She Pop: Taylor Swift Wants To Ban Access To Your Lady Bits

Um are you 14?
I just have never given Taylor Swift that much thought.
Apparantly you have.
I guess you're going for the younger crowd with this article.
Okay then.

umm.. taylor swift is amazing. i am a teenage girl and i look up to her and i think you're just a stupid idiot because she has real talent- she writes about her real life and is a great singer. and you belong with me is just a song about liking a guy and feeling like he is unattainable - maybe you dont have to look at it in an obnoxious way saying all this crap about her. Also, i think in the song fifteen, its just about growing up and making a friend, and sticking by her, it also shows that guys are not something that you need to completely rely on, because they can break your heart. I think it's ridiculous that yo uare targeting a 19 year old girl that is just doing what she loves. I wonder how pathetic and insecure YOU are to write something this retarded. How about you stop targeting someone that actually had talent and a life - unlike some writters.

Did it ever occur to you that there ia a reason the cartoonishly innocent and pure Tayor Swift is so popular? Personally I think she is kind of silly, but I can understand why so many people like her. Especially teen girls. She tells girls that its okay to wear "T-shirts and sneakers" instead of "High heals and short skirts". She is an alternative to the super pornified world we live in. As a blogger for Bitch which is a feminist critique on pop culture surely you must know what kind of culture young peole are living in today.

FINALLY someone who agrees with me! Can you please write Ch. 2 with the focus on this new "masterpiece" she has put out..http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FPOiqtf2FTE

I could only imagine the amazing insight you would have on this! Keep up the good work, I'm a fan!"

Okay I can in part see what you are saying but i think your taking that "15" song out of context first of all. And even besides that at least taylor doesnt cater to some stupid male fantasy where you can only have sex for mens fantasies. What about the Katy Perry's and the Megan Fox's who are only sexual for the pleasure of men. "I love sex, I like it 24/7, but only with a MAN that i love, one noght stands make me sick, they're gross, unless its with a girl while my man watches!". Perpetuating sexist girl on girl male fantasies and marketing them as objects to sell, the girl on girl thing is a way of life for some people and they are objectifying it. Not to mention that girls like Megan get huge amounts of Plastic Surgery have a career based on their looks and then call themselves feminists. I think that false empowerment is slightly more dangerous at least Taylor Swift just says that what she does is only empowering to her. Megan and Katy try and say that they are "rebeling" and being "individual" with their behavior when all they are doing is further perpetuating ridiculous and degrading male fantasies. While I think that you are on to something her I think that you are slightly missing the bigger problems in our society, but keep questioning though, obviously there are some people who also feel your pain, but personally I have been alot more bothered by they other more disguised forms of slut shaming, particularly the "i love sex but not one night stands" kind of thing in our society lately, but thats just because it is a criticism of something that I believe in in my own life. But again, dont stop talking about it because portrayal of sexuality in our society today is so UNBELIEVABLY fucked up!!!! Thanks for the hard and good writing!

Okay I can in part see what you are saying but i think your taking that "15" song out of context first of all. And even besides that at least taylor doesnt cater to some stupid male fantasy where you can only have sex for mens fantasies. What about the Katy Perry's and the Megan Fox's who are only sexual for the pleasure of men. "I love sex, I like it 24/7, but only with a MAN that i love, one noght stands make me sick, they're gross, unless its with a girl while my man watches!". Perpetuating sexist girl on girl male fantasies and marketing them as objects to sell, the girl on girl thing is a way of life for some people and they are objectifying it. Not to mention that girls like Megan get huge amounts of Plastic Surgery have a career based on their looks and then call themselves feminists. I think that false empowerment is slightly more dangerous at least Taylor Swift just says that what she does is only empowering to her. Megan and Katy try and say that they are "rebeling" and being "individual" with their behavior when all they are doing is further perpetuating ridiculous and degrading male fantasies. While I think that you are on to something her I think that you are slightly missing the bigger problems in our society, but keep questioning though, obviously there are some people who also feel your pain, but personally I have been alot more bothered by they other more disguised forms of slut shaming, particularly the "i love sex but not one night stands" kind of thing in our society lately, but thats just because it is a criticism of something that I believe in in my own life. But again, dont stop talking about it because portrayal of sexuality in our society today is so UNBELIEVABLY fucked up!!!! Thanks for the hard and good writing!

Hi, first that was a great rant and good analysis of the song.

