There is a motive why we’re nonetheless speaking about America Ferrera’s “Barbie” monologue months after the blockbuster was launched. Whereas presenting the Finest Supporting Actress award throughout the 2024 Oscars, Rita Moreno gave an emotional speech about Ferrera, who was nominated for her function of Gloria within the pink-filled movie. Whereas Ferrera did not wind up taking house an Oscar — the award as a substitute went to Da’Vine Pleasure Randolph for her function in “The Holdovers” — Moreno’s speech left of us within the viewers attempting to know why.
“America. Your highly effective Barbie monologue is probably probably the most talked-about second in probably the most talked-about film of the previous yr,” Moreno stated. “Your phrases and the eagerness with which you delivered them about probably the most unimaginable requirements females should attempt to reside as much as galvanized not solely ladies however everybody with a pulse.”
Even the way in which Moreno pronounced “America,” with a Spanish accent and in a sing-song-y voice referencing her iconic function in “West Aspect Story,” was highly effective. It made the assertion that ladies like Ferrera are simply as American as anybody else dwelling on this nation.
By now, many individuals have seen Gloria’s impactful speech through which she tells Margot Robbie’s Barbie the reality of what it means to be a girl. She breaks down all of the unimaginable and contradicting expectations which are continuously positioned on ladies.
The transferring monologue pulled on the viewers’s coronary heart strings as a result of it put in plain phrases what ladies have needed to endure for hundreds of years and in at this time’s nonetheless very patriarchal society. The truth that this speech was delivered by a Latina actress taking part in a Latina character made it resonate that rather more for me. For any lady who holds intersectional identities, society’s unimaginable expectations develop into that rather more unimaginable.
As Latinas, we’re informed we must be skinny no matter if we have had youngsters or not and no matter any well being points we would have. However we additionally must have massive boobs, a giant butt, and large hips — therefore why cosmetic surgery is so widespread in our communities. Now we have to be sturdy however we are also anticipated to be submissive, particularly with our companions. We’re informed we have to lead and carry everybody from our spouses to our youngsters, but when we pour into ourselves, we’re egocentric. We’re presupposed to be lovely and horny sufficient to make any man lust over us, but when we’re too horny, we’re sluts and we deserve no matter disrespect males throw at us.
Whereas we nonetheless very a lot reside in a patriarchal society, I’m proud to be a Latina dwelling in a time the place we’re lastly inspired to like ourselves and acknowledge that regardless of the unrealistic expectations which are continuously positioned on us, we’re in truth, sufficient. I’m proud to be dwelling at a time when ladies are lastly throwing these oppressive expectations out the window and giving much less f*cks about present to please the male gaze. We’re loving ourselves no matter our physique form or measurement. We’re embracing growing older and recognizing our price, even when which means being “boy sober” or refusing to permit the organic clock dictate our lives.
Ferrera ends her highly effective speech saying, “I am simply bored with watching myself and each single different lady tie herself into knots so that individuals will like us. And if all of that can be true for a doll representing ladies, then I do not even know.”
Whereas the patriarchy has continued to exist because the “Barbie” film got here out and since Ferrera’s monologue went viral, I’m pleased with the affect it has had on so many women and girls. Generally all it takes is having our experiences defined proper again at us for us to determine we’re not giving in to the strain.
Ferrera may not have taken house an award Sunday evening, however just like the true artist and changemaker she is, she left a mark with that speech that’s already creating shifts in our tradition. Her efficiency is only one step ahead towards future generations of women and girls not having to expertise the unimaginable expectations which have given us a lot grief for hundreds of years. That is price greater than any Oscar in my e-book.
Johanna Ferreira is the content material director for POPSUGAR Juntos. With greater than 10 years of expertise, Johanna focuses on how intersectional identities are a central a part of Latine tradition. Beforehand, she spent shut to a few years because the deputy editor at HipLatina, and he or she has freelanced for quite a few shops together with Refinery29, Oprah journal, Attract, InStyle, and Nicely+Good. She has additionally moderated and spoken on quite a few panels on Latine id. .
