The new film will bring the world's favourite doll to life. So much pink paint has been used on set there is now a global shortage, says director Greta GerwigAn American director and actor, nominated for Academy Awards..

The first Barbie doll was designed in 1959 by Ruth Handler. The toy company Mattel has now sold over one billion worldwide.

In recent years, women on social media have celebrated Barbiecore, the bright pink, ultra-feminine look with a modern twist.

But all this excitement re-opens an old debate: Can Barbie be a feministSomeone who calls for women's rights and equality of the sexes. ?

She always has been, say her fans. Before Barbie, dolls taught children how to be mothers. Barbie is a blank canvas for a child to dream.

As the film's tagline reads: "Barbie is everything and he's just Ken." Gerwig says "Ken was invented after Barbie" in a fantasy world ruled by women.

But critics argue Barbie promotes unrealistic beauty standards and gender stereotypesStereotypes are ideas about how people will act, based on the group to which they belong.. Research finds that Barbie dolls are linked to negative body image and eating disorders.¹

Mattel responded to criticism with new dolls with different body types. But designer Eleanor Smith writes that it is still "an insult to feminism" because the dolls value appearance more than intelligence.

Pink was not always feminine. A 1918 magazine recommends "delicate and dainty" blue for girls and a "stronger" pink for boys. In 1953, US First LadyThe official title of a US president's wife. Mamie Eisenhower wore a stunning pink ball gown. She began the craze for pink.

Fans say Barbie is more than a fashion icon. In the movie, the other Barbies are lawyers, doctors and diplomatsOfficials who represent their countries abroad.. Mattel has brought out "Role Model" dolls, including artist Frida Kahlo and astronaut Samantha Cristoforetti.

And Ken is still "just Ken."

In the real world, we are at least 132 years away from achieving full gender equality.² So can Barbie's pink convertible get us there any faster?

Yes: Absolutely! The new movie boasts a diverse cast of Barbie characters thriving in traditionally male-dominated fields. Barbie represents the power of imagination and the freedom to follow your dreams.

No: This is a marketing tactic to sell more plastic toys. Barbie dolls are about beauty, not equality or diversity. A really radical feminist Barbie movie would tell us to buy gender-neutral toys.

Or... It all depends on the audience. People can play with a toy in diverse ways and interpret a film differently. So while Barbie is sexist to some, she may empower others.