Feminism, Pop-Culture | Posted by Maren H on 02/23/2010
Taylor Swift: Not A Feminist’s Dream
Taylor Swift
Inspired by AutoStraddle’s article.
Now, let me begin by saying I don’t hate Taylor. She plays her own instruments, writes her own song (a fact that at times is painfully obvious) and if she learned how to sing live, she would be a perfectly mediocre musician. She’s perfectly lovely, never rude to anyone (ever) and I also support any woman who follows her heart and manages the difficult task of succeeding in the music business.
However; the fact that she won album of the year at the Grammy’s this year, an honour that had previously been bestowed upon the likes of Ray Charles, U2, Norah Jones, Bob Dylan, JOHN FREAKING LENNON, Michael Jackson, Alanis Morissette, the list goes on, and the fact that the legend, Stevie Nicks, was reduced to singing back up, got me thinking that maybe (just maybe) success in the music industry isn’t really dependent on any actual talent anymore. And maybe (just maybe) Taylor actually embodies many things that are terribly wrong with North-American culture.
So, without further ado, here are the reasons why I dislike Taylor Swift and she’s not exactly a feminist role model.
1. Her blatant misunderstanding of Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet, and her inability to use a thesaurus.
We have all heard the song, “Love Story.” If you haven’t, good for you. It is a perfectly adequate song – the music is catchy (if your into that sort of thing). It’s the lyrics that are absolutely cringe worthy. The chorus contains such mind shattering linguistic acrobatics such as:
“romeo take me somewhere we can be alone
i’ll be waiting all theres left to do is run
you’ll be the prince and i’ll be the princess
its a love story baby just say yes”
Really Taylor? A Prince and a Princess? That combination of people is groundbreaking and unheard of.
Plus, the concept of Romeo and Juliet being compared to a couple who love each other and are together for eternity made my theatre-loving soul cringe. Were you there that day in English 10 Taylor? I’ll do a little recap for you, THEY DIED, after knowing each other for a very short time. Oh yeah, and Romeo killed Juliet’s cousin.
Okay so maybe I’m being a little harsh, TONS of artists have bad lyrics right? I’m sure Taylor has some good ones, let’s take a look at “Fifteen”
“And then you’re on your very first date and he’s got a car
And you’re feeling like flying”
Whoa, just kidding.
It only takes a quick glance at the rest of her lyrics to realize that they are, for the most part, shallow and unoriginal and sound like a bad 80’s teen movie.
So, okay, her lyrics aren’t great, but if you manage to not be bothered by them, all it takes is a quick look at her videos. They may even be double cringe worthy. Which takes us to number two.
2. The Slut VS. The Virgin- Swift is a feminist’s nightmare
From the Taylor Swift videos I have seen, only two types of women exist. The bitchy slut, that loses in the end (or the nice slut, that still loses) and the virginal girl next door. Guess which one Taylor is! In almost every Video she is wearing a white dress and in the Love Story video she actually walks through a garden in a white dress and picks an under-ripe cherry off a bush. REALLY PAPI? REALLY?
Then in “You Belong with Me” Taylor shows up at the dance in her white dress, and steals the boy away from the popular bitchy girl in her smutty orange one.
Now, there is nothing wrong with abstinence and all that Jazz, but since we have established that Taylor is not musically or lyrically special. Why did she win over the sexual and creative Gaga? Or the strong, independent, and bootylicious Beyonce? Because America wants a conservative, tame, role model and Swift embodies that.
The idea that Women are only valuable if they are Married or Virgins is reinforced in “Fifteen”
“And Abigail gave everything she had to a boy
Who changed his mind and we both cried”
Everything she had? I sincerely hope that this Abigail’s worth is measured in more than just the state of her hymen, but furthermore, I hope that one day society will learn to respect and accept the choices that EVERY woman makes for her body, not just heterosexuality and abstinence.
That being said, I haven’t found a single one of Taylor’s songs that doesn’t centre around boys. I’m sure she has a complex and interesting personality, but I don’t know what it’s like because Taylor presents herself as an entirely boy-dependent, overly innocent, baby-faced bunny. The media milked the innocent bunny thing after Kanye interrupted her (and subsequently ruined his reputation) Come on, you were all thinking it, Kanye just said it out loud, as obnoxiously as he could. Which brings me to number 3.
