The Great Taylor Swift Feminism Debate
Femi-blogging alert: this post has to do with the merits of Taylor Swift as a role model and feminist. (You were warned.) The controversy, summed up by this chart, is simply whether Taylor's white-knight-and-dress-filled fairytale songs encourage a new generation of Disney Princess-ism, and, corollary, whether that's better or worse than Lady Gaga-ism. (For my money, yes-ish and vaguely better?) Heated and sometimes thoughtful opinions below.
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Once upon a time, there were some very brief TSwift/John Mayer hookup rumors that accompanied her backup vocals on Half Of My Heart. Now Taylor has written a really uncomfortable song—cleverly (somewhat) titled “Dear John”—about said hookup. T…
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5 Socially Acceptable Ways To Hate On Taylor Swift
blackbookmag.com
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Taylor Swift: Feminist, Princess, Avatar
washingtoncitypaper.com
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Except, um, not really. Actually, I would argue that “You Belong To Me” song and/or video is a triumph of girl-on-girl sexism. Starting with the first verse (“She’s going off about something that you said / She doesn’t get your humor like I do”) - I mean, a girl EXPRESSING ANGER? To her BOYFRIEND? Because he MADE A JOKE THAT SHE FOUND INSENSITIVE OR MAYBE JUST ANNOYING? How DARE SHE
bitchmagazine.org
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It’s hard not to fall for Taylor. The lady in the diamonds was right: she’s what America needs right now, a tall glass of cherry soda, a small-town girl singing songs about love that we can all relate to. It’s not her fault she hasn’t suffered, that there isn’t a hint of white trash about her. A decade ago, Britney urged us to “hit me baby one more time”, a sentiment that coming from Taylor’s mouth would sound totally inappropriate — and totally inappropriate, too, for our post-bling, post-gangsta-rap, post-financial-meltdown sensibilities. Taylor has got heart, and represents what’s good about the tattered American dream, the pretty girl living the fairy tale who dislodges our jaded cynicism with life.
entertainment.timesonline.co.uk
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‘Today Was A Fairytale’ (ew)
music-mix.ew.com
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Leave Taylor Alone
joyengel.tumblr.com
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Why Taylor Swift Offends Little Monsters, Feminists, and Weirdos
autostraddle.com
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Taylor Swift sings about being an outcast, sitting on the bleachers wearing sneakers. But all the while, she’s wearing high heels, boasting a pretty face and perfectly curled hair. How this is new, original or a effort of artistic excellence is beyond me. And since when did the Grammy Award-winning, classically pretty girl whose father is a stockbroker and whose dreams have all come true need defending? Seems like she’s doing just fine. (with looooots of Angry Jezebel comments)
jezebel.com
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I have listed to some Taylor Swift songs, and while I don’t adore the implicit social messages, I certainly don’t see those messages as at all original to Swift. What’s original to Swift is pop music that might not be your taste, but is well-written great stuff and the work of a 19-year-old. If she’s reflecting things about our culture that we don’t like, maybe it’s time to change the culture, or at least sit down with our favorite teenage girl and have a talk about these sorts of cultural messages.
chalicechick.blogspot.com
Facebook Conversations
3 Responses So Far
- The Great Taylor Swift Feminism Debate was rebuzzed by Taylor Feed
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in my honest opinion tits or gtfo
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Eh she's not bad. Her music makes good “wallpaper music”, like it's a good thing to play if you don't want people to notice that there's music playing
- Elizabeth B. thinks The Great Taylor Swift Feminism Debate is LOL & OMG
- Alexandra V. thinks The Great Taylor Swift Feminism Debate is OMG
- The Great Taylor Swift Feminism Debate was rebuzzed by Riese B.
- Ross G. thinks The Great Taylor Swift Feminism Debate is OMG
- Sarah P. thinks The Great Taylor Swift Feminism Debate is LOL
- Riese B. The Great Taylor Swift Feminism Debate
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As a feminist who loves headbands and ruffles and things that sparkle, I say play on, Taylor. Play on.
