“A person who believes in the political, social and economic equality of the sexes” is how author and women’s and gender studies philosopher Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie describes a feminist. Having one of the most structured yet open-ended definitions, feminism has become a dirty word in today’s society. You have a target on your back when you proclaim yourself a feminist. This target is either put on you by individuals who think feminism is all about white women complaining about their problems or other feminists who see problems with your own ideologies.
When we look at individuals who stand out as proclaimed feminists, the normal names are icons like bell hooks, Gloria Steinem and Roxane Gay. Add to that list numerous celebrities who have proclaimed themselves as feminists, and you’ll find megastar Taylor Swift. Influenced by her "squad" member and friend Lena Dunham, Taylor has come out as a feminist. However, there are problems with Taylor’s feminism.
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It’s one thing to declare yourself a feminist; it is another to act on your beliefs.
If we look at Taylor’s career, she makes her fame and fortune off of writing songs all about boys. Is this problematic? It is, but it also isn’t. Taylor has every right to sing about what she wants and how she wants. Continuously singing about her relationships not only gives a sense of relatability to her audience, but opens her up to be seen as a woman who struggles with relationships as any young woman does — but only cis-gender straight women.
I have found myself at points declaring my annoyance with Taylor’s droning on about her failed relationships. I got the sense of "pity the poor, privileged white girl." However, in an interview, Taylor noted how men in the music industry do the exact same thing, and rarely receive the same flack for it.
Speaking to her success, Taylor does have talent. There are haters out there, I understand. But she has accomplished more in her 26 years than any person could even hope to. She has done so by creating her own songs while collaborating and being a smart businesswoman, navigating the industry.
However, that has not brought the tribulations she has faced in the public eye. In a noted Twitter argument when Nicki Minaj noted how cookie-cutter the VMA nominees for Best Video of the Year were, saying, “If your video celebrates women with slim bodies, you will be nominated for video of the year.” Feeling targeted, Taylor lashed back. When Nicki called her out, Taylor apologized, citing her confusion and misunderstanding with Nick’s acceptance.
For a young woman claiming to be a feminist and being so progressive, it’s difficult to look at Swift’s music video "Bad Blood" and not have the conflicting thought. The video is progressive in demonstrating how tough young women can be, but at the same time, all of the women featured in it are modelesque and predominantly white.
Furthermore, there are conflicts with Taylor Swift’s feminism. It is not to say she is a bad feminist — I genuinely believe Taylor is simply naïve to the idea of feminism. When you are in a place of privilege, as Swift is, it is difficult to understand and be an advocate / ally for young women who may not fit your set mold without feeling uncomfortable or worried about misspeaking and offending others. Similarly, while Swift has every right to sing on her relationships and the men in her life, there comes a point to wonder whether this is a young woman who defines her music and her songs based on her relationships with men. However, pointing to how male artists capitalize on their relationships for the sake of art does bring into question expanding the limits of what to write about.
Taylor Swift is a feminist, and we need more young women with the advantage of celebrity to speak about it and make young women question, think and proclaim themselves on the topic. There are problems with her feminism, but when we live in a society where so much is taken into question, where people believe their ideologies are stronger than others, it’s hard not to call anyone who is a feminist a problematic feminist. As her career continues I hope Taylor will have more moments like the ones she had at the Grammys this year. Addressing young women and giving them a message to never allow anyone else to make claim their fame is certainly a universal message with a very personalized meaning that all girls could use.
