Photo from the website The Express Tribune
Here’s What I Wish Taylor Swift Would Really Say As a Feminist
Taylor Swift, known for connecting with fans through her anecdotal songwriting, redefined her image over the past two years with the release of her 2014 album 1989.
No longer penning lyrics that peg her as the underdog as with her song “Mean,” or that convey a sentiment of being an outsider when it comes to love like “You Belong With Me,” she has embraced an attitude that’s all about women’s empowerment.
She openly labels herself as a feminist, and has defined what feminism means to millions of fans. She even makes sure to show support to other women in a male-dominated industry, though there’s been controversy on her flip-flopping on this, especially with her public dig at artist Katy Perry.
Despite her role as feminist, however, the space she occupies as a white woman in the 1% is vastly different than what most women experience day-to-day.
As a fan, I want her to acknowledge this and explore issues of women’s inequality, not only within the realm of the entertainment industry but across the world.
Here are 3 things I wish Taylor Swift would say when it comes to championing women’s rights, while simultaneously acknowledging who she is as a feminist:
1) On Body Image and the Media: “I fit an ideal body type that not a lot of women have. This caters to an unfair standardized image of beauty that not only affects me but people I’m close with. Selena Gomez, for example, was called out for not being thin enough. She did a great job tackling the Internet troll who confronted her. Then there’s Lena Dunham who felt insecure about being on stage with me and models during my 1989 show when I had guest appearances. The group reassured her that she doesn’t have to look like us to feel special or beautiful. This isn’t to say I’m ashamed about my body type; I just want to make sure other women feel comfortable embracing who they are.”
2) On Harassment: “I’ve been harassed by male fans. From the lawsuit I’m dealing with involving a guy who groped me to the time when a gentleman reached for my leg while I was singing ‘Bad Blood’ on stage. This is important for me to address because I know women everywhere are dealing with harassment simply from walking down the street, or in other countries girls and women live in fear of assault daily. It’s never OK for this to happen or for a woman to feel powerless in her own body, and I want to change that.”
3) On Access to Education for Girls Around the World: “I grew up in an environment where my family encouraged me to pursue an education, as well as my dreams. They didn’t treat me differently from my brother. I know girls and women in some countries don’t get that opportunity and are frequently put in dangerous situations when they try to go after their dreams. Look at Malala for example. That’s why I’m a feminist–to make sure all girls have the support and resources they need to pursue what they’re passionate about.”
As a fan of Taylor Swift, I hope one day the pop star will be more open to discuss her experiences and how they relate to those of other women. Whether that means talking about how women around the world all share different, yet relatable, challenges or creating a dialogue on existing women’s issues. Either way, I’m curious to see how Swift grows both as an empowered woman and a self-proclaimed feminist.