3. Dear Taylor: your life wasn’t that sad, and glasses don’t make you an outsider
One of my biggest beef’s with Taylor is her constant reference in acceptance speeches and interviews to her “fairytale” story of her rise to fame. A white, skinny, conventionally attractive, heterosexual young girl makes it in the music industry? What are the odds of that? She was made fun of in middle school for liking country music? Well, most girls in Africa don’t get to go to school at all, if one of them rose to fame and won album of the year, I would be impressed. Swift was born to loving, supportive, wealthy parents, who pulled her out of high school and home schooled her so she could achieve her dream. Her story is less of a fight against the odds, and more the high school experience we all wished we would have had. Taylor, you are very very lucky, and no matter how many teenage girls identify with your lyrics because you wore glasses and a T-Shirt in that one music video, they still won’t have a fraction of the opportunities you did, because you fit in so well.
In conclusion, Taylor Swift is a conservative parent’s wet dream. She is safe, and digestible. She didn’t wear a red latex dress to meet the queen. She went to a Christian school, her lyrics promote abstinence, and ‘normal’ heterosexual relationships with football players, instead of riding on disco sticks. She embodies the American dream, she leaves taboos and boundaries exactly where they are.
That is exactly why she shouldn’t have won, but exactly why she did.
The girl does have some good hair though, doesn’t she?
hair win, feminist fail
(57 votes, average: 4.05 out of 5)
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Read other posts about: Alanis Morisette, Beyonce, Bob Dylan, John Lennon, Lady Gaga, Michael Jackson, Norah Jones, Ray Charles, Romeo and Juliet, Shakespeare, slut versus virgin, Taylor Swift, Taylor Swift and Kanye West, the Grammy Awards, the music industry, U2
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Toongrrl @ at 12:03 pm, February 23rd, 2010
Hopefully she doesn’t side with Bill O’Reilly and his minions on same-sex marriage. Please tell me that she doesn’t side with them on it!!!!!
Here’s some classics:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XVMSV-zZFqg
http://jezebel.com/5346348/legendary-girl-group-songwriter-ellie-greenwich-dies-at-age-68/gallery/
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ej8H926Hmaw
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HKQbpSLW1jE
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VwhtKEf8DZc
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c-EiKPrAOHA
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QiczTCNu6XM
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=si9kkvtBeaA
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=irfkehE6n6U
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t2zxlZmbQt8
Samuel W. @ at 12:11 pm, February 23rd, 2010
This is why I started really liking this site; I admit, my main interest isn’t feminism, it’s music, but with articles like this, I get to see other teenagers like myself roundly criticizing the thing I really hate in music: the trash I see getting put out all year round, and one of the worst things about a lot of this trashy electropop or dance pop junk is either that the singer is a pampered little pop princess (Taylor Swift is admittedly an exception), or that the lyrics are all about male views of what a woman should be to be sexy (3OH!3’s “Don’t Trust Me”, anyone?) when you get right down to it. This is coming from a male teenager who hates almost all of the nonsense mainstream music put out today that the writers on this site also hate, which is what links me to the feminist cause most profoundly. Of course, I care about issues other than those of the music industry too, but still, that’s what always really gets me reading this site. I actually saw Swift win her Album of the Year award at my grandma’s (I don’t have cable right now as a matter of fact), and she made a lucky guess that she probably got a sympathy vote for the oh-so interesting (NOT!) story about Kanye interrupting her at the stupid VMA’s last year. Here’s some brilliant news for the world: there was a drought in Kenya, there was a Haitian quake, Michael Jackson died, and many other interesting things have happened in the last 12 months. Kanye West interrupting Taylor Swift’s speech, at a borderline phony awards ceremony that means absolutely nothing and never has, is not one of them. Thank you FBomb for sharing my hatred of the boorish sexism displayed in an appalling chunk of modern music today, and of pop queens whose sole purpose is to entertain a male idea of what a woman should be.
Amy CT @ at 12:31 pm, February 23rd, 2010
I have to admit that my judgement on this is somewhat clouded by the fact that I am a bit of a Taylor Swift fan (she made country socially acceptabele in Britain, making my life a helluva lot easier!), but…
- I admit that only a Taylor geek like me would know this, but she always said that “Love Story” was written because she dislkiked the ending of “Romeo + Juliet”.
Also, out of interest, what’s English 10?
- And, I don’t think that I can be the only one not to have interpretted “And Abigail gave everything she had/ to a guy who changed his mind” as her, ahem, changing the state of her hymen. I’d seen it as an emotional thing – if she is, as you suggest, a “conservative parent’s wet dream”, would the former interprtation not be somewhat too racy?
I’ve heard this argument before, and never known what to think. I still like her music (although I don’t dispute that she is dreadful live!), which is what matters.
