Where Is Barbie Land?

Barbie Land as seen on Warner Brothers' 'Barbie.'

Astrophysicist Neil deGrasse-Tyson pointed out that Barbie Land, the fuchsia matriarchal world on 2023's "Barbie," may well be in the Florida Keys.

Now Florida is far from the progressive utopia depicted on the 2023 film, and some members of its government may be right-wing Ken-ough for toxic masculinity to prevail. But cheer up; there are still great places to be a woman in this world. 

In Indonesia, four million people identify as part of the Minangkabau, a society that elevates mothers to its hierarchical apex. The so-called Minangs, who are native to West Sumatra, revere their women in a unique way. 

The Minangkabau women. Photo via Rhmtdns

India is home to another matriarchal society, the Khasi. So empowered are the tribeswomen that their children inherit their last names as opposed to those of their husbands. There are around one million Khasi people. 

But where is "Barbie" filmed? Margot Robbie was all dolled up as Stereotypical Barbie at the Warner Bros. studio in Leavesden, England where the soundstage backdrops were hand-painted à la Old Hollywood musicals to look like the sunny California skies. 

Barbie world, through Greta Gerwig's lens, is supposed to be reminiscent of Palm Springs, down to the fake San Jacinto Mountains in the backdrop. Barbie's Dream House and the surrounding Barbie Way cul-de-sac were designed and furnished in Californian midcentury modern style, paying homage to Barbie's 1959 birth. 

The set used so much Rosco paint that international suppliers, according to production designer Sarah Greenwood, quite literally "ran out of pink.”

Imagination, life is indeed Greta Gerwig's creation.