The following is written by Aleah Ingram and excerpted from LDSDaily. To read the full article, CLICK HERE.
As a woman who has experienced severe abuse at the hands of multiple men, all supposed faithful members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, I understand the need for a movie like Barbie. There are cultural systems worldwide that not only denigrate women but harm them. I’m one of the first to talk about how to amplify women’s voices not only in the Church but in our wider communities. When America Ferrara’s character Gloria gave her great monologue (if you know you know), I was teary-eyed.
However, the more I work to understand and live the principle that “all are alike unto God,” I’ve noticed something troubling. Men of God, the good ones, the ones that are trying their hardest, are being poisoned by the way we internalized, talk about, and treat their worldly counterparts.
It was the thing that I cringed at most as I sat in the theater surrounded by a sea of pink. (It’s important to note I was in gold leggings and a pink sweatshirt myself). Men are clearly inferior to Barbie and the other female characters. That’s the point of the “just Ken” mentality. Ken is an accessory and nothing more. While the end of the film speaks to potential growth, I thought of the great need I’ve seen to help men understand who they really are. Right now, it seems they are presented with only two opposition options—either they are masters of the universe or they are buffoons, something to laugh at and step over.
Elder D. Todd Christofferson addressed this phenomenon in his talk, “Brethren, We Have Work to Do.” He said, “In too many Hollywood films, TV and cable shows, and even commercials, men are portrayed as incompetent, immature, or self-absorbed. This cultural emasculation of males is having a damaging effect.”
As movies like Barbie strive to do the good work of giving voice to the struggles of womanhood, it is often at the expense and fun of men. Why is this important to us as Latter-day Saints? Because we often treat men like “just Ken” in our Church. I’ve written before about the toxics myths about men I’ve heard from over the pulpit—that men aren’t naturally inclined to charity and service, that men aren’t as spiritual as women, that men need a woman to inspire them to be righteous…the list goes on and on.
We shouldn’t ever forget that men are created in the image of God and divine creatures with great potential to emulate their Redeemer. This isn’t just about puffing them up in pride or continuing to support stereotypical roles that prevent being equally yoked in Christ. It’s about healing.
We are all hurt by Satan’s twisted deceptions about men and women.
To read the full article, CLICK HERE.