Lauren Clark @ at 12:54 pm, February 23rd, 2010
I certainly agree with the points being raised here, and I appreciate that they appear here to spark a broad discussion about the state of feminism amongst young women today. This is a subject about which I am very passionate. However, as a college-level English instructor, I am disappointed to see an example of such blatant plagiarism on this great website. In Early February, writer Marie Bernard wrote a fabulous article in which she refers to Taylor Swift as “a feminist’s nightmare” and her main points have all been reproduced in this blog post. Summarizing without acknowledging your source is a form of stealing. Consider the example you’re setting for other young women who have aspirations to become writers or journalists.
Bernard’s article can be found here: http://www.autostraddle.com/why-taylor-swift-offends-little-monsters-feminists-and-weirdos-31525/
k.e. @ at 1:06 pm, February 23rd, 2010
I totally get what youre saying about some of these things youve listed about Taylor Swift. But I think you might be being too hard on her. Shes very young and naive. She seems like such a sweet KID. When I was here age I was way off of my path to being a feminist. I needed guidance-read my first feminist book. I needed to find my won answers in life. I dont think that it’s bad that shes trying to talk 15 year old girls out of having sex with boys when they will most likely regret it later. Yes, women can make their own choices and embrace sexuality, but 15 year old brains aren’t where, say, even 18 year old brains. Taylor isn’t part of the problem. Shes a symptom of the problem. Lets give more responsibility to the women who are older and should be wiser, but act WAY WORSE. Beyonce. Brittany, the Simpson girls….. they are victims of the same culture that makes women feel they need to act that way to get approval, but they are adults now. It’s time for them to grow up. The music industry is very sexist, as is pretty much every other industry in America. We have to keep these industries form getting as many of our dollars as we can hold on too. including not supporting the stations, channels, companies…
Anyway, while I may not think she jives with my feminist ideals, I give the kid kudos. She mad it further than Mylie Cyrus and the rest who have posed nude or in sexually explicit material…She’s kept her clothes on for the most part. She seems like a good kid who’s managed to keep her head on in spite of whats around her.
JC @ at 2:30 pm, February 23rd, 2010
I wish that outspoken, in-depth critics of artists would at least do their homework before spinning long fatuous uninformed pieces. Here, the failure to know that TS was trying to re-write the ending of R&J exposes the critic to scorn. Likewise, the failure to notice that TS plays both the madonna and the whore in the video of You Belong with Me, renders the imprecision of the rest of the criticism pellucid. It would be certainly unobjectionable to hope that TS chooses and deals with more mature themes as she herself ages, but trying to find a politically objectionable leit motif throughout her work is laughable.
Maren H. @ at 2:57 pm, February 23rd, 2010
@ Amy
Hello, I’m the auther of this particular post. Thank you for sharing your opinion, I posted this essay orginally on my facebook account, and it received a lot of “likes” but also, a lot of illiterate disagreement. I love that the people on this site have the capacity to share their opinions respectfully and eloquently.
I suppose the Romeo and Juliet song is fully open to interpretation. I don’t think that the story of Romeo and Juliet is one of romance at all. My interpretation was that it was a warning against hasty decisions and giving into lust. Despite it’s status as a tragedy, it almost is a tragic satire of love itself.
Also, In Canada are highschool courses are labeled by classlevel as 10, 20 and 30. English 10 is a required course for all great 10 students here, and Romeo and Juliet is on the curriculum. As a reslut, every teenager in my province has read and interpreted
Romeo and Juliet.
About the “fifteen” lyric, these are open to interpretation as well, However; I think it’s fair to assume that purity is high on the list of Taylor’s morals. Regardless of what the lyric is actually intended to mean, “Fifteen” enforces and reenforces the negative stereotype that teenage girls are riddled with naivete.
allie @ at 3:04 pm, February 23rd, 2010
i have to say i like taylor swift, and the part about her friend giving all that she had can mean giving her virginity, but it could also mean she gave herself emotionally and he lied to her. thats whats sad, not that she gave her virginity that she put herself out there and got shit back. and let me say this as a feminist, i am soo sick and tired of seeing raunch being acceptable in our culture. you have to have your tittys and ass out otherwise your a stupid dumb prude. some people even make you feel that your not a feminist if you dont believe in strip clubs, porn and prositution. so im glad theres a girl out there saying you know what you dont have to put out if you dont want to you dont have to show you boobs to ‘GIRLS GONE WILD’. i can sort of see your point but you havent heard one of her songs white horse, which she says this isnt a fairy tale and your basicly a jerk. i dont know, to each his own maybe, but i think shes a hell of alot better than some others who do nothing at all.
sarah @ at 4:08 pm, February 23rd, 2010
Taylor Swift not showing her breasts on stage does not make her a better choice. Portraying herself as the virgin princess does just as much harm as a musician portraying herself as a slut. At least the women who do that are realistically portraying their lives, instead of making themselves look like the trod-upon victims of high school drama.
