Taylor Swift: An example of white feminism

 Alice Petch

Taylor Swift has always known how to tell a relatable story. She has always known how to manufacture an image. How to make a point. Everything she does is choreographed and meticulously planned and her marketing team deserves a medal. And the feminism she has started to exemplify, particularly in recent years and months, is no different – it is well-done and, I would argue, well-intended.

There is, however, a problem with the feminist narrative she has put forward. It fails to acknowledge that there is a large realm of female experience she does not and cannot understand.

I should put a disclaimer here that I am a self-professed Swifty. I grew up with her music as the soundtrack to my teenage angst, crushes and heart hurt. I believe she is for the most part a good person who means well and has tried to use her platform for good. But I also think she is severely lacking in self-awareness regarding those whom her feminist narrative encompasses, and those whom it excludes. And I think this is a problem.

On International Women’s Day, Taylor Swift’s shared the list of the 5 most-streamed female artists on Spotify. This instantly unsettled me. Of course, it is wonderful to celebrate the achievements of women; however, this was a list of the success of women only in comparison to the success of other women. International Women’s Day is not about judging one woman’s success from another, but about celebrating the advancement of gender equality.

This is an example of the biggest problem I have with the feminist narrative told by Taylor. She correctly and poignantly highlights the double standards facing men and women in the music industry, but always puts herself forward as the best and most successful kind of woman.

This is not to say she is not allowed to celebrate her successes, of which there are many. In 2019, Taylor Swift was the highest paid musician. She rolled in a mammoth $185 million USD last year alone. She has every right to own that. My issue, however, is that she fails to acknowledge - notably as most men in the industry also do - how her privilege has contributed to her getting there. Yes, she has worked hard and earned her success. Yes, she is an incredibly talented songwriter, performer and businesswomen. But perhaps there is a reason it is her and not a woman of colour with a less privileged upbringing on the top of that list.

If Taylor took a moment every now and then to recognise the hurdles that other women who are not white, straight, conventionally beautiful, wealthy and able-bodied have to face, it would go a long way.

In her new song “The Man”, Swift highlights the gendered double standards in the music industry:

“They’d say I hustled, put in the work

They wouldn’t shake their heads and question how much of this I deserve

What I was wearing, if I was rude

could all be separated from my good ideas and power moves”

I love this callout. But my problem is the title line of this song: “if I was a man, I’d be the man.” Swift is implying that if she were a man she would be the BEST man. Because, after all, a straight white able-bodied male is arguably the only class with more privilege than a straight white able-bodied female.

I think there is also a fine line for us to tread as critics. No person or celebrity can tackle every issue at once, and if what Taylor is trying to focus on is the double-standards in the music industry and female artists being subject to more exploitation and objectification than male artists, we should let her do that. The problem is not that she’s failing to directly advocate for women of colour, or to talk about racial issues in the industry – the problem is that she seems to market her brand of feminism as all-encompassing, when it is actually quite exclusionary.

The new music video ends with a satirical sequence as Taylor, portrayed as the director of the video, critiques the man’s (also Taylor’s) performance. She states: “Pretty good, ah, could you try to be sexier? Maybe more likeable next time?” followed by her calling out to a female with a minor role in the music video “by the way excellent work over there Lauren, that was astonishing.” The music video credits also say directed by Taylor Swift, written by Taylor Swift, owned by Taylor Swift, starring Taylor Swift.

She comically reflects on the criticism’s women are too often faced with – they have to be sexy, likeable, sweet and attractive at all times. This needs to be talked about, and Taylor is doing a great job of bringing this into public conversation. Taylor got where she is today because she’s an absolute boss, incredibly hardworking, and has a lot of talent. But, just as a lot of men in her position have walked an easier road than she, Taylor has walked an easier road than many others, and we are still waiting for an acknowledgement of this.