Online Searches for 'Gynecologist Definition' Surged After Barbie Movie

The Barbie movie’s iconic final line — featuring Margot Robbie’s Mattell-doll-come-to-life at a doctor’s appointment, proudly saying, “I’m here to see my gynecologist” — sparked online interest in what exactly a gynecologist does.

“In the week following Barbie’s release, there were large increases in the national online search volume for terms referring to gynecologists…and gynecologist definition,” a recent study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association said.

There was a 154.1% increase in the term “gynecologist definition,” specifically, and a 51.3% increase in the term “gynecologist.”

“Other than Barbie’s release, there were no major events during this period that may have led to widespread changes in search interest in gynecology.”

Although the movie may have sparked more interest in learning more about gynecological care, the study notes “searches for information about gynecologists did not translate to searches for new gynecologic care. No changes were observed for search terms reflecting broader health interest (eg, searches for doctors’ appointments), supporting the assumption that the observed increase in gynecologist-related searches may have been influenced by the film’s release and not other factors.”

“We were surprised to find that there was a measurable effect of a single joke in a two-hour long comedy movie,” study author Christopher Worsham, a critical care physician at Mass General Hospital and professor at Harvard Medical School told PsyPost.

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“When we did some research into the film, we read that one of director Greta Gerwig’s goals with the final line of the movie was to make it clear that gynecological care is normal, and so it was fun that we were able to find concrete evidence that it was effective in some way.”

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

"Growing up and being embarrassed about my body, and just feeling ashamed in a way that I couldn't even describe," Gerwig has said. "It felt like everything had to be hidden."

"And then to see Margot as Barbie, with this big old smile on her face, saying what she says at the end with such happiness and joy — I was like, if I can give girls that feeling of, 'Barbie does it, too,' that's both funny and emotional."

“Most healthcare providers recommend seeing a gynecologist for the first time between 13 and 15,” the Cleveland Clinic explains, noting that “Once you’re sexually active or reach age 15, you should visit one regularly.”