One of the main points of the article was that Taylor is only continuing the idea that you have to either be a perfectly innocent prude princess, or a orange dress slut who doesn’t understand humor. It would be great if she showed someone in between, such as a nerd who’s also self confident and doesn’t need a popularity-king studmuffin to feel worthwhile. But that’s not how girl nerds get portrayed, instead we’re the girls looking out the window and wishing we had what the girl in the orange dress does, all while knowing in our nerdy heart of hearts that we would be so much better than her if only everyone loved us too!
She’s one more barbie pretending to be a loser to identify with people, all while making the people she’s imitating look like unhappy, jealous losers.
Also, her lyrics are as deep as a japanese teacup and her musical ability makes me sad inside. She’s yet another pop-country princess and in classical pop style, has no music requiring any thought at all.
She might be a blond princess in a pretty white dress who has no intention of showing her boobs, but country fans especially should recognize that for all her faking to be the loser, she is certainly no Dolly.
Jessie @ at 4:51 pm, February 23rd, 2010
Most of the points in this article are very valid to the way the music industry treats female artists, but I have to disagree about the subject of your article. True, Taylor Swift definitely is a contributor to anti-feminism, but I don’t believe she is the root of all problems in the music industry. Hundred of other female artists have become their label’s puppets before her. If anything, I think Taylor Swift is the most feminist female pop star out there (think of the other role models we have: Lady Gaga? Ke$ha?).
sarahj @ at 5:25 pm, February 23rd, 2010
ahhh. In my opinion, the only reason Taylor Swift is immensely popular is because people think our apocalypse bound country needs a nice, conservative role model. The last thing I want my role model to be is a complacent, one dimensional, oppressed young woman. It also doesn’t help that she’s made a habit of villifying sexually active young women. Swift is 20, but STILL retains a completely “pure” and virginal image, something I think young women should grow out of (if have that image at all).
Valerie B. @ at 6:36 pm, February 23rd, 2010
Thank you for addressing the ‘Geek’ look in You Beling With Me. It’s crazy, stereotyping girls with glasses as ugly outsiders. (Something Tay never was, and never will be) And once she takes them off, BAM! SHE BECOMES A BEAUTIFUL GODDESS AND WINS THE BOY OF HER DREAMS.
Becca @ at 6:47 pm, February 23rd, 2010
@AmyCT
“I admit that only a Taylor geek like me would know this, but she always said that “Love Story” was written because she dislkiked the ending of “Romeo + Juliet”.”
If anything, this just confirms my suspicion that she missed the point of the play. It’s intended to be a tragedy, making a point about ignorant prejudices. Had things gone differently, the two teenagers would have eventually broken up (anybody remember Romeo’s obsession with Rosaline? The boy was fickle.) and lived to tell the tale. A happy ending would have contradicted the entire point.
RebJ @ at 7:23 pm, February 23rd, 2010
I dunno, I don’t think her videos depict a virgin/whore dichotomy; more like a smart, independent, outcast girl vs. popular “conformist” girl.
ellecarter @ at 7:59 pm, February 23rd, 2010
Decent post and i agree. But this reminds me a lot of the article posted on Autostraddle a couple weeks ago, Jezebel even mentioned. Jezebels piece on the original article was even titled “Taylor Swift Is A Feminist’s Nightmare”. Not accusing you of anything or trying to put you down, I’m just saying.
Maren H @ at 9:01 pm, February 23rd, 2010
@ Ellecarter
Hi, I’m the author this post
Yes I have read the Autostraddle post, and I DID GET A FEW IDEAS FROM THAT POST. I already had strong feeling about swift, and after reading Riese’s from autostraddle, I decided to write my own, taking my own ideas and a few that were hers that I really agreed with. I originally posted this on my facebook and received a lot of negative unintelligent feedback, and thought it would be nice to get some more intelligent feedback from all the young feminists out there
SO thanks ellecarter, I’m not taking credit for being the first person to do something like this, but all the writing is mine!
Peace and Love
Taylor S. @ at 9:56 pm, February 23rd, 2010
Well, I always found I look much more attractive with my glasses on.
20/20 isn’t the best you can do, friends!
And re: allie, not all feminists believe that prostitution, strip clubs, and porn are the epitome of female liberation and expression. While I fully support the sex trade, one must remember that part of the reasons these industries are such a large part of American (and other countries’)cultures is because of the male gaze! Men desire beautiful, sexual women to perform whatever tasks they desire for their own sexual/control culminations.
