Barbie’s most enduring quality has always been her ability to be whatever her fans wanted her to be. She’s been a doctor, an astronaut, a model, and a lifeguard. But as the highly anticipated Barbie World movie gets ready to hit theaters later this month, the internet is giving her two new roles. LGBTQ+ people think she’s a lesbian. Republicans are confident that she’s a communist. Proponents of both theories have their “facts” to back up their assertions. Whether or not they’re worth more than the cost of the doll remains to be seen. However, speaking with Out magazine this week, a model, a transgender woman, and a Barbie in Greta Gerwig’s new movie, Hari Nef explained that her role in the film goes beyond mere representation.
