The Academic Imperfectionist

#68: Plato (and Barbie) on perfection


Listen Later

If you won't accept anything less than perfection from yourself, I have some disappointing news from Ancient Greece. Back in the 4th (ish) century BC, Plato was telling anyone who would listen that perfection doesn't even exist in the material world - so, save your energy and lower your standards. Get the kettle on and then gather round to learn what this means for you, from Plato, Socrates, and ... erm, the Barbie movie.

Here's the monologue by American Ferrera (as Gloria) in Barbie:

'It is literally impossible to be a woman. You are so beautiful, and so smart, and it kills me that you don’t think you’re good enough. Like, we have to always be extraordinary, but somehow we’re always doing it wrong.

'You have to be thin, but not too thin. And you can never say you want to be thin. You have to say you want to be healthy, but also you have to be thin. You have to have money, but you can’t ask for money because that’s crass. You have to be a boss, but you can’t be mean. You have to lead, but you can’t squash other people’s ideas. You’re supposed to love being a mother, but don’t talk about your kids all the damn time. You have to be a career woman, but also always be looking out for other people. You have to answer for men’s bad behavior, which is insane, but if you point that out, you’re accused of complaining.

'You’re supposed to stay pretty for men, but not so pretty that you tempt them too much or that you threaten other women because you’re supposed to be a part of the sisterhood. But always stand out and always be grateful. But never forget that the system is rigged. So find a way to acknowledge that but also always be grateful. You have to never get old, never be rude, never show off, never be selfish, never fall down, never fail, never show fear, never get out of line. It’s too hard! It’s too contradictory and nobody gives you a medal or says thank you! And it turns out in fact that not only are you doing everything wrong, but also everything is your fault.

'I’m just so tired of watching myself and every single other woman tie herself into knots so that people will like us. And if all of that is also true for a doll just representing women, then I don’t even know.'

...more
View all episodesView all episodes
Download on the App Store

The Academic ImperfectionistBy Rebecca Roache

  • 4.9
  • 4.9
  • 4.9
  • 4.9
  • 4.9

4.9

28 ratings


More shows like The Academic Imperfectionist

View all
This American Life by This American Life

This American Life

90,966 Listeners

Radiolab by WNYC Studios

Radiolab

43,891 Listeners

Hidden Brain by Hidden Brain, Shankar Vedantam

Hidden Brain

43,615 Listeners

99% Invisible by Roman Mars

99% Invisible

26,241 Listeners

Philosopher's Zone by ABC

Philosopher's Zone

210 Listeners

In Our Time by BBC Radio 4

In Our Time

5,464 Listeners

Death, Sex & Money by Slate Podcasts

Death, Sex & Money

7,690 Listeners

The New Yorker: The Writer's Voice - New Fiction from The New Yorker by The New Yorker

The New Yorker: The Writer's Voice - New Fiction from The New Yorker

2,135 Listeners

Science Vs by Spotify Studios

Science Vs

12,220 Listeners

10% Happier with Dan Harris by 10% Happier

10% Happier with Dan Harris

12,736 Listeners

Philosophy For Our Times by IAI

Philosophy For Our Times

319 Listeners

Life Kit by NPR

Life Kit

4,748 Listeners

The Rest Is History by Goalhanger

The Rest Is History

15,518 Listeners

The Economics of Everyday Things by Freakonomics Network & Zachary Crockett

The Economics of Everyday Things

1,669 Listeners

Culture Study Podcast by Anne Helen Petersen

Culture Study Podcast

705 Listeners