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On Friday, BuzzFeed published an article entitled "Does Taylor Swift Hate Other Women?" concerning the feminist backlash against the singer. The piece analyzed the lyrics from some of Swift's popular songs, and concluded that she perpetuates heteronormative gender roles and slut-shaming.
So it totally makes sense that 2 days later, BuzzFeed would publish an article slut-shaming Taylor. Well-played, BuzzFeed. Anyone who doesn't live under a rock has surely heard about the myriad of guys Taylor dates. It's become a national pastime to make fun of her for all the boyfriends and all the breakups. Tina Fey told her at the Golden Globes to "stay away from Michael J. Fox's son," and Fox himself commented in an interview that he wouldn't want his son to date her anyway.
While Swift's critics think her songs reek of the patriarchy, these article and little comments do, too. Why do people care that she's dated lots of different men? Why do people care that she has short relationships and only a little time between relationships? Because they think it's wrong for a young woman to bounce between men like that. She gets called a slut and a whore for doing something that is completely normal for 23-year-old single women everywhere.
The mainstream media faults her for being too sexual and the feminist critics fault her for not being sexual enough. No matter what she does, Swift can't win. I think it's time we all realize that who Taylor Swift chooses to date and for how long is none of our business, and it's not our place to judge her for those decisions.
On a general level, I really agree with the sentiments you're describing here. There's no shortage of double-standards applied to women, and you're spot on in your assessment that we shouldn't care, it's none of our business, etc.
ReplyDeleteI think what is mildly aggravating to me is the fact that she manages her personal life and her public persona with seemingly different goals in mind. She's an active and serial dater, that's fine. Just please don't portray yourself as this sweet, demure, country girl in the big city that she normally does (at least in my opinion). And I'm a bit weary of her constant break-up fueled songs, only because I feel like a string of pretty short but high-profile relationships ending in something close to utter heartbreak can't all be coincidence. Maybe some introspection is needed on her end of things.
All of that aside, I do love me some T. Swift music :)
I'm always surprised by people who feel bad for the guys that she dates. "Oh, they broke up! Now she's going to write a song about him! Poor So-and-so!" But I think that is bologna. Anyone who dates Taylor knows at this point what they are getting into. They should assume that she will write a song about them. If they don't like it, don't date her. So I don't feel bad for the guys or for her.
ReplyDeleteAll I know is this: I like her music and I will continue to listen to it.*
I agree on a certain level with you, but it's kind of weird that she perpetuates this squeaky clean image but then she's off dating a lot of famous celebrities, and dating people like John Mayer makes me think her relationships aren't so squeaky clean. Not that I give a crap who anyone really dates, but I just wish she'd kind of own up to it. Or maybe she just dates a bunch of people so she can always have song material. I don't know. But I love the poop out of her music.
ReplyDeleteFor the most part I agree with you. If Taylor was a friend in real life I would see nothing wrong with what she's doing -- but she straight-up makes herself look like an idiot in the press. All the more power to her for raking in the dough writing about these failed short-lived relationships, but I have a hard time thinking she knows anything about love/relationships when she fails to hold onto a boyfriend for a year, and plays out the puppy dog love in public. Has she even been with someone for a straight year? I feel like she's a little bit like an 18 yr old trapped in a 23 year-old's body since the stars she hangs out with are younger than her. But, I'll still turn up her songs when they come on the radio, obv. lol.
ReplyDeleteI've heard that she doesn't actually DO much with the guys she dates, if you know what I mean. She apparently is worried that the media would call her a slut if it came out that she was sleeping with all of these guys. Sort of sad though, because no one really knows what she does behind closed doors, so we all just assume the worst. I love T-Swizzle but she should have seen all of this coming.
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