America Ferrera Rejects Criticism That ‘Barbie’ Is an Oversimplification of Feminism: ‘There Are a Lot of People Who Need Feminism 101’
variety.comZack Sharf Digital News Director America Ferrera has found herself in the Oscar race for supporting actress thanks to her role in “Barbie,” which is largely defined by a nearly three-minute monologue in which her character, Gloria, passionately rails against double standards women face on a daily basis.
Both the speech and “Barbie” at large have been criticized by some for being an oversimplification of feminism, but Ferrera rejected such criticism during a recent interview with The New York Times. “We can know things and still need to hear them out loud.
It can still be a cathartic,” Ferrera said. “There are a lot of people who need Feminism 101, whole generations of girls who are just coming up now and who don’t have words for the culture that they’re being raised in.
Also, boys and men who may have never spent any time thinking about feminist theory. If you are well-versed in feminism, then it might seem like an oversimplification, but there are entire countries that banned this film for a reason.” “To say that something that is maybe foundational, or, in some people’s view, basic feminism isn’t needed is an oversimplification,” the actor continued. “Assuming that everybody is on the same level of knowing and understanding the experience of womanhood is an oversimplification.” Ferrera revealed in an interview with Vanity Fair last year that her “Barbie” monologue was filmed over the course of two days. “It’s one part of a much bigger scene with lots of characters in it.
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