The War on Taylor Swift
There are days when I think I should have lived in the 1950s. Fabulous clothes, nice manners, traditional gender roles and lots of martinis. Forget social media. Life would have been better. When I read about what feminists are trying to do to Taylor Swift, I have those moments.
Earlier this week, I posted a link to the firestorm that Amanda Hess set off by attacking Swift’s wholesomeness. Other bloggers have picked up the theme and continue attack her for wearing sparkly dresses, the frequent use of the Cinderella theme in her videos, and the lack of man-hating in her lyrics. Now, I like Taylor Swift. I don’t identify with her music since I’m long past high school, but it’s fun and catchy. It’s great for road trips when I amuse myself by singing to my iPod.
I don’t understand the debate. Unlike Britney or Jessica Simpson who made a big deal over their values and virginity, Swift hasn’t said anything. She hasn’t made any proclamations about her faith or values. She hasn’t leveraged her purity to sell more records, and her dad hasn’t made creepy comments about her. She isn’t beating any sensitive, politically correct liberals over the head with Bible verses or being “intolerant.” In fact, all she’s done is put out catchy music and wear lots of formals in her public appearances. The closest thing to being “offensive” was dating a Jonas Brother, who have made a big deal out of their faith.
I don’t know the motivations behind Swift’s image. Her parents are extremely wealthy and moved to Nashville in order to pursue her music career. Most up-and-coming singers don’t have their own recording studios at home. Her image could be a ploy to be the good girl and then take the path well-traveled by Christina, Britney, Lindsay and Miley Cyrus once she’s solidified her fan base.
Or, perhaps Taylor Swift could just like romance and pretty dresses. What’s wrong with that?
Thus far, Swift has conducted herself with poise and dignity. She has not used sex or her body to fuel record sales. In most career paths, we would call that mature and professional. As a society, are we so desensitized to raunchiness that when a young woman conducts herself as a lady, we question her motivations?
Are feminists attacking her because Swift is nearing 20 and not “exploring her sexuality” by putting out raunchy videos? Or, is the media getting tired of her wholesome image and trying to manufacture her downfall since Swift seems to be mature and happy? Is there not enough drama for tabloid fodder? Jezebel puzzles over this:
She’s completely non-threatening to some because she doesn’t rely on overt sexuality to sell records, and yet she’s incredibly threatening to others because her image seems to rely on the suppression of sexuality in order to sell records. Taylor Swift, in short, is confusing the hell out of everyone. As Amanda Hess of The Sexist writes, “I don’t know if Taylor Swift is a feminist role model, or a palpable pop princess sent from the Christian right to corral the youth of America into antiquated gender roles.”
These types of posts truly disgust me. Why are they giving Taylor Swift the Palin treatment simply because she doesn’t adhere to established stereotypes and frames? Not many women set out to disprove the Cinderella story. In fact, most women never quite give up the princess fantasy. Watch a few episodes of Say Yes to the Dress if you disagree.
Taylor Swift is not surreptitiously forcing old-fashioned values or “anti-feminist” ideals on anyone. She’s boldly writing music about her own perceptions and experiences in life. The fact that she’s so successful shows that she resounds with most people, particularly tweens and teenage girls. She has guts to attack ex-boyfriends by writing songs about them.
Why do women in the media spotlight have to ascribe to feminism and be feminist role models? Why do self-proclaimed “feminists” get to decide who deserves the label and attack those they deem unworthy? Taylor Swift is another example of a strong, independent woman who doesn’t quite fit within the narrow stereotype of the women’s movement. Unlike Sarah Palin, who was brave enough to call herself a feminist and stand for pro-life values and marriage, Swift is simply an entertainer. What has she done to deserve this backlash?
Swift isn’t a trailblazer nor is she courting the “religious right.” She’s merely being a feminine woman, something which most liberal women will never understand. She’s like Palin in the sense that the vast majority of women identify with her. Women like to be treated like princesses and look pretty. Most women remember having their heartbroken as teenagers or experiencing unrequited love. She’s popular because most people go through those things. Most women don’t exploit their sexuality as “power” and get ticked off when treated like a $2 hooker. Most women, including myself, like men to be chivalrous. They aren’t going to propose or ask guys out like Amanda Hess complains.
