This Barbie can't go to Kuwait

The recent ban of the Barbie film is part of a growing crackdown on feminism and freedom of expression in Kuwait. Hind Al Ansari argues that instead of tightening controls, the government should focus on developing spaces for open dialogue

By Hind Al Ansari

In August, the Kuwaiti government's decision to ban Barbie received widespread international attention. Kuwait is generally considered to be one of the more progressive Gulf countries, with an elected parliament, a constitutional court, and a vibrant civil society. Yet in this instance, Kuwait took the most conservative position among its neighbours – while audiences in Saudi Arabia flocked to see the American film.

Several Western news outlets, including the Los Angeles Times and USA Today, attributed the decision to the presence of LGBTQ characters and themes in the film. But while Lebanon temporarily banned Barbie for "promoting homosexuality", in Kuwait, the crux of the matter might lie elsewhere.

Barbie, the film's main character, is shaped by a version of contemporary Western feminism, which even conservatives in the U.S. have vilified on the news and social media. The film humorously calls for female empowerment and emancipation from the patriarchy, represented by negative masculine stereotypes.

Feminist initiatives targeted

These are ideas that have been vocally opposed in recent years by conservative Kuwaitis – including members of the National Assembly – who have targeted local feminist initiatives that they find contradictory to traditional and religious values. It is thus worth exploring whether this anti-feminist current in Kuwaiti politics is the central impetus behind the ban.

Women activists in Kuwait rally in support of their right to exercise outside the National Assembly in Kuwait City on 7 February 2022 (image: Yasser Al-Zayyat/AFP) — Islamist politicians increasingly seeking to curtail women's rights: in 2022, a Kuwaiti women's yoga retreat was denounced as "immoral" and postponed after authorities said it needed a permit, prompting a storm on social media and a complaint to parliament. These days, women seeking to vote or run for office must adhere to the principles of Sharia law – thanks to a recent amendment to Kuwait's General Election Commission law

Crucially, the ban comes alongside measures Islamist politicians have taken to curtail women's rights. In May 2022, for example, Islamist MP Fayez Al-Jamhour raised suspicion about the Women and Gender Studies Research Unit at Kuwait University and its objectives. Its founder, the feminist scholar Reem Al-Rudainy, and other faculty members were subsequently berated by public figures and community members.

Moreover, alongside the ban of Barbie in August, some members of the National Assembly celebrated the amendment of Article 16 of the General Election Commission law, which now mandates that women adhere to principles of Sharia law in order to vote or run for office. Several Kuwaiti NGOs have expressed opposition to this amendment, insisting that it violates constitutional rights.

Islamism growing in Kuwaiti politics

Banning Barbie should thus be understood, in part, within the context of the growing presence of Islamism in Kuwaiti politics. Saad bin Tefla, former minister of information and culture in Kuwait, presumes the ban might have occurred after the movie was denounced by what he mockingly dubbed the "Kandaharis" – a label assigned to Islamist MPs for their fundamentalist views.

While the ban represents the government's official position, Kuwaitis themselves have been predictably divided. Those who praise the ban echo the country's press and publications undersecretary, Lafy Al-Subei'e, who claimed that the movie "promulgates ideas and beliefs that are alien to Kuwaiti society and public order".

Kuwait's Prime Minister Sheikh Sabah Khaled Al-Hamad Al-Sabah takes oath at a parliament session in Kuwait City, Kuwait, 30 March 2021 (image: Xinhua/picture-alliance) — Conservatism runs deep: the controversy over Barbie in Kuwait points to a wider problem. When the state assumes the role of a custodian of social norms and religious beliefs, it aligns with some groups while marginalising others, creating new avenues for conflict and social polarisation, writes Al Ansari

Dahem Al-Qahtani, a Kuwaiti journalist and TV anchor, shared a video of the fundamentalist Christian media critic Ted Baehr critiquing Barbie, and suggested that the film promotes "ugly feminist ideas". While it is uncommon for Kuwaiti politicians to highlight common views with conservative figures in the West, posting a video of an American who labelled the movie "hardcore propaganda" serves to reinforce the ban's legitimacy.

Other Kuwaiti critics denounced the decision, arguing that it infringes on freedom of choice. In a BBC interview discussing the ban, Kuwaiti director Najaf Jamal stresses the inefficacy of the measure. In his words, "the screen remains accessible to all", implying that viewers will find alternative ways to access films prohibited by their governments. Moreover, days after the ban, Kuwaiti theatre director and actor Mohammed Al-Hamli announced the debut of a Barbie-themed play with a highly professional promotional video.

Ultimately, the controversy over Barbie in Kuwait points to a wider problem. When the state assumes the role of a custodian of social norms and religious beliefs, it aligns with some groups while marginalising others, creating new avenues for conflict and social polarisation. Instead, the government should focus on developing spaces for open dialogue, where Kuwaitis can exchange ideas about the media and the content they consume.

Hind Al Ansari

Hind Al Ansari is a researcher and policy analyst. Her work focuses on social and educational developments in the Gulf Cooperation Council states and the broader Muslim world.