Also, Girls Gone Wild is not feminist or liberating in any sense of the word.
If you want to be on it, more power to you. Feminism is a large part choice to do what you want with yourself. Just remember that the patriarchy is what is making this acceptable and desirable in the first place.
Just my $0.02
Maren H @ at 10:25 pm, February 23rd, 2010
Also, Lauren Clark, I’m really sorry if you see this post as plagiarism, please everyone read the auto straddle article and notice the similarities. I’m just trying to share these views with more people, please also read my previous comment.
a3strand @ at 10:24 am, February 24th, 2010
One of the rather appealing aspects of Swift’s music is the innocence which most of us can relate to on some level.
I also find that your insistance that feminists must be sexually provocative to count a curiuos point.
This is a young girl who is mildly talented but worked hard to market herself and it has paid off big.
Is this not a feminist’s dream on some level? Are conservatisim and feminism mutually exclusive?
Is this way people like a mother like Sarah Palin ran for city council, then mayor, then governor still considered not worthy? Many men have had less experience or an easier path to the top and they are never given such scrutiny.
Can we just not be tolerant? We celebrete diversity-but only when we get to define it. Different strokes for different strokes.
Can we just celebrate these women for their acomplishments. What does a girl have to do to get a little respect?
Morgan @ at 12:24 pm, February 24th, 2010
Don’t know if anyone has posted this yes but Jezebel.com wrote an article similar to this a while ago
http://jezebel.com/5466685/taylor-swift-is-a-feminists-nightmare
and they quote from Riese’s article
http://www.autostraddle.com/why-taylor-swift-offends-little-monsters-feminists-and-weirdos-31525/
written fabulously.
Haviland @ at 2:27 pm, February 24th, 2010
You should definitely read this:
http://www.autostraddle.com/why-taylor-swift-offends-little-monsters-feminists-and-weirdos-31525/
Amy CT @ at 4:31 pm, February 24th, 2010
@Marie
Thank you for replying to my comment – I guess I’m kind of too naive for my own good on the latter point… although I was brought up in a very politically liberal household, my father is a High School Principal, and so I guess that kind of narrows my, ahem, understanding of the world somewhat. I should probably open my eyes a little wider, some of the time.
I also LOVE that in Canada English literature is compulsory in the curriculum. Completely irreleveant to the point this may well be, but it’s not, here, in, um, England… and I think that’s a shame.
Anyway…
@Becca I hadn’t thought of it that way… I see what you mean, now!
Ian @ at 6:18 pm, February 24th, 2010
The amount of sheer hypocrisy required to lay into Taylor Swift for coming from a privileged background and then laud Lady GaGa of all people is astonishing.
Guess where Lady GaGa went to school? Hint: not Africa. She attended an incredibly expensive private (gasp!) Christian school in Manhattan, Sacred Heart. GaGa is a great artist but give me a break. Acting like she’s some kind of rags to riches story is absurd.
Julie Z @ at 9:30 pm, February 24th, 2010
Hey everybody –
Maren asked me to address these comments about plagiarism. The FBomb definitely does NOT tolerate/promote plagiarism and the lack of a link on this site to Autostraddle’s awesome article about Taylor was a mistake on both the author and my part as an editor, which I sincerely apologize for. However, this article was not copy and pasted, but was inspired by the Autostraddle article. To clear things up, the article can be found here:
http://www.autostraddle.com/why-taylor-swift-offends-little-monsters-feminists-and-weirdos-31525/
Brooke @ at 11:15 pm, February 24th, 2010
If you’re going to cite the Autostraddle article, it should be in the post itself as opposed to being hidden in the comments as most of this directly correlates to what was written in there.
Alex @ at 11:31 pm, February 24th, 2010
“This article was not copy and pasted, but was inspired by the Autostraddle article.”
Paraphrasing and taking another person’s ideas as your own also counts as plagiarism, guys. Know this now before you get to college — you’d get expelled for exactly this.
http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/plagiarism
pla·gia·rism? ?[pley-juh-riz-uhm, -jee-uh-riz-]
–noun
1.
the unauthorized use or close imitation of the language and thoughts of another author and the representation of them as one’s own original work.
For reals.
riese @ at 11:47 pm, February 24th, 2010
Hi fbomb!
We’ve always been a fan of your spot here, we’ve linked to you a few times from AS and love what you’re doing.
Thus I started reading this literally having no idea that it was going to be so much like my article — I just saw the title in my google reader and was intrigued, as it reminded me of Jezebel’s title, “Taylor Swift: A Feminist’s Nightmare.”
