By Anjali Nayak
Although she reigns the pop charts and constantly accumulates accolades, one perception of the public eye remains: “Taylor Swift makes basic pop music for basic pop girls.”
Up until a few years ago, I would have agreed. But in all honesty, I was ashamed of my status as a Swiftie. I sheepishly limited myself to a certain number of Swift songs in a playlist, quietly hummed her earworm melodies, and refused to acknowledge her intricate artistry. Thankfully, I look back and realize the ridiculousness of this behavior, but my unreasonable reasoning shines a light on an issue many women deal with — avoidance of acting stereotypically “ultra – feminine” in order to not appear impotent and incapable. Life under a male reigning patriarchy has defined behaving too much like “a woman” as rationale to take away an individual’s credibility. Systematically, overtly feminine humans are reduced to words that demean their experiences and emotions: crazy, psychotic, ditzy, dramatic.
But my little sister’s complete and prideful love for Taylor Swift proves that it truly does not have to be that way. I remember the months leading up to the Eras Tour, her Swiftness was in full swing. She had been anticipating the Eras Tour since November, when she skipped school to join the Ticketmaster stampede on four different monitors. Mira Nayak knew the set list by heart, crossed out potential surprise songs each night, and peacefully ignored teases from our relatives concerning her enthusiastic passion for Taylor Swift. They would say something dumb, and she would just shrug it off, and ask “what about it?”
The week of the concert, I asked to join my little sister in her Swiftie shenanigans.
She told me I “had a lot to learn.”
Long afternoons were spent sitting criss – cross in a deep sea of beads, charms, and elastic, painstakingly making friendship bracelet after friendship bracelet. I ended with a total of twelve lovingly made bracelets. Mira made fifty three. I studied up. Together, we watched Miss Americana and Taylor Swift’s Reputation Tour — my sister pointed out the chants I needed to know during “Delicate” and “Bad Blood.” On the blissful day of July 28, 2023, I assisted Mira and her friends in getting ready for the big night. I helped paint their nails, put outfits together, and do hair. At Levi’s Stadium, I screamed every single word to every single song (and briefly hyperventilated when I realized “right where you left me” would be one of our surprise songs). I loved every second of it. Looking back, I view the Eras Tour not just a concert—but a celebration of all things feminine. Proudly and outwardly, women take control of something that is often used to very outwardly demean us. Singing those songs, I felt the sisterhood strengthen.
Soon, I will be off to college.
Long car drives blasting “Call It What You Want” or “Come In With The Rain” will soon be few and far between. But I hope to take my sister’s unapologetic herself-ness everywhere I go.