Barbie movie sparked online searches for “gynecologist definition”

The Barbie The film’s iconic final line – in which Margot Robbie’s come-to-life Mattel doll proudly declares at a doctor’s appointment, “I’m here to see my gynecologist” – sparked interest online in what exactly a gynecologist does.

“In the week after BarbieAccording to the publication of “Gynecologists,” there has been a sharp increase in national online search volume for terms related to gynecologists… and for the definition of gynecologists,” says a recent study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association said.

In particular, there was an increase of 154.1% for the term “gynecologist definition” and an increase of 51.3% for the term “gynecologist”.

“Different to BarbieAccording to the press release, there were no major events during this period that could have led to comprehensive changes in search interest in the field of gynecology.”

Although the film may have generated more interest in information about gynecological care, the study notes, “Searches for information about gynecologists did not translate into searches for new gynecological treatments. No changes were observed in search terms reflecting broader health interests (e.g., searches for doctor appointments). This supports the notion that the observed increase in gynecologist-related searches may have been influenced by the release of the film rather than other factors.”

“We were surprised that there was a measurable effect of a single joke in a two-hour comedy film,” said study author Christopher Worsham, an intensive care physician at Mass General Hospital and professor at Harvard Medical School Retrieved 2018-08-18.

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“When we were researching the film, we read that one of the things director Greta Gerwig wanted to make clear with the film’s final line was that gynecological care is normal. So it was fun that we were able to find concrete evidence that it is effective in some way.”

As Gerwig said, she included the line not only as a sort of “mic drop joke,” but also to normalize gynecological care for young women, calling it a “very emotional” scene.

“I grew up being ashamed of my body and feeling shame in ways I can’t even describe,” Gerwig said. “It felt like everything had to be hidden.”

“And then seeing Margot as Barbie, with that big smile on her face, saying what she says at the end with so much happiness and joy – I thought, if I can make girls feel like, ‘Barbie does that too,’ it’s both funny and emotional.”

“Most doctors recommend that you first see a gynecologist between the ages of 13 and 15,” explains the Cleveland Clinic, noting, “Once you are sexually active or reach age 15, you should see a doctor regularly.”