By Cellulite, flat feet… What happens if one day you stop being perfect? Greta Gerwig’s funny film describes the well-known Barbie syndrome or atelophobia very well. We explain what it consists of.
Barbie and the Pink Universe of the World’s Most Famous Doll is an absolute box office success . However, Greta Gerwig’s film is not just a visual treat and a fun parable about feminism and the war of the sexes. Something that transcends in this production is the suffering that accompanies its plastic protagonist: atelophobia or the fear of imperfection.
For decades, she has been the alter ego of millions of girls who dreamed of having her physique, her radiant smile and that beauty immune to defects. But what if one day one of the horsemen of the apocalypse of some women appears, such as cellulite? What happens is that the character becomes humanized and you empathize with her instantly. Below, we explain what this phobia consists of.
“It’s almost impossible to be a woman. It’s like we always had to be extraordinary.”
Atelophobia or Barbie syndrome: what is it?
Barbieland is a fantasy world where all the characters are perfect, happy and empowered. However, at one point, the “stereotypical and standard” Barbie suffers an existential and identity crisis . Her smiling face darkens as she thinks about death and discovers, in horror, her flat feet and cellulite. Something is not right.
To resolve this crisis, she travels into the real world . The goal is to understand what is happening to the girl who is playing with her. When she discovers this, her schemes are shaken again. “You are setting the feminist movement back 50 years, fascist!” The teenager’s words allow her to get in touch with her problem: the obsession with being perfect (atelophobia).
Atelophobia, features you might also overlook
The Barbie movie is an excellent exercise in deconstructing many cultural narratives . It also serves as a reflection on various spheres related to feminism. One of them has to do with the idea that people — and especially women — should appear perfect in every area of their lives. And not just in their physical appearance.
It is possible that such an idea may become an obsession and give way to a pathological condition. Under the criteria of the DSM-V, atelophobia can be considered a specific phobia associated with the fear of not being perfect . It is a clinical reality that causes psychosocial weariness and is also comorbid with other disorders such as depression. We describe its characteristics below:
- Low self-esteem: It is common for these men and women to develop a very biased view of themselves. The value they place on themselves depends exclusively on their achievements and physical beauty.
- Persistent anxiety: People with Barbie phobia focus exclusively on seeking perfection in everything they do and, of course, in their appearance. They anxiously process any error or small imperfection; this leads to great emotional distress and negative thoughts.
- Perfectionism and need for control: perfection is an ideal, an impossible goal that only causes suffering. However, the patient with atelophobia becomes obsessed with achieving excellence in his or her life and with having an image that fits current beauty standards. When these milestones are not achieved, guilt, shame, self-contempt, etc. appear.
How is this phobia treated?
Addressing the fear of imperfection requires almost the same transformational journey that Barbie did. You should also know that this phobia is present in a significant part of the population, due to the tyranny of the image that society transmits . To address it and develop a healthier vision of yourself, you can implement the following tips:
- Reduce your self-demand.
- Set realistic goals.
- Focus on your strengths.
- Avoid comparing yourself with others.
- Practice emotional self-care.
- Boost your self-efficacy and self-esteem.
- Seek professional help if necessary.
- Develop a compassionate internal dialogue.
- Surround yourself with people who accept you as you are.
- Apply critical thinking to the messages you receive from the media.
From the plastic world to the reality that embraces imperfection
When Barbie and Ken return to their pink paradises, they are no longer the same . While the latter tries to replace this matriarchal society with a patriarchal one and relegate Barbies to lower positions, she reacts. The meeting with her creator, Ruth Handler, also helps her. She no longer wants to be an ideal doll that walks on tiptoe.
Her desire is to stop being an object and become a subject; a human being . She wants to be someone who no longer allows her value in society to depend exclusively on how attractive she is to men. Her revolution has only just begun and this is a good message for many young women who are now also dealing with atelophobia.