Warner Bros. Pictures

In “Barbie,” America Ferrera (right) plays Gloria, who struggles with the messy contradictions of motherhood.

"Barbie" has been seemingly everywhere of late. The cultural impact of the new movie featuring the archetypal doll can’t be understated, but most people who went to see it probably didn’t come away thinking they just saw a movie-length reflection on motherhood. But, Aviva Dove-Viebahn did. 

Dove-Viebahn is an assistant professor of Film and Media Studies at Arizona State University. In a new essay, she argues the movie is, at its core, about the "messy contradictions of motherhood."

The Show spoke with her more about it.

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