Secondly, my opinion on the matter.
Taylor Swift is a prime example of the polar opposite female artist. On the one hand we have idols like Britney Spears and Beyonce, woman with a blatant sexual agenda and on the other, girls like Taylor Swift, the embodiment of innocence. I know that people are always concerned with which is the better role model, but I believe that both present a damaging image of woman because there simply isn't a middle ground. How confusing it must be for young girls to be shown two extreme female role models and be expected to be both.

The Swift role model enhances traditional female values - sweet, delicate, pure & not interested in sex. That's what guys like, not girls. Girls must only endure the horrific realm of sex for the needs of procreation only. Okay, a tad extreme assumption, but the song does deny girls and guys are on the same page.

I really think that you only saw what you wanted to see in this video. Sure there are some instances where one could perhaps interpret Taylor Swifts appearance or whatever as sort of smug, but honestly I think this video is more about going through high school and how everything does feel so immediate and true when it might not be. Regardless of politics, I think everyone goes through that first love phase where you are experiencing a lot of feelings that are so wonderful and it doesn't always work out because, yes, you are still a child. In my opinion this post just tears down the real message of the video, which I seriously doubt to be so blatantly anti-feminist, anti-sexual freedom and choice and anti-progressive thought and attitude, all for the sake of an over-the-top argument.

So how sad is it that the main thing I feel the need to point out in this blog post is that Taylor Swift plays both the "goodie" and the "baddie" characters in the video for "You Belong With Me"? I'm not really sure it affects the argument you're making in this post, but I felt that it should be said (and it may already have been said, but I couldn't make my way through the longer rants already left here).

I've never bought a Taylor Swift album, but I do like that she writes her own songs. They may not be the most amazingly lyrical things ever, but I do respect her for that.

Even though I disagree with some of your thoughts about this young female artist, I did enjoy the humor used in this post. Very. much.

PS I can't bring myself to watch the "Abigail" video after reading your comments. Hoo boy.

It'll certainly be big news when this girl loses her virginity. The horror.

Plenty of folks have already told you that "Abigail gave everything she had" is not necessarily sexual, so I'll leave that be.

What it is truly bizarre, though, is that your post ignored that Swift's <i>very first single</i> was a song about, in part, burgeoning sexuality. That track, "Tim McGraw," referred to "a boy in a Chevy truck/That had a tendency of getting stuck/on back roads at night" -- a far more obvious sexual allusion than "giving everything" one has. (Really, what else can we assume this couple did in that truck? Played canasta?) And, just to really make sure the song's sexuality hits home, Swift sings: "When you think happiness/I hope you think that little black dress." Ain't nothing not hot about a little black dress. The tune clearly presents the then-sixteen year old singer as a sexual being.

Look, I get it. A a country (read, <i>has to be</i> conservative) singer, an artist who appeals to people whose opinions supposedly don't matter (like teenage girls) -- of course you had to do your best to stick the boot in. But it's a bit silly when the artist's own catalogue rebuts your assumptions. Please: More research, less condescension.

WTF IS GOING ON IN THIS POST AND IN THIS THREAD????

I always thought I might be thought of as some kind of feminist BUT WHAT THE EVERLIVING HELL is THIS??????

If this blog entry is representative of feminism then I might as well just go down to the adult novelty shop and strap one on. I feel like such a CHAUVINIST PIG now!

SO WHAT if Taylor Swift is "glad" that she is a virgin?

God you people are SICK.

Beyonce must be the paragon of feminism with her song "If you liked IT then you should have put a ring on IT"

Britney too since she outright flaunted her sexuality. What about Katy Perry and Lady Gaga?

Jesus fucking Christ what the fuck is wrong with you people?

WOW.

There are just no words.

"B-b-b-but wont SOMEBODY think of the CHILDREN!???"

PLEASE, just STFU.

It looks like Taylor Swift at least attempted to do something GOOD for young girls.

This is the most deranged blog entry I've ever had the displeasure to read.

The author comes across rather twisted and bitter.

Did she perchance get passed over for some other "sweeter" girl who wasn't out rolling around in the back seats of Volkswagons with the entire hockey team? NTTAWWT

I'm late to the game commenting because I got here via a recently posted link, but after reading through the discussion, I had to weigh in. One thing I find bewildering is the degree to which the criticism of "Fifteen" ignores the fact that it was written about a specific experience. The red-head in the video is Taylor's best friend, whose name is Abigail. They met in class their first day freshman year of high school. They went through their first boyfriends and first break-ups together. Abigail had a bad experience with a boy, Taylor broke up with her first boyfriend, and together, they cried. Taylor and Abigail are still best friends, and Abigail PLAYS HERSELF IN THE VIDEO.

