickson, the president and chief operating officer of Mattel, Kristina Duncan, the global head of brand strategy and marketing communications, and Michelle Chidoni, the senior director of global brand communications. These executives discuss their strategies for reinventing Barbie as a more inclusive, progressive, and relevant brand that reflects the diversity and complexity of modern society.

The film highlights some of the key innovations and controversies that have defined Barbie's recent history. For example, the movie explores the introduction of the curvy, petite, and tall Barbie bodies in 2016, which aimed to offer girls more choices and representation in terms of body size and shape. The film also covers the collaborations between Mattel and influential figures such as Misty Copeland, the first black principal ballerina at the American Ballet Theatre, and Ibtihaj Muhammad, the first Muslim-American woman to wear a hijab while competing in the Olympics.

At the same time, the movie doesn't shy away from the ongoing criticism that Barbie continues to face from feminists, activists, and critics who argue that the doll perpetuates gender stereotypes, unhealthy beauty ideals, and consumerist values. The film interviews a wide range of cultural commentators, academic experts, and psychologists who share their perspectives on the impact that Barbie has on young girls' self-image, creativity, and identity formation.

Overall, Tiny Shoulders: Rethinking Barbie offers a nuanced and thought-provoking view of one of the most iconic and polarizing toys of our time. The film doesn't just provide a history lesson or a sales pitch for Mattel; rather, it invites viewers to reflect on the larger issues of gender, identity, representation, and popular culture that Barbie embodies and represents. Whether you love or hate Barbie, this movie is sure to spark some insights and discussions about the power of toys in shaping our imagination, values, and aspirations.

Tiny Shoulders: Rethinking Barbie is a 2018 documentary. It has received mostly positive reviews from critics and viewers, who have given it an IMDb score of 6.7.