The Barbie movie, directed by Greta Gerwig, took the world by storm last summer. Pink clothes filled theaters on July 21, 2023, and the movie was made $155 million in its opening weekendmaking it one of the highest grossing films… ever.
It seems we all needed something to get excited about, and Barbie absolutely delivered. But aside from childhood memories, Ryan Gosling’s hilarity, and iconic outfits, Barbie has influenced viewers in more ways than we might imagine.
A new study published in JAMA on July 25, nearly a year after Barbie’s release, found that one scene—the end of the movie—increased Google searches.
After Barbie decides to leave Barbieland (incoming spoiler alert) for the real world, as she is notoriously genital-less, she walks up to a receptionist sitting at a desk and innocently and excitedly says, “I’m here to see my gynecologist!”
Film cuts to black.
The researchers involved in the study decided that this must have been the line that led to an increase in public interest in women’s health care and gynecological care.
To conduct the study, the researchers analyzed search trends after the release of the film. They focused on 34 questions related to gynecological care, women’s health or medical care. They then decided to further group these queries into more specific categories such as ‘gynecologist’, ‘gynecologist definition’, ‘gynecologist appointment’, ‘women’s health’, ‘doctor’ and ‘doctor appointment’. Using Google Trends and Glimpse, the researchers tracked search trends over a year after the film’s release.
The study reports that no other relevant events took place during this period that could have influenced gynecology-related search queries other than Barbie.
The researchers took into account projected search volumes, which they based on weekly search data from 2022.
After the study was completed, the researchers found that Barbie led to a 51% increase in the terms “gynecologist” and “gynecologist definition”. There was also a huge 154% increase in phrases like “I need a gynecologist”
This isn’t the first time there’s been a connection between pop culture and health behaviors. The study reports Katie Couric’s colonoscopy live streamwhich influenced a 21% increase in colonoscopies and Angelia Jolie’s essay about her breast cancer, which led to a 64% increase in women being tested for the BRCA gene.
This led researchers to believe that Barbie directly influenced searches for the word “gynecologist.”
So while the survey recognizes an uptick in searches, it seems most people were trying to figure out what the word “gynecologist” meant, not necessarily make an appointment or seek care. In fact, when Barbie found out what a gynecologist was, it seemed like the public did too.
The researchers wrote that the film sparked interest in gynecology and could raise immediate awareness, however, it was not linked to taking immediate action. In fact, the researchers aren’t sure if the Google searches were made by men, women or children, meaning a young person who just saw the movie might be Googling the term out of confusion in the theater.
Gerwig told USA Today that the last line of the film was meant to be impressive. She explained that growing up, she felt embarrassed and ashamed of her body.
She said, “And then seeing Margot as Barbie, with that big old smile on her face, saying what she says at the end with such joy and glee. I was like, if I can give the girls that feeling of, ‘Barbie does this too’ — that’s both funny and emotional. There are so many things like that throughout the movie.”
Barbie’s immediacy may also have worked to encourage awareness. It clearly got people typing and engaging with the term. Plus, Barbie’s performance is done with a huge smile, not something we always associate with the word “gynecologist.” But Gerwig’s direction makes us recalibrate and think of the gynecologist as something positive—where taking our health into account is an act of empowerment.
Barbie thinks talking about our reproductive health is cool, so let’s try to make it cooler.
Why are gynecological appointments important?
Maybe you’re a Google Barbie employee or someone who needs an annual reminder, but seeing a gynecologist is essential to keeping a woman healthy.
So what exactly does a date accomplish? An annual exam is imperative to monitor any issues or changes that could potentially become a bigger issue in the future. Your gynecologist will perform a pelvic exam to look for unusual growths and will usually also test for sexually transmitted infections. The Pap test is different from the pelvic exam and is done in addition to the annual exam. It is a test that is sent to a laboratory to look for cancer cells.
If you have irregular menstrual cycles, are on birth control, have painful intercourse, experience changes in vaginal discharge, have urinary problems, or are pregnant, you should make an appointment with a gynecologist.
How to prepare for a gynecological appointment
For many people—but not Barbie—going to the gynecologist is stressful. The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists recommends that women start visiting the gynecologist from the age of 13 to 15 until the age of 65.
Preparing for a date is pretty simple, but knowing these tips can make the date go much smoother and easier.
- Wear comfortable clothes.
- Do not pee before your appointment in case you need to provide a urine sample.
- Write down any medical history so you don’t forget it when you’re at the doctor’s office.
- Avoid visiting the gynecologist when you have your period.
- Avoid having sex the night before as it can interfere with the tests.
- Do not groom too much before an appointment as it can cause discomfort and irritation.
- Bring a friend, partner or family member.
- Please note that you may request special equipment during your examination, such as softer and disposable mirrors, as they may be uncomfortable for some people.
- Call ahead if you have any questions or bring questions to your appointment.
Overall, seeing your gynecologist is part of keeping your vagina, uterus, and ovaries healthy. Remind yourself that you are in control and can always dictate when a doctor should stop what they are doing or explain something more thoroughly if you feel uncomfortable.
Going with confidence, just like Barbie, can ensure you have an easy and meaningful experience.