From this perspective, I'm having trouble wrapping my mind around the idea of this song as putting a value judgment on Abigail's actions, or being anti-Abigail in any way (let's see, how did Sady phrase it? "Broken hollow sluts who can never succeed at life"?). The real Abigail certainly doesn't seem to feel judged or like Taylor is smug about anything; the real Abigail just thinks it portrayed her first broken heart AS IT HAPPENED. And if Taylor thought Abigail should be ashamed, or if Abigail was ashamed of the experience having happened, I can't imagine that Taylor would have included that line in the song, or that Abigail would have VOLUNTEERED to portray herself in the video, or to HAVE HER PICTURE included with the CD, on the page where the lyrics for "Fifteen" are written, with the caption "Taylor and Abigail" underneath it.

I get that people can read things in creative works that the authors did not intentionally put in there, but if the song portrays Taylor's feelings and Abigail's, and their experiences as they see/saw them, then what is this article really saying? Sorry, women and girls, unless your sexual experiences and feelings about them line up with what Sady Doyle thinks they should be, you should just keep your mouths closed. There is, after all, only one way to be a strong woman, and that way certainly doesn't involve being open and honest about your experiences with sex and heartbreak if they don't meet some preconceived notion of what the feminist party line should be! Women like Taylor and Abigail- and like those of us who relate to this song- clearly should just not have a voice. We should sit down and shut up, or censor our experiences, in a way that a man would never have to, just because we're women.

I don't see "Fifteen" as advocating only one way to be, or only one view about sexuality- Abigail had sex and broke up with her boyfriend; Taylor did not have sex and broke up with her boyfriend; both Taylor and Abigail cried, and neither of them were permanently scarred by the experience (as evidenced by "I've found time can heal most anything"). Taylor thought someone loved her and then discovered that maybe he didn't; Abigail's boyfriend "changed his mind." And they had to discover who they were "supposed to be" outside of the boundaries of a romantic relationship and that there were bigger goals in life than wanting to be wanted by boys. Because that's just a HORRIBLE message to be sending to young girls.

So no, I don't see this song as saying that sex is bad; I see it as saying that heartache happens, and that even if it feels like the end of the world, even if it feels like you've given everything you had, you'll heal and there are bigger things in the world and some day, this won't feel so important.

In fact, when it comes to sending the message that there is only ONE right answer when it comes to sex and sexuality for women, I think Doyle beats Swift, hands down. Swift sings about her best friend getting her heart broken. Doyle ends her article by attacking the way Taylor looks, dresses, and acts ("I personally can't stand the whole cartoonishly innocent and pure (and white-dress-wearing! Always with the virginal white dress!) blonde blue-eyed white girl thing"), and suggests in the comments that she needs to grow up and stop being so childish. As a woman, I feel devalued by the scorn shown in the post and Doyle's later comments about how Taylor herself is "infantile" (because, Doyle explains, at 19, she herself had "voted in my first Presidential election, moved away from home for the first time, lived in my own apartment for the first time, started drinking, started having sex, and entered into the first long-term relationship of my adult life.").

By middle school, Taylor was working after school as a professional songwriter. At 13, she walked away from a major recording contract on principle, because they would not agree to let her write her own songs. At 19, she is in charge of every creative aspect of her tour, she writes all of her songs, she decides what she sings and what she wears, she travels all over the world, has moved away from home, and... what does that leave again, to justify Doyle calling her infantile? Moved away from home? Check. Voted? No idea (and neither has Doyle). Oh, yes, I suppose that just leaves, of the things Doyle mentioned, drinking and HAVING SEX. So when Doyle says Taylor needs to grow up, what exactly should we infer that she means?

You have to strain to conceive "Fifteen" as demeaning Abigail, or girls like her, for having sex. But you do not have to strain AT ALL to construe Doyle's attitude in this post and the comments as demeaning Swift for not having sex. Taylor is a smart, savvy young businesswoman, but it's okay for Doyle to call her infantile, because she's a blonde-haired, blue-eyed white girl who wears white dresses and doesn't have sex? It's okay for Doyle to reduce Taylor's achievements to "Pretty Pretty Princess" moments?

