For some women in China, “Barbie” is more than just a movie — it’s also a litmus test for their partner’s views on feminism and patriarchy.
The movie has prompted intense social media discussion online, media outlets Sixth Tone and the China Project reported this week, prompting women to discuss their own dating experiences.
One user on the Chinese social media platform Xiaohongshu — a photo-sharing site similar to Instagram that’s mostly used by Gen Z women — even shared a guide on Monday for how women can test their boyfriends based on their reaction to the film.
According to the guide, if a man shows hatred for “Barbie” and slams female directors after they leave the theatre, then this man is “stingy” and a “toxic chauvinist,” according to Insider’s translation of the post. Conversely, if a man understands even half of the movie’s themes, “then he is likely a normal guy with normal values and stable emotions,” the user wrote.
Astrology is another litmus test to see if men will belittle you, so if your reaction to barbie is similar to your reaction to astrology then you’ll probably be getting similar results.
For most women in my life it’s just a vibe check, and it sounds like you fail
Bringing up astrology on a date would be the dealbreaker for me. I don’t want to date people who believe in stupid woo bullshit. I wouldn’t belittle her for it, but there wouldn’t be a second date.
Just bringing it up at all? I get that some people take astrology too far, and some use it to excuse toxic behavior and avoid fixing bad personality traits. However, some people just think it’s a fun way to reflect on themselves. It’s very possible to have a casual interest in astrology that doesn’t mean that you really believe in all the nonsense behind it.
It’s like palm reading or tarot cards… It’s just a fun whimsical activity.
If the mere mention of astrology is gonna be a deal breaker, you might want to consider lightening up a bit.
