Oscar nominations were announced on January 23,2024, causing both celebration and outrage throughout the entertainment industry and social media. People were particularly shocked to learn that both the director and the star of “Barbie,” the highest grossing movie of 2023, failed to receive nominations. 

“Barbie,” directed by Greta Gerwig, became widely acclaimed for its portrayal of womanhood through the lens of the children’s toy the movie is named after. It became the highest-earning live action movie directed by a woman ever, making over one billion dollars. Praised for its catchy soundtrack, brilliant performances, creative set, character design, writing, and more, the movie seemed poised to secure Oscars nominations from many different categories. Ultimately, while the movie earned eight nominations, including Best Picture, “Barbie” star Margot Robbie and director Greta Gerwig were not nominated in their respective categories. 

While the snubs towards “Barbie” lead actress Margot Robbie and director Greta Gerwig were surprising for fans, the fact that Robbie’s co-star Ryan Gosling, who plays Ken in the movie, was nominated for best supporting actor prompted anger and confusion. Gosling’s performance was fun and humorous, deserving of a nomination, but his character’s hilarity only exists because of Gerwig and Robbie. As Gosling himself shared online, “There is no Ken without Barbie, and there is no Barbie movie without Greta Gerwig and Margot Robbie, the two people most responsible for this history-making, globally-celebrated film.” Gosling’s primary role in the movie is introducing the patriarchy to Barbie Land, showing its negative effects on men and women alike. With the message of the movie being about women’s challenges, the pressures women face to be perfect, and the dangers of the patriarchy, many believe it was ironic for Gosling to receive a nomination and not Robbie or Gerwig. Woodgrove History Teacher, Mrs. Katherine Corrado shared, “The movie is supposed to be satire, and it feels like real life is kind of mirroring the movie in a really tragic way.” By honoring the male lead of the movie and leaving out two women crucial to the movie’s existence, the Academy is inadvertently proving that a movie addressing the struggles of women is very relevant in today’s society. 

Some claim Gerwig and Robbie were snubbed simply because the Academy did not take the movie, filled with the color pink and dance numbers, seriously enough. Like every movie, “Barbie” is not perfect. Many points made about how its messages lose some of their depth due to the movie’s reliance on humor are valid. However, to a large extent, the movie needed this packaging for its messages to be effective. Co-President of Woodgrove for Women and senior, Cadence McGrath shared, “The easily digestible movie illustrated the reality that many women in our country face on a daily basis.” If the pretty colors, catchy music, and humorous quips were stripped away, leaving only the bare bones of the movie’s feminist message, it would not have achieved such success. Without being “easily digestible,” its message would not have been shared with so many people all over the world. Not every good director directs a melodramatic tear-jerker, and the Academy should recognize this. Failing to give the lead actress and director of “Barbie” the recognition they are deserving of because the color palette of the movie is too bright or there are too many jokes is not a good enough excuse. If the Academy really did not nominate Gerwig and Robbie because it did not take “Barbie” seriously enough, what this actually means is the Academy did not believe the messages shared in the movie were important enough to overlook any miniscule flaws it found in its packaging. 

As they should have, the Academy did nominate America Ferrera for best supporting actress. She plays Gloria, a human who assists Barbie with restoring Barbie Land to the way it was before the patriarchy was introduced. Ferrera gives a powerful monologue about the impossibility of being a woman, pointing out the various contradictions inherent in the expectations set for women. Her character says, “You’re supposed to stay pretty for men, but not so pretty that you tempt them too much or that you threaten other women because you’re supposed to be a part of the sisterhood. But always stand out and always be grateful. But never forget that the system is rigged. So find a way to acknowledge that but also always be grateful.” It is undeniably important that Ferrera was recognized, but it speaks volumes about the Academy’s willingness to look beyond the surface of “Barbie.” They can recognize the importance of the movie’s message when it is blatantly spelled out for the audience, but not when it is addressed in other ways throughout the film. 

This decision has made many reevaluate who makes the calls about nominations, especially for best director. According to the Hollywood Report, the Academy’s directors branch that decides the nominees for best director is 75% male. As of now, there are significantly more male directors than female, reflecting the gender breakdown in the directors branch. However, if there are ever to be more female directors, there needs to be room made for them to win for their accomplishments. Justine Triet, director of “Anatomy of a Fall,” is the only female director nominated for best director this year, and the eighth female to ever be nominated for best director. By failing to nominate Greta Gerwig for directing the most popular movie of 2023, a new staple of modern pop culture, the Academy is not only failing to give her the recognition she deserves, but failing to provide room for women to become directors. 

At the end of the day, the lack of recognition Margot Robbie and Greta Gerwig received for their work on “Barbie” only proves the movie’s point. Despite what work has been done, gender inequality is still a reality. The patriarchy still exists and women are still held up to impossible standards. The movie’s recognition that this is still an ongoing problem was an important message to share with the world, and this Oscars snub only reinforces that idea. The fact that a movie with such emphasis on feminism became the most popular movie of 2023 is something to be praised and celebrated. Not just any movie can effectively entertain viewers while sharing important truths, and Gerwig and Robbie deserve to be recognized for their key roles in making it possible.