Shakira Says Her Two Sons Hated “Barbie” And Found It “Emasculating”
In a heartfelt interview with Allure for their April cover story, Shakira shared candid insights into her parenting journey, particularly concerning her sons’ reaction to last summer’s hit movie.
Shakira, mother to Sasha, 9, and Milan, 11, with ex-partner Gerard Piqué, revealed that her boys weren’t fond of Barbie, expressing their discomfort with the portrayal of masculinity in the film.
“My sons absolutely hated it,” the musician disclosed. “They felt it was emasculating. And I agree, to a certain extent.”
As a mother of two boys, Shakira emphasized her desire for her sons to feel empowered while also respecting women. She advocated for pop culture that empowers women without undermining men’s roles as protectors and providers.
“I’m raising two boys. I want ’em to feel powerful too [while] respecting women. I like pop culture when it attempts to empower women without robbing men of their possibility to be men, to protect and provide,” she explained.
“I believe in giving women all the tools and the trust that we can do it all without losing our essence, without losing our femininity. I think that men have a purpose in society and women have another purpose as well,” she added.
When questioned about the notion of women having to do it all, the 47-year-old challenged this idea, suggesting a shared responsibility with those who also have a duty to carry the load.
In a separate interview with Zane Lowe, she opened up about the demands of single motherhood, juggling her career commitments while prioritizing time with her children.
“I’ve been shooting a video, shooting photos, preparing for another video, preparing for my album release,” she shared, detailing her packed schedule. “So I’m going to sleep every day around 9 a.m. The next day, 9 a.m., 11 a.m.”
Despite the challenges, Shakira finds solace and beauty in balancing her roles as a mother and an artist, emphasizing the importance of spending quality time with her children amidst her busy schedule.
“Yesterday, I came home at seven in the morning. My kids were already waiting for me, so I had breakfast with them, stayed up with them. Sometimes I don’t even go to sleep until it’s their bedtime. That’s what I do because I want to spend time with my kids and put them to bed and then I pass out.”
While she acknowledged that it has “been intense” juggling her career with her family, she finds “beauty” in balancing it all.
“It’s the first time I have to actually, you know, deal with so much as a single mother. So, it’s challenging. But they’re great,” she stated.
