Memorable Quotes from America Ferrera
3 quotesBeauty Standards and Casting Choices in Barbie
Barbie
I'm not pretty anymore!
[in tears]
Gloria
What? You're so pretty!
Barbie
I'm not stereotypical Barbie pretty!
Narrator
Note to the filmmakers: Margot Robbie is the wrong person to cast if you want to make this point.
Quotes sourced from Wikiquote (© Wikiquote contributors), licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Modified for formatting/length.
The Contradictions of Being a Woman
Gloria
It is literally impossible to be a woman. You are so beautiful and so smart. And it kills me that you don't think you're good enough. Like, we have to always be extraordinary, but somehow we're always doing it wrong. You have to be thin but not too thin, and you can never say you want to be thin. You have to say you want to be healthy, but also, you have to be thin. You have to have money, but you can't ask for money because that's crass. You have to be a boss, but you can't be mean. You have to lead, but you can't squash other people's ideas. You're supposed to love being a mother, but don't talk about your kids all the damn time. You have to be a career woman but also always be looking out for other people. You have to answer for men's bad behavior, which is insane, but if you point that out, you're accused of complaining. You're supposed to stay pretty for men but not so pretty that you tempt them too much or that you threaten other women because you're supposed to be a part of the sisterhood. But always stand out and always be very grateful, but never forget the system is rigged, so find a way to acknowledge that but also always be grateful. You have to never get old, never be rude, never show off, never be selfish, never fall down, never fail, never show fear, never get out of line. It's too hard! It's too contradictory, and nobody gives you a medal or says thank you! And it turns out, in fact, that not only are you doing everything wrong, but also everything is your fault. I'm just so tired of watching myself and every single other woman tie herself into knots so that people will like us. And if all of that is also true for a doll just representing a woman, then I don't even know.
Quotes sourced from Wikiquote (© Wikiquote contributors), licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Modified for formatting/length.
Fashion Choices in Barbie's World
Ken
Barbie! Take your lady fashions with you. Take your Celebrate Disco Bell Bottoms...
Barbie
Oh!
Ken
And your Ice Capades Pretty Practice Suit and Dazzling Show Skirt.
Gloria
These are archival.
[Barbie gasps in horror]
Sasha
Mm-hmm.
Ken
Your Pajama Jam in Amsterdam sets.
Barbie
No!
Ken
And your Pretty Paisley Palazzo Pants!
Barbie
Not the Palazzos!
Ken
And get out!
Quotes sourced from Wikiquote (© Wikiquote contributors), licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Modified for formatting/length.