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Parents' Guide to

Tiny Shoulders: Rethinking Barbie

By Brian Costello, Common Sense Media Reviewer

age 10+

Comprehensive docu about iconic, controversial doll.

Movie NR 2018 92 minutes
Tiny Shoulders: Rethinking Barbie Poster Image

A Lot or a Little?

What you will—and won't—find in this movie.

Community Reviews

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age 10+

Based on 1 parent review

Christine H.
Christine H. Parent
October 27, 2018
age 10+

Great conversation starter!

I watched this film on Hulu with our 11-year-old daughter. I was surprised that she stayed engaged for the entire film (we viewed it in one sitting). I had to explain a bit about Anita Hill, and there were a few words that she asked for clarification about (such as “relevant”). The film handled Barbie’s history in a PG manner (I was worried that they would go into the German doll a bit more, but they walked the line well). I was also concerned that they would discuss issues regarding the “plastic surgery Barbie women,” but it didn’t go there at all. Fantastic interviews with feminist leaders and it was interesting to see the Barbie employees talk about their jobs in such personal detail. I love the Fashionista line almost as much as I love Lammily, so it was interesting to see how that was developed. Great film...and it helped me to have some important conversations with our daughter. Whether you are a fan or a hater...or somewhere in between, you’ll find something in the film that will resonate with you.

This title has:

Great messages
Too much consumerism
See all 1 parent review

What's the Story?

TINY SHOULDERS: RETHINKING BARBIE takes a comprehensive look at the Barbie doll at a pivotal point in the brand's decades-long existence. At a time when Barbie sales have been dropping and feminists and social critics have been taking manufacturer Mattel to task for selling a doll that fails to show the diversity of women's body types, hair and eye colors, and backgrounds, Mattel's designers and marketers of Barbie undertake Project Dawn. Project Dawn (which first became public knowledge in early 2016) is an ambitious attempt to address these concerns and create a far more diverse line of Barbies. The documentary also delves into Barbie's past, going back to her beginnings in 1959 and the moments when the brand was remarkably progressive for its time, as well as when it was disturbingly regressive. Against a backdrop of the 2017/2018 political climate and the #MeToo movement, those involved with Project Dawn come up against tremendous pressure to get the relaunch right as they await the response to the initial release of the updated Barbies, as revealed on the cover of Time Magazine.

Is It Any Good?

Our review:
Parents say: (1 ):
Kids say: Not yet rated

This smart documentary takes a comprehensive look at the iconic doll's past and present. What's remarkable about Tiny Shoulders: Rethinking Barbie is how much ground is covered in such a short amount of time. While tracing the highs and lows of Barbie's history, the movie hinges around Project Dawn, which is the most ambitious reboot in Barbie's history. In 2015 and 2016, the Mattel designers and marketers involved in the project were tasked with addressing the considerable drop in Barbie sales during the 2010s while also answering the longstanding concerns of feminists and social critics about Barbie's lack of diversity.

No matter what your views are on Barbie, Tiny Shoulders reveals so much about the doll's complicated history. The fact that it was progressive to release a (relatively) anatomically correct female doll in 1959, in the face of strong opposition, shows how Barbie has been a lightning rod of controversy since her inception. The times when Mattel showed advanced thinking around Barbie -- releasing a "Miss Astronaut" Barbie in 1965, for instance, nearly 20 years before the first woman went into space -- are counterbalanced by the notorious "Teen Talk" Barbie from the '90s (which said things like "Math is hard!" and "Let's go shopping!"). It's an impressive feat to convey so much history, back story, and diverging views on Barbie in a feature-length film, which is what makes this such a timely, worthwhile documentary.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about how documentaries present facts and opinions. What did you learn about Barbie from Tiny Shoulders? Did your opinion of the doll change after watching this film? Why or why not?

  • How does the movie address issues related to diversity, gender equality, and body image? Do you think these are all things that toy makers need to consider when creating their products?

  • How does the documentary show what was at stake, personally and professionally, for those working to come up with the newest line of Barbie products?

  • After learning more about Barbie, do you think she's a positive role model? Why or why not?

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