Woke & Witty: Beyond Barbie's Dreamhouse

Beyond the Single Story: The Paradox of Heroes

In this episode of "Woke and Witty," co-hosts LaRen and Akanksha are joined by Dr. Drew McGee, a developmental psychologist, to explore the paradox of heroes and the danger of a single story. Together, they delve into the complexities of societal narratives, examining how stories shape perceptions of heroism and villainy in both media and real life. From the utopian world of Barbie to the nuanced tales of Wicked, the conversation challenges listeners to question who gets to tell the story and how these narratives impact our understanding of identity, power, and privilege. Join us for an engaging discussion that encourages reflection on the stories we consume and the voices we elevate. Definitions: * Paradox of Heroes: Psychological dynamic where a group of people is framed as heroic, righteous or perpetually endangered - and therefore any criticism of them becomes morally suspect or even forbidden. By idealizing someone as a hero we unintentionally give them immunity from accountability while also trapping them in an impossible image of perfection. The paradox is that the more someone is elevated as hero the less space there is for honest critique - and the more harm can be overlooked, justified, or ignored in the name of protecting the hero narrative.  * Welfare Queen [https://www.ebsco.com/research-starters/law/welfare-queen-stereotype] * Bystander Effect [https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/basics/bystander-effect] * Bystander Intervention Tip Sheet [https://www.apa.org/pi/health-equity/bystander-intervention] Organizations: * Jewish Voice for Peace [https://www.jewishvoiceforpeace.org/nobombs/?sourceid=1003452&gad_source=1&gad_campaignid=21772873613&gbraid=0AAAAAqXRb9pXVxkbsN4GbzFOzC2wH9vQY&gclid=CjwKCAiA2svIBhB-EiwARWDPjt3LWN1gh47hTy-eaRTWHQ3pxg8Jl8R0Vj4pqs_zcbXzUAyTJLq7bxoCt0IQAvD_BwE#donate] * Showing Up for Racial Justice (SURJ) [https://surj.org/] Media: * TED Talk - Danger of a Single Story by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie  [https://www.ted.com/talks/chimamanda_ngozi_adichie_the_danger_of_a_single_story?language=en] * NPR - The Truth Behind the Lies of the Original Welfare Queen [https://www.npr.org/sections/codeswitch/2013/12/20/255819681/the-truth-behind-the-lies-of-the-original-welfare-queen]  * No Other Land [https://kinema.com/films/no-other-land-0ojw1z] Books: * Decolonize Palestine - Reading List  [https://decolonizepalestine.com/reading-list/] * Wicked by Gregory Maguire [https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/37442.Wicked] * How to Hide an Empire by Daniel Immerwahr  [https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/40121985-how-to-hide-an-empire] * The Color of Law by Richard Rothestien [https://www.epi.org/publication/the-color-of-law-a-forgotten-history-of-how-our-government-segregated-america/]

Beyond Commodifying Feminism: Barbie Universe FOR SALE

Episode 7 features a discussion with Dr. Danielle Tapp, a behavioral neuroscientist, movie enthusiast, and a Woke and Witty proclaimed movie expert. Join us as we delve into feminism in capitalism. Pulling from Brooke Shepard' thesis entitled "Barbie is as much about fashion as she is about culture and empowerment" we discuss feminist narratives and postfeminist marketing strategies present in Barbie. We explore how the film juxtaposes humor with serious themes like mental health and consumerism and how the movie served to commodify feminism to sell the Barbie IP. As always, we end with thoughts on the broader implications of media consumption and encourage critical thinking about the art and messages presented in films.

Beyond Aging to Ageism

In this episode, we welcome Dr. Annika Goldman to explore ageism in society and how it is depicted in media, and Barbie. Dr. Goldman, a geropsychologist, shares her insights on the psychology of aging, highlighting the unique challenges and resilience factors among older adults. We delve into the cultural perceptions of aging, challenge stereotypes around ageism, and the importance of intergenerational relationships to celebrate the wisdom and experiences of older generations. We conclude with steps for listeners to move beyond aging to calling in ageism by attuning to issues of intersectionality in ageism and jon in community-based organizations that support older adults. Resources Media * Let's End Ageism Ted Talk [https://www.ted.com/talks/ashton_applewhite_let_s_end_ageism] by Ashton Applewhite * WelcomeToHeidi on Tiktok/Instagram Books * This Chair Rocks [https://thischairrocks.com/] by Ashton Applewhite * Pushing Back On "Black Don't Crack"  [https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/15365042241229706]by Alicia Smith-Tran * On a culture that lauds a youthful appearance, the author reveals how racism, sexism, and ageism combine in ways that uniquely harm Black women as they seek professional respect in White spaces. * Barbie and My Midlife Crisis [https://msmagazine.com/2023/08/22/barbie-midlife-crisis-older-women-aging/] - Michele Meek Research Resources * Health and Retirement Survey [https://hrs.isr.umich.edu/about] * Reframing Aging [https://www.reframingaging.org/] Volunteer Opportunities * Meals on Wheels [https://www.mealsonwheelsamerica.org/] * Eldera [https://www.eldera.ai/about] - Virtual Intergenerational Mentorship Matching Program  * Pen Pals for Life [https://penpalsforlife.com/get-involved] - Intergenerational Pen Pal Program

Beyond Normalcy: The Power of Disability as Human Variation

Dr. Ann Fox [https://www.davidson.edu/people/ann-fox], a professor of English specializing in dramatic literature and disabilities studies, joins co-hosts in this week's episode. Dr. Fox introduces the study of disability, and her work centering crip history and representation. We invite listeners to attune to the ableist undertones in Barbie, and explore possibilities to better center disability justice.  Find Dr. Ann Fox on Instagram and Threads @crockpotrunner and @annmargaretfox.bsky.social on Bluesky. Media Recommendations * I Didn't See You There [https://www.ididntseeyoutherefilm.com/] Film * Disability Visibility Project [https://disabilityvisibilityproject.com/] * Books [https://disabilityvisibilityproject.com/book/] by Alice Wong * Enforcing Normalcy [https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/233271/enforcing-normalcy-by-lennard-j-davis/] by Lennard Davis (Chapter 1)  * 'Barbie' Celebrates Every Body, Except Disabled Ones [https://www.businessinsider.com/barbie-representation-fails-disabled-people-2023-8] by Esme Mazzeo * Disability Access in Barbieland Holds Up a Sober Mirror to Our World [https://tpickens.medium.com/disability-access-in-barbieland-holds-up-a-sober-mirror-to-our-world-8357da149308] by Theri Pickens

Beyond Too Thin or Too Fat: Contradictions in Gender Norms and Weight Stigma

Co-hosts discuss weight stigma with Broquelynn "B" Shepard, M.S. (she/her), a doctoral candidate in counseling psychology studying the experiences of fat and plus-sized Black women. Together, they explore the impact of societal expectations on body image, body neutrality versus body acceptance, and the impact of media representation, including the serious lack thereof in Barbie. The conversation also taps into topics related to the influence of caregivers in maintaining weight stigma, the role of fashion in shaping perceptions of body diversity, and the importance of creating spaces that embrace the wholeness of our bodies.   Find B on Instagram: @dearfatsista     We gratefully acknowledge, Kevin MacLeod's (incompetech.com) music, "Basic Implosion"  Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ [http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/]