How feminism, frowned upon in China, made Barbie and Aamir Khan's Dangal blockbusters
Barbie woos China with its feminist take rarely seen on Chinese big screens. Photo: AFP
Barbie's world domination in hot pink has not yet ended, and it has moved even the Chinese market. Recent Hollywood movies have not been able to leave an impression on the Chinese market and it looked like Barbie was no different, raking in just $8.1 million during its opening weekend in July.
However, the Greta Gerwig-directed frenzy has only increased and sustained the movie's popularity following its opening.
Barbie has become somewhat of a surprise hit in China, with feminists flocking to watch the movie in their all-pink glory. But there's another foreign feminist movie that was a surprise hit in China. Is it telling of the Chinese gender disparity in real life and on-screen?
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The social media chatter
- On Xiaohongshu (like Instagram), the topic "wearing pink today" has over 8.38 million views, according to Jing Daily.
The Barbie movie is getting a lot of buzz on social media in China!
— Rachel Meets China (@rachelinchina2) July 30, 2023
“Barbiecore” clothing is also trending & many stores are selling Barbie merchandise.
So I dressed up in pink and went to the cinema to see what the hype was about.
(Spoiler alert: I loved it).
#Barbie pic.twitter.com/s3xgqbmOE0
- Feminist quotes from the movies like "We have to always be extraordinary, but somehow we're always doing it wrong"; "We have to be thin but not too thin..." are going viral on social media, with people resonating with the misogynistic standards that women are universally subjected to.
- And most importantly, the movie is also being used by women as a litmus test for their partners and boyfriends.
- With a slew of men walking out of Barbie screenings, women are intentionally gauging their boyfriend/partner's response to the message of the film to unravel their character and attitude towards women and themselves.
Why is Barbie such a hit in China?
- The Margot Robbie and Ryan Gosling-led movie is at number 5th spot in China currently. Screenings of the film quadrupled since the first weekend following the crazy reception of the movie. But when it comes to the Barbenheimer discourse, there is no comparison yet for China since Oppenheimer is set to release on August 30.
China Weekend Box Office (2023/7/28-7/30): #CreationOfTheGods continues to rule as good reputation among viewers expands while #OneAndOnly seems not as prominent as expected. Hollywood’s newest blockbuster #Barbie performs pretty steadily. pic.twitter.com/2Doz0uBjnT
— RealChinaBoxOffice (@RealChinaB89380) August 6, 2023
- Barbie's success seems as straightforward as its straightforward feminist message.
- Recent Chinese movies have revolved around patriotism, nationalism, and masculinity, with little to no space for feminist issues.
- While some films may have addressed gender issues, they aren't as singularly targeted and straightforward as Barbie.
- Barbie's direct storytelling like Gloria's (Barbie character) monologue and direct targeting of women has come as a breath of fresh air for Chinese women to see their perspectives and issues being talked about loudly on the big screen.
Barbie and Dangal
- Feminist movies in China have historically been well-received by audiences as well. Bollywood film Dangal became the first non-Hollywood top-grossing film in China, earning over Rs 1,100 crore in 2017. In fact, it is the 33rd film in China to cross a collection of one billion yuan.
- Even Chinese Premier Xi Jinping praised the movie when talking to Prime Minister Narendra Modi back in 2017.
- Dangal tells the story of a father who went against the patriarchal society to train his daughters to become pro-wrestlers, a sport that is often reserved for men. The movie starring Aamir Khan is based on the real-life story of Mahavir Singh Phogat and his daughters Geeta and Babita Phogat.
- While some Chinese viewers appreciated Dangal's daughters breaking patriarchal rules to become wrestlers and related to parental control, others criticised the film for showing a patriarchal father figure forcing his ambitions onto his daughters.
Regardless, foreign feminist movies from Barbie to Dangal have ignited a debate about feminism. In recent times in China, feminist activists have been arrested, high-profile sexual harassment cases and #MeToo movements have been shut down by intimidation and the state propaganda machine has touted feminism to be a Western plot to weaken China.
LGBTQIA+ members are more or less considered 'illegal' members of society and face ostracisation, unemployment or even jail. China has "banned" 'sissy men' or effeminate men from appearing on TV, promoting more masculine male ideals while urging women to take on more traditional roles.
The Barbie movie and Dangal both embrace women who do not fit the thin and pale ideal. China's beauty standards for women are known to be among the strictest and downright life-threatening.
Movies like Barbie and Dangal finding resonance with so many in China is perhaps proof that people loved the escape that they provided.