The Barbie movie has taken the world by storm since its release last month, already topping $1bn in global box office ticket sales and earning director Greta Gerwig the title of first female director with a billion-dollar movie.
Amongst the many accolades the blockbuster receives is praise for the diverse number of Barbie’s and her various careers demonstrated throughout the film. From President Barbie to a team of Construction Worker Barbie’s, she does it all.
But as the movie shows, the real world is not so empowering for women. The gender pay gap may be closing in some states, but it remains throughout large areas of the US - and just 8% of the highest-grossing companies in the US are owned by women.
Moneyzine.com has analysed the percentage of women in every career Barbie has had throughout history - and found that women dominate less than half of them.
*Data shown below was primarily sourced from the Bureau of Labor Statistics, with the remaining career statistics filled in by data from Zippia.
The Barbie movie has quickly risen to iconic status - and sparked numerous conversations about diversification, equality, and the feminist movement. This research echoes what the Barbie movie lays out: while in Barbie-land, women may rule the world, the real world has a lot of catching up to do.Jonathan Merry, Personal Finance ExpertJonathan Merry
Careers Where Barbie Dominates
Out of the 95 careers we could find real-world statistical data on, Barbie (i.e. women) dominate just 39 of those fields. Of those careers, the one most dominated by women is childcare providers (Babysitter Barbie), with 94.3% of all individuals employed being women.
Next up are careers that are similarly stereotyped as feminine job roles - dog daycare owners (93.8%), make-up artists (93.1%), hair stylists (93.1%), and secretaries (92.5%).
Careers Where Ken Dominates
At the other end of the scale, Ken (i.e. men) dominates 56 of the careers Barbie has had in her long history. One such role, for example, is United States Presidential candidate - of which just two women have ever occupied this role.
Likewise, men similarly dominate careers such as Construction Workers (95.1% male), Firefighters (93.8% male), and professional Golfers (92% male).
Gender Pay Gaps
Diving into this data deeper, the gender divide becomes even more stark. Out of the top five careers most dominated by women, the median annual salary is $43,878 - largely boosted by the high median annual salary of hair stylists.
In contrast, the annual median salary of the five careers most dominated by men* is 77.18% higher, at a median salary of $77,676.
| Job | Annual Median Salary |
| Childcare workers | $28,520 |
| Dog day care | $28,730 |
| Makeup artists | $96.370 |
| Hair stylists | $26,090 |
| Secretaries | $39,680 |
| Construction workers | $40,750 |
| Firefighters | $51,680 |
| Robotics engineer (mechanical engineer): | $95,300 |
| Pilot | $134,630 |
| Police Officer | $66,020 |
*We took the five careers where men dominate from the data available on BLS to provide an accurate comparison.
Other Barbie Careers
Of course, there were also a few careers that Barbie has had where there’s a lack of real-world data to convey the percentage of women vs men in each role. Those careers include:
Gymnast Barbie
Cabaret Dancer Barbie
Usher Barbie
Candy Striper Barbie
Ice cream Cart Owner Barbie
Jillaroo Barbie
Circus Performer Barbie
Bowler Barbie
Cowgirl Barbie
Cat Burglar Barbie
SeaWorld Trainer Barbie
Track-and-Field Runner Barbie
Snowboarder Barbie
Dolphin Trainer Barbie
Ocean Treasure Explorer Barbie
Spy Barbie
Martial Artist Barbie
Beekeeper Barbie
TV News Camerawoman Barbie
Farmer's Market Stall Owner Barbie
Photographer Barbie Pet Photographer
Tooth Fairy Barbie
Fashion Boutique Owner Barbie
Sources:
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