The Golden Globes and Sexist Jokes

Barbie. Pink. Empowerment. In 2023, we witnessed one of the most poignant films to date, documenting girlhood so perfectly. The Barbie Movie did what had to be done, showing just how difficult it is to be a woman in this world.

And clearly Jo Koy wanted to make it a little bit harder…

“Oppenheimer is based on a 721-page, Pulitzer Prize-winning book about the Manhattan Project… And Barbie is based on a plastic doll with big boobies.”

I won’t lie, I had no clue who Jo Koy was before today. Unfortunately, I am now very aware of him.

A couple of days ago, we saw Hollywood’s faves at the Golden Globes - from Margot Robbie, to Timothee Chalamet. This event had us gripped, wondering who’d win best movie and who best actress…

Jo Koy hosted the Golden Globes this year, and decided to start off with a sexist joke in his monologue. Bear in mind, the cast of Barbie was sat right there in the audience. The sheer look on Greta Gerwig’s face (the director of the wonderful film) was devastating. Only proving further, why we need such a movie. Why men need to watch it, to understand how we have lived for years.

It was almost expected. That instead of praising her for her success, she must accept sexist remarks. It’s ironic, really. Jo Koy claimed to have seen the movie, but did he really watch it?

I am heartbroken for the countless women who fought and worked hard to create the movie, just for it to be reduced to something worthless. To an over-sexualised, misogynistic idea.

They crafted a perfect film, just for it to be shit on in front of their colleagues, friends etc…

Barbie has always been a crucial symbol of girlhood. For generations, women have played with barbies, envisioning lives for them where they can be anything. Something women didn’t always have. We have lived vicariously through plastic dolls, the word barbie becoming a household name. That’s why the movie, was so incredible.

I had a scientist barbie when I was younger and I loved her! It proved that women are more than mothers and homemakers. We can escape harmful traditions and become ANYTHING.

Greta Gerwig managed to portray all elements of girlhood, into a couple of hours, displaying such a poignant message throughout. That the world is out to get women, regardless of what they do. This is a man’s world after all – thanks for the reminder, Jo!

And no, it’s not sensitive to be offended by these jokes. If anything, the use of sexism / racism etc within comedy will never be okay. It only further cultivates an environment where people believe hate speech / crime is valid.

As women, we were finally given a movie that truly portrayed our upbringing and experiences. We felt united and it gave men some perspective into our everyday lives. The Barbie movie was healing and I’m damn sure not going to let a silly little man take that away from us.

Despite the sexist agenda’s we have seen, Barbie received 10 nominations overall. The walked away, crowned as the highest-grossing film of 2023. I’d call that a success!

Jo Koy didn’t stop there with the misogyny. He also came for Taylor Swift.

"The big difference between the Golden Globes and the NFL? At the Golden Globes, we have fewer camera shots of Taylor Swift."

With this, we saw Taylor looking similarly to Greta’s earlier reaction, looking unimpressed as she casually sipped her wine. Yet again, expected.

I’ll be the first to say it, Taylor Swift is not a perfect example of an activist / feminist, but she is constantly subject to hate trains like no other. People see her as a sign of weakness, which arguably, she’s the opposite. It’s so normal for people (mostly men), to use her as their punchline, making a mockery out of her.

Despite this, I’d argue her success speaks for itself.

If your jokes revolve around misogyny, you’re not funny, you’re just a twat.

So, in light of the trending Golden Globes moments, I recommend we all rewatch the Barbie movie, and then again, until you can recite it word for word and re-enact the Ken’s dance scene. Let’s continue living vicariously through our younger selves, wearing bows in our hair and crying over America Ferrera’s Barbie monologue.

I’ll end on a positive note and link you to a heart-warming TikTok. One that shows just how important inclusivity, diversity and the Barbie movie is!

 https://vm.tiktok.com/ZGejUvfrP/