FlyForeverFree

Blythe Baird, from If My Body Could Speak; “Concerns from a hot-boxed jeep”

CANT

BE

NORMAL

Just as much as Cooper is a victim of being exploited by Vault Tech for his popularity as a movie star and as he was exploited by the military to do some heinous shit in the war. Even if he didn't actively do it himself (he did!!) he still witnessed it, still actively participated in the warmachine. Barb is also a victim to the Enclave, she has no choice, but to participate because if she doesn't, then they will kill Coop and her daughter.

Imagine being a black woman in the corporate world set in a 1950's pre-war aesthetic. You are surrounded by people that actively see you as lesser in some shape or form. You're a pawn being forced to push and sell a product by a sleazy company that absolutely does not care about you, but has promised to save your family from an inevitable apocalypse orchestrated by the very company (and secret government) that has informed you to do your fucking job or everyone you loves die.

"Would you let tens and thousands of mothers and children die?!"

Yes. Absolutely. A mother's love knows no bounds and if it means a chance for THEIR daughter to survive then so be it. Is the choice a shitty fucking choice? Absolutely, but if it wasn't going to be Barb it was going to be someone else. They would have easily found someone else who was less outspoken to do the job, so even if Barb said no and told the Enclave to fuck off, everything that was already set in place was going to happen.

It's exactly why we see her behave the way she does. She's actively trying to find a means to escape, but just like Wilzig; she's just a pawn. I believe her actions that we see in the next episode may be an attempt for her to try and go Cooper's route by giving the cold fusion away to someone they perceive as good or use it as leverage to bribe the Enclave more.

The world is gonna end no matter what because lol lore and Enclave is a dangerous Facist collective, but Barb is clearly trying to do what she can by any means to protect Coop and Jainey.