At first glance I noticed “REALLY PAPI REALLY,” which made me smile …
but at a closer read, I was confused… then blown away. As I got further into it, I kept wondering — is she gonna link to Autostraddle? Surely the link to Autotstraddle is coming up… no… um…
I don’t want to sound like a self-righteous bitch or anything, but this is perhaps better qualified as a reaction piece and as such the link belongs in the first paragraph when you explain the impetus for the piece.
Plagiarism isn’t just copying and pasting, it’s also taking someone else’s ideas as your own. Listen to the English teacher up there!
We’re all inspired by other people’s ideas, and we introduce reactions with links. We do that at AS every day. So does Jezebel. So does everyone!
That’s actually part of what makes the internet so awesome — being part of a larger conversation with like-minded women (and those who disagree!). By failing to attribute the idea your ideas came from, you leave a lot of people out of the conversation, and you also compromise your own credibility and the potential conversation this piece could spark!
I’m honored that this piece was inspired by what I wrote — and the title inspired by Jezebel — and it’s just kinda unfortunate to have that honor so mixed up with disappointment.
Again, I respect what you’re doing, and honestly I’m saying this because I want you to be able to keep on doing it, and bringing more young women into the conversation.
Also good luck dealing with the flame wars, Maren!!! You’ve got your work cut out for you.
Be the bomb you throw!
Riese
Jessica Hopper @ at 9:26 am, February 25th, 2010
This is a really thin retread of the Autostraddle article, which missed the point in the first place.
I think *a lot* of people are missing some of the larger feminist points about Taylor Swift. Pop music, in all it’s forms, has only just emerged–in the large 20 years (which is very new, relative to it’s recorded form) from the era where all pop songstresses were controlled by male svengalis–daddies, managers, men making money off the images of girls they wanted to present. The fact that Taylor has broken through and is control of her image, writes her own songs that resonate GREATLY with young girls, that in concert she digresses A LOT and tells girls to not base their lives around boys and do things for themselves–she is presenting an encouraging and empowered path to young girls. The thought that they could be her–whether they see a girl who is only a few years older who is glamourous or whether they see a girl like them making a living playing guitar and singing songs about *her* life and *her* feelings (rather than what an adult male songwriters view)–is the primary reason young girls in this country are starting guitar lessons, are starting to play music. I know this because when I went on tour this summer, in every city, whether they were punk-loving Girls Rock Camp veterans or 9-year-old Jonas Bros fans, every single girl I signed a book for or had a conversation with mentioned how much they loved her and felt bouyed by her success. To me, that is feminism, whether anyone sees it as that or not. I actually think it’s really un-feminist to dismiss her (see the Feb 5th episode of Sound Opinions) because she is pretty. 24 million paid downloads–the most in history, and breaking Billboard history by having 8 simultaneously charting pop singles–perhaps that is because her songs resonate with girls. Young girls, whose fandom is often discounted as being not genuine, girls whose fandom historically has been attributed to “good looks” rather than taste, or informed by a love of music.
I also think that this whole chastity trope people are on is b.s.– she wrote these songs at 15 and 17/18– is she supposed to be pro-sex? So much pop music is hyper sexualized, explicit, etc. Given that her fanbase starts at about 5-6 years old and is largely female, I don;t think she needs to be taking some sort of stance to show she is feminist by being sex positive–she’s got a few years until she we should be expecting her to regurgitate Ellen Willis essay in song. Speculating on “oh her life is so easy, where does she get off singing about any sort of struggle”–high school sucks if I remember correctly, being on tour–even a fancy one–is incredibly draning–as draining as a punx-in-a-van tour and further judging her insides by what is presented in her looks or her dressing IS not feminist, it’s how we are taught to judge and reduce her by the patriarchy.
I feel like it serves feminism so much better to embrace Taylor Swift–and let young girls know that a young woman singing about what she wants, singing about her life, her dreams, playing guitar–that is feminist. Why not attract a crop of girls and young women to feminism by embracing someone who is offering them something they identify with???
Also, I don’t think Taylor Swift “reduced” Stevie to anything. You can’t reduce Stevie, she’s incandescent… also they were dueting on a Fleetwood Mac song that is originally a duet, and then she sang back ups on Taylor’s song.
Fiona L. @ at 9:09 pm, February 25th, 2010
I was really interested to read your piece, because I, myself recently blogged about the changes occurring in women in the music industry, and came under fire for endorsing overly sexual icons like Lady Gaga and Ke$ha. http://www.girlsleadershipinstitute.org/blog/2010/02/19/pop-culture-icons-dirty-their-act-keha-and-gaga-man
Let me know what you think.