The Chaliceblog does point out a hypocrisy that I noted a few weeks ago:
*It says something that when Buffy the Vampire Slayer slept with a boy who literally TURNED EVIL, this was regarded as more or less symbolic truth and I don’t recall any feminist critiques of the matter.
Women out there should be offended by these attacks on Taylor Swift. Attacks on Swift — like attacks on Sarah Palin — are attacks on women like myself. These bloggers are trying to destroy any media images of traditional values or femininity and be the sole voice for young girls and women. There’s a pattern here, Palin, Twilight and now Taylor Swift. Through these articles and blog posts, liberal women are trying to shut down any image counter to the one they support. If feminine and traditional images like Taylor Swift are allowed to succeed, that’s one more blow to their fragile movement. They simply can not allow the idea to continue that some women like the idea of Prince Charming, acting like a lady or dressing feminine. That negates all of their work, going back to Betty Friedan and The Feminine Mystique. In order to be successful and survive, Taylor Swift, Sarah Palin, Twilight and any other varation of tradition, romance, femininity or Cinderella must be systematically destroyed. Images of successful, happy women who choose traditional roles or even traditional ways of dressing prove that feminism is not the answer for women and exposes the movement for the fraud that it is.
Tags: 1950s, Britney Spears, Christina Aguilara, Cinderalla, Conservative Women, femininity, feminists, Jessica Simpson, Lindsay Lohan, martinis, Miley Cyrus, Prince Charming, romance, Say Yes to the Dress, Taylor Swift, Twilight
December 7th, 2009 at 9:10 pm
Thank you for this article! It’s well-written and very true. Taylor is a great role model and a strong woman. She has controlled her fame well, and is a genuinely good person. Thank you for recognizing that!
December 7th, 2009 at 9:11 pm
This is an excellent perspective on this (in my opinion) stupid debate about Swift’s feminism or anti-feminism or neutrality on both sides. What some militant feminists fail to see is that Swift is simply being herself, completely natural in voicing for herself and all other women that have dealt with the same feelings of love and heartbreak, acceptance and failure. These are just her natural reactions to those emotions and these songs she writes and sings are her way of dealing with those emotions, telling the stories and then putting her life and relationships in perspective. She should not be attacked for being true to herself, nor should anyone with common sense have any feeling of disbelief or anger at how millions of women (and men) see themselves in her songs, her songs tell their stories too, and help us all deal with the hurts and the successes we each one experience throughout our lives.
Thank you for a very insightful article.
December 9th, 2009 at 9:05 pm
[...] lovely blog that started the maelstrom against Taylor Swift decided to go interview women waiting in line for the Palin book signing in Fairfax, Va. and [...]
January 26th, 2010 at 3:37 pm
I have to say, the title of this article caught my eye due mostly to its absurdity. I am a red-blooded Southerner, a girl from the country, and I act like a lady and expect to be treated like one. Also, I most certainly identify with liberal ideals, vote Democrat, and subscribe to the ideas about the modern woman therein. I am a HUGE fan of Taylor Swift, as a college student who wishes that I’d had Taylor’s poignant and realistic depictions of love, boys, friendship, etc as a teenager. Taylor Swift does not belong to a political ideology. Sophistication, manners, talent, and a soft heart are not confined to one political party or the other. In fact, I’d say Taylor’s meteoric success, which she has orchestrated on her own, is a fabulous example of what a woman can do when she combines her “class act” with the motivation to rise above traditional womanhood to empower girls to achieve more than a cute boyfriend. You’d do well to learn that every individual is many-faceted. I’m liberal and believe in the power of feminism, not man-hating. I love makeup and dresses, I love the idea of Prince Charming. Don’t tell me who I am just because of my political beliefs.
Besides, evidence points to the fact that Swift is a liberal.
January 26th, 2010 at 7:10 pm
RS–I’m confused. Do you disagree with my post or the posts that the feminist bloggers wrote? I think Swift is immensely talented and has reacted to fame and success with poise and grace. Go back and read the posts that the feminist blogs wrote about her. You may have some issues with your fellow feminists. Honestly, I could care less what political leanings she has. She’s 20 and a musician. Her views on politics are irrelevant. However, what feminist and political bloggers say about her and her role in society is extremely relevant.