Barbie (2023) and Generations: From Feminist Waves to the Ocean of Power

Barbie (Citation2023) symbolizes the further commercial mainstreaming of third-wave feminism, common since the 1990s. While Barbie reflects progress within corporate media, it still falls short of transgressive, inclusive feminism needed today. Through analysis of generational portrayals, we first show how Barbie fails to achieve intersectional feminism. Next, moving beyond the feminist “waves” metaphor, we propose a more expansive “ocean of power” framework, acknowledging interconnected systems that shape identity and inequality. After reviewing relevant feminist theory, we outline five key principles for a new feminist agenda: liberatory, anti-capitalist, ecological, decolonized, and intersectional. These ideas are illustrated through an imagined sequel, “Barbie Beyond the Binary,” which amplifies diverse power “currents” across sex, gender, sexuality, age, ability, nationality, race, ethnicity, class, and more. This ocean of power framework advances a holistic vision for feminist media scholarship going forward, attuned to a fuller complexity of power in contemporary Western culture and communication.