As I said when I defended that blog, I believe in balance, and role models that show girls that they are not limited to being any sort of specific person, if that is not who they feel like. It saddens me that most of the blogs I’ve read regarding Lady Gaga and Taylor Swift seem to imply that only one kind of role can should exist. Gaga is too dirty, or Taylor is too clean.
Frankly, I believe feminism is about being the real you. If that means performing in leotards and singing about “disco-sticks” than so be it. However, if that means writing songs about a girl’s choice to resist the pressures to lose her virginity, than that should be equally acceptable.
I hope that my daughter—if I have one—will grow up in a world, where she can listen to both Taylor Swifts and Lady Gagas, and form a perception that girls can be either or both. In my mind, one cannot exist as a role model without the other.
Lastly, I do not believe is not anyone’s place to decide whether TS is too normal or not enough of a geek. Some of you have mocked her glasses-wearing video, saying, a geek is something Taylor will never be. However, I think it hypocritical to say that Taylor is stereotyping geeks by implying they all wear glasses, when many of you are stereotyping pretty girls by saying they cannot be geeks/smart/feel like outsiders. Furthermore, on the topic of background, Lady Gaga is hardly underprivileged: she attended Manhattan’s Convent of the Sacred Heart, which is a very expensive upper-east side private school.
Personally, I am not wild about either woman’s music, but I try to distance myself from their actual musical talent, when looking at the affect they have on girls. Both bring much needed diversity to an industry often filled with women as scantily-clad back-up dancers being used disrespectfully.
Thank you for a very interesting article.
Amy @ at 9:17 pm, February 26th, 2010
yeah sorry gotta call the hyprocicy on this one. ok so there are many things you dont like about swift but if you’re calling her out on her lyrics then you have to call gaga out on her “bad romance” lyrics considering that, in my view, saying you want to be in/continue a bad relationship which involves violence (i want your loving, i want your revenge), i think is a bit worse then doing the whole virginity schtick, considering the horrifying findings that teen girls expect their boyfriends to be violent towards them.
Manuel Langman @ at 12:45 am, March 2nd, 2010
Hello just came across your blog and have been browsing around some of your posts and just wondering why you chose a Wordpress blog dont you find it hard to do anything with? Been thinking about starting one.
Dia @ at 3:05 pm, March 2nd, 2010
Finally someone who isn’t google-eyed over this girl. Her name makes me cringe, let alone her music. I liked ‘Should’ve said no’ but I don’t even like that anymore. Like you said she’s just singing about what looked at as sociably acceptable. She’s not that good looking and for the most part comes off as a brat. And even though I didn’t like Beyonce’s song either I would’ve done the same thing Kanye did, but alot ruder. And she’s all studio, she brings nothing to a live performance.
Paige @ at 3:14 am, March 3rd, 2010
I’ve always thought she was a horrible writer with an average voice. The biggest reason I hate her comes from a feminist standpoint. She’s encouraging young girls to get their self worth from boys; plain and simple. Ugh.
Olivia @ at 6:09 pm, March 5th, 2010
I agree entirely. I wrote a post for feministing about “Fifteen” a while ago and was shot down by nearly all the commentors.
Elle @ at 11:30 pm, March 5th, 2010
you seem to be quite harsh on “Taylor Swift”, but why not the others in the popular culture these days? yes, Taylor does seem to pose as a naive, innocent little girl writing love stories most girls can relate to, but whats wrong with a little false hope? rather this, then having sexualised media shoved in modern teens faces? Lady gaga and Miley Cyrus are horrible images of girls these days, and what “Taylor Swift” is the problem here? im just not sure about that…
Susan @ at 1:11 am, April 9th, 2010
“The biggest reason I hate her comes from a feminist standpoint. She’s encouraging young girls to get their self worth from boys; plain and simple. Ugh.”
What’s your point? Lady Gaga, Britney, and Jessica Simpson are doing the same thing through the raunch culture-appealing to the male audience by showing T&A. Personally, I like Taylor Swift and Lady Gaga. However, I really don’t think there is anything feminist about either one. They are both flipsides of the same coin when it comes to patriarchal standards of what a woman should be. The virgin/whore dichotomy.
Jason Scarr @ at 7:01 am, April 19th, 2010
Taylor Swift is such a sweetheart. It’s terrible that she was disregarded at the awards show.
