What Barbie & Ken taught us about sexism

Many of us will have all seen the 2023 Barbie movie by now. Having spent months seeing pink clothes and blonde wigs on every street corner we finally sat down to watch it and were shocked by the amount of issues raised in this movie, that reflect on so many aspects of our relationships. From feminism to existential crisis to corporate consumerism, what did you find resonated with you?

For us here at Aligned with Love we saw this as a chance to talk about the importance of equality in a relationship.

How sexism can hide in relationship

Often we see men and women put into categories with set roles in a relationship, a woman is a caretaker, a mother and a cook whilst a man is a worker, a fixer and a father. Barbie showed us that both men and women can fall into the traps of sexism and both men and women can feel repressed, unsupported and unseen by their partners. These feelings can undoubtedly lead to issues in a relationship as well as feelings of self-doubt.

 

During a wedding, we vow to stay together for better or for worse but this includes more than just bereavement or job loss, partners might decide to share everything from feelings to chores. Oftentimes men’s emotions can go unnoticed and a partner may forget to ask how they are doing after a long day of work. For that partner, these feelings can become overwhelming, he may become exhausted, forgetting to do housework or struggling to care for the kids. Whilst on the other side, women are often taken for granted, emotions and tears are not taken seriously and a woman is expected to care for a family as though it is an easy job to do alone! 

Supporting our partners fairly

These issues are so common in relationships however these issues are rooted in unfair expectations from times of inequality and sexism. What can we do to change our beliefs and to better support our partners?

Expectations

Firstly, it is important to understand that not all men and women fit into these stereotypes. A man may struggle to work everyday and support a family whilst a woman may wish to work rather than care for her children day in and day out. More than this, it is perfectly okay for a man to be more emotional than a woman as we have our own patterns that are unique to ourselves.

Communication

Now we understand how these unfair expectations can show up, take time to consider how your partner may be feeling and be empathetic towards the areas of life that they find stressful. Communication is one of the most important aspects of a healthy relationship, ensuring you and your partner are communicating your thoughts and feelings regularly. Communication around work and daily life is important, ensure your partner and yourself are splitting responsibilities fairly and listen to your partner about any concerns they may have.

Overall, Barbie explored subjects that are often ignored in fictional movies and it was great to see equality for both men and women being spoken about in a way that we can share with the younger generation. We hope this is a step forward in teaching young people how to thrive in relationships. We recently wrote an article about educating children about relationships in school here.

    Share:

    Bridging Cultural Gaps in Relationships: Embracing Growth and Authenticity

    In today’s increasingly interconnected world, cross-cultural relationships are becoming more common. These unions are rich with opportunities for growth, understanding, and connection, but they also come with unique challenges. Whether it's navigating cultural norms, bridging communication gaps, or adapting to different value systems, building a successful cross-cultural relationship requires intentional effort and mutual understanding. On a recent episode of The Relationship Breakthrough Podcast, Matt and Rebeca invited licensed therapist and coach Katie Rössler to explore the dynamics of cross-cultural relationships. Drawing from personal experience and professional expertise, Katie shared powerful insights into how couples can embrace their differences to foster deeper connections. Here's what we learned.

      Aligned with Love: Transforming Relationships Through Personal Experience

      Matt Albiges and Rebeca Perea, the dynamic duo behind Aligned with Love, recently shared their inspiring journey and relationship insights in a feature article for Woman magazine. This spotlight on their work highlights the unique approach that has made them the UK's leading relationship experts, helping countless couples and individuals transform their lives.

        Taking Charge: How to Lead Your Relationship to Growth (Even If Your Partner Isn't Ready Yet)

        In this blog post, we’ll explore how you can lead your relationship to growth, drawing insights from Matt and Rebeca’s recent podcast episode, Taking Charge: How to Lead Your Relationship to Growth (Even If Your Partner Isn’t Ready Yet). We’ll dive into key strategies that you can implement right away, and introduce you to our upcoming FREE masterclass on October 24th, "How to Engage Your Reluctant Partner."