Sinister Wisdom: Barbie
Call for Submissions

Truthfully, you had me at "Margot Robbie" (as in Harley Quinn). I had no prior experience with Barbie Doll. But I do have a lifetime of what Billie Eilish sings about in "What Was I Made For?": "I don't know how to feel." I feel it all.

My feelings change all the time, except about women and waving. Women and girls deserve everything in this world that the Barbies feel: strength, pride, gratitude, confidence, safety, agency, belonging, joy, dancing, the presidency. You're welcome, let's deprogram the patriarchy! And I feel if change is for the better, we can and do make lesbian lives better, one action at a time every day.

I felt that way on October 27, 2023, when "my people" came together at the Oracle Baseball park (home of the San Francisco Giants) for a big screen Barbie Movie Night. We saw each other and we laughed and sparkled and cheered; every age, race, size, gender, and food and clothing choice. Supported by the MLB, for goodness' sakes! That's my dream world that came true because of Barbie.

In this special issue, Sinister Wisdom will explore lesbians' reactions to Barbie: The Movie. How do we voice the joy and gratitude of this cultural moment where lesbian lives and lesbian culture is expressed in the movie with a major musical plotline from the Indigo Girls and two out dykes with major roles in this movie, now the highest grossing movie in Warner Brothers' history? What else do we think and feel about this cultural moment?

Were you expecting to feel deeply personally touched by Barbie? What was a special scene that reflects your dyke life? Were you surprised or shocked by your reaction to the film? How do we understand Barbie's continuing life and its relationship to lesbians and lesbian culture?

I am looking for work that moves me to tears. A description of your own parallel universe from a scene in the movie that made you cry. All forms of engagement with Barbie: The Movie and our contemporary culture are welcome.

Submit to Sinister Wisdom and label your submission as BARBIE.
Deadline for submissions: TBD
Any questions can be sent to sinisterwisdom@gmail.com

About the Editor: Irene Dick-Endrizzi is a joiner. Now her passion is volunteer firefighting. Before developing a love of the Barbie Movie, her last major feelings change came when she became a dog-lover after a lifetime of dog disdain.