Darren @ at 11:13 am, May 6th, 2010
Thanks for someone saying this! But one thing that no one has touches on is christianity. I’ll probably get a lot of hate for this, but it’s an inherently sexist religion. Girls are meant to be pure blah blah blah and it doesn’t give a sh*t what boys do. Religion has no place in our modern society – I couldn’t care less if my girlfriend is a virgin or not, so long as she’s faithful to me. And saying a girls virginity is all she has to give is utter crap. Seriously, sex is the most natural thing in the world and we are made to want it , because we a) enjoy it and b) need to continue the speicies (though we can luckily now avoid this if we don’t want it)
Doug @ at 3:32 pm, May 22nd, 2010
Ahh, you say it so well! Then again, she is really just the poster child for much of “mainstream” entertainment: pre-packaged, inspected and stamped for mass consumption by clueless white guys in overpriced suits, with salaries that not only guarantee they can live their lives shielded from the vicissitudes of ordinary life that the rest of us experience up close and personal, but which also allow them to justify to themselves their inflated images of themselves and their supposed talents. (Read that last sentence three times fast).
Flanman @ at 5:19 pm, June 4th, 2010
Hellooooooo…
Taylor Swift?
Are you kidding me?!??!!
The only talent she has is singing! Her songs suck! It’s as if she could not think of something with a beat so she read from her friggin diary!!! She is Cristian and no one needs to hear her religious, tree-hugger, perfect-world songs about slimy romantic grade-school boyfriends!
Just listen to her stupid lyrics and you’ll understand. Guys are definetely not that cised about the first day of school anyway.
She totally reminds me of these 2 dick-head lovers in my high school that sit on each other and kiss every morning yet they hardly no anyone else! They have no social life because they THINK that they’re mature enough to have a romance even though they’re both out of shape and the girl is friggin ugly and overweight! Why would he want her if the only breasts she has are 100% saturated fat!!!
A few days ago I went up to them with my friends and we called them fat and ugly bastErds that need to get a life. Hopefully that will catch them up to reality and end their friggin relationship and hopefully their lives!!! This is an example of all the shiz that TS tries to inspire little !@#$in girls with for a living.
Thank you for reading this-
Oh, and I’m an atheist in case you were wondering why I’m going so hard.
steph @ at 3:53 pm, June 25th, 2010
I think everyone is forgetting something…and thats the fact that she started out as a COUNTRY artist. That country vote is one of the most powerful demographics in America. Throw in the teenage girl demographic and you’ve got a freaking powerhouse. She is just a nice girl with simple, everyday problems. She did a Miley Cyrus on a global scale and isn’t concerned about shedding any “little girl image”…her image won her grammies. I would take my grammy and my perfect life and laugh all the way to the bank.
Cora @ at 2:01 am, July 23rd, 2010
How is Taylor a feminist’s nightmare? Because she doesn’t go around flashing her vagina for the world to see, or she doesn’t have a jail sentence, or she’s not convicted of a DUI?
Firstly, who ever said Taylor Swift was wilting flower? Whoever said she was not a strong, independent role model? Whatever your opinions may be about her music or her talent, you cannot deny the fact that she IS successful. You can criticize her, just like any other female artist: Whitney Houston, Britney Spears, Miley Cyrus, Lady Gaga…the scope of their singing abilities, dancing, songwriting skills are all debatable but you CAN say they are successful. Taylor has made millions, she has tons of fans, and has won several awards. And she has managed to do all of that without taking all her clothes off like Kim Kardashian or going to jail like Lindsay Lohan. When the whole Kanye West incident happened, people asked her about it left and right. She spoke about it after it happened at the VMA’s, then on The View, then on talk shows and radio interviews, she politely asked to change the topic. Any other girl might have played up the “poor me, the bad man look what he did to me” card, but she didn’t! Her success and the way she handles herself proves she’s not a wilting flower. In her song, “Fifteen”, that you criticized, you might recall that she sings “In your life you’ll do things greater than dating the boy on the football team…I didn’t know it at fifteen”.
Taylor Swift sings about boys and love and feelings…just…like…any…other singer. Lady Gaga sings about love. Beyonce sings about love. Every woman sings about love, that does not mean she is sitting around waiting for her Prince Charming. So what if Taylor Swift is a virgin? So what if Lady Gaga has had sex? By placing women into these Madonna and Whore complexes, you’re being anti-feminist yourself: you’re categorizing women based on their sexuality. Lady Gaga loves to talk about sex, and Taylor Swift doesn’t… it’s not that she thinks she deserves all the boys because she’s a virgin. That is just her personality!
Good for her that she doesn’t feel the need to act like a psychotic bitch to get ahead in life… sluts dont end up happy, remember that!