By Kendyl Brower
Dear Taylor Swift,
When I first heard your name, I didn’t think much. But as soon as you dominated the charts, your face plastered on every billboard, your name called in every award show, I thought, meh. As with many other naive young women, I fell victim to internalized misogyny.
In the mid-2010s, I listened to the media calling you boy-crazy, saying you went through relationships faster than any woman should. I thought, man, she only sings about her love life. Perhaps it was my prepubescent, “too cool for girly things” attitude, but I was very anti-Taylor Swift. In elementary school, I would laugh at the jokes that you couldn’t keep a man or date way too many people. I had yet to realize that such notions were actually slut-shaming, and my “too cool for girly things” attitude was really my fear of being perceived as too feminine.
Internalized misogyny is self-objectification and the acceptance of sexist practices and beliefs. Many young women idolize being “unique” or “one of the guys” to avoid the disadvantageous position of a woman. Girls inherit patriarchal instincts; they don’t want to associate with a girly artist who is constantly ridiculed about her love life.
But, I have matured past my phase of feminity hatred, I have actually grown up to love every aspect of being a woman. And Taylor, your actions to empower women despite receiving endless hatred make me love you even more. To inspire young women to speak out, you shared your sexual assault story with the world, only suing one dollar. Listening to your song, “The Man” furthers confirms how the music industry portrays women drastically different than men, who sing just as many love songs with a fraction of the backlash. Taylor, you are a wonderful role model, and I am sorry for ever hating you because of your dating history.
P.S. please release Reputation (TV).
Sincerely,
Kendyl Brower