What the hell kind of feminism is this? As a woman, I feel devalued. I consider myself a feminist, but apparently, Bitch magazine doesn't. Because I'm white and sometimes wear white dresses? Because if someone did something really rude and mean to me, my first reaction might be to be shocked or saddened, rather than get aggressive with them? Because I've actually had the experience of holding one of my friends while she cried after her first time? Because I'm a virgin? Because I have the gall to think that as a woman, I should be able to wear what I goddamn well want to wear, not have to worry if my gut-emotional reactions are Sady Doyle pre-approved, and do whatever the hell I want to do with my body without being dismissed as a Pretty Pretty Princess who needs to grow up?

For someone who talks all high and mighty about girl-on-girl sexism in music, Sady Doyle sure doesn't seem to mind dishing it out in blogs. I disagreed with her analysis of the lyrics of Fifteen, but could chalk that up to different people seeing different things in art, but her scorn and attacks on Taylor as a woman flat-out disgust me.

Wholesome, virginal girls like Taylor Swift aren't affected by the rain when they're wearing their white dresses.

I will thank Sady Doyle for one thing; her cattiness sufficiently enraged me enough for me to write my first real blog post. Check it out here, if you like that kind of thing: http://post-everythinggirl.blogspot.com/2009/12/existential-story-or-wha...

Hmm you might be on to something EXCEPT FOR THE FACT SHE ALREADY LOST HER VIRGINITY.
You are reading way too into this; You Belong To Me may be obnoxious but its more about wondering why a guy you like is dating a mindless girl with no personality rather than trying to steal him away. Don't tell me you've never pined for someone who's in a relationship; we've all had that "you belong with me, not her" type deal.
And 15? You are trying way to hard to twist it into something it's not. Ever thought its a song about her reflecting on being a teenager and all the mistakes shes made, and looking back on it how silly she was to think it was all a big deal? I don't know, maybe instead of taking something that's not even there and making it into a big pile of bull shit, you'd have a nice point. They're songs that many teenagers can relate to, I'm sorry that they're not full of groundbreaking lyrics that are changing society. She's 19, give her a break.
Better luck next time, though.

Hi there:

I said the same thing to myself when I first heard this song. Same with "Skaterboy" by Avril Lavigne, about a girl who wasn't willing to take a chance on a boy who seemed to have a sketchy sense of responsibility.

I *almost* prefer the outright anti-social behavior of the Speers and Lohans to such attitudes as represented in these songs by bubble-gum girls.

Swift and Lavigne are both great entertainers and I don't want to take that away from them. I just think they need to analyze the songs they sing a little more closely in the context of the message they want to convey to girls and young women.

JUST PLAIN STUPID.....GET A LIFE....

I guess I'm missing something. So, Taylor Swift is recollecting on a time in her life when she witnessed a friend struggling with giving up what she (the friend) felt was too much for her boyfriend. Swift is encouraging young girls to "look before they fall" - i.e., think before you act, in case you might end up getting hurt or regretting your choices. She doesn't say don't do it - just *think* before you do it. Yep, that's pretty awful. So now, telling kids that it might not be the best idea to sleep around at 15 years old is a holier-than-thou attitude to have? Sheesh.

Just cutting in as a 14 year old who has some sort of knowledge of the English language. I really like Taylor Swift. I've liked her since she was a moderately popular singer seemed goofy and had really nice hair. Now, mind you all, I know what music is. I've been a musician since I was five. Most of my music tastes are very different from Taylor Swift. Regina Spektor would probably be my favorite artist. However, I can relate to very little of what she sings about. The drinking, the sex, the adult.

The great appeal of Taylor Swift is that she is relatable. She sings about liking the boy who's going out with the one girl you really do not like (Sorry, is that silly? Are my teenage emotions just too ridiculous? Are they really that less intelligent/important than yours?). She sings about not fitting in and the somewhat unrealistic hope that you'll meet a great guy who you really like who isn't a jerk. She sings about getting your feelings hurt. It could be what your best friend says to you when she calls you late at night. I'm not a social outcast. I don't hate on the "popular girls". In fact, I'm friends with many of them. That doesn't mean I don't think Taylor Swift isn't relatable.

Also, like other people pointed out already, I take "Fifteen" to not mean virgin=good, sex=slut,bad. I think it means that you don't need a boy to be successful, even though, when you're a young teenager, having a boyfriend seems to be the most important thing in the world to many girls. You can, much like Miss Swift, make your own decisions for yourself and come out on top. Which is, in a way, feminism.

(Note: This is coming from the point of view of a very Taylor Swift Brand Teenager, if you will. I haven't had sex. I don't want to. I'm not ready. That's not naivety.)

Oh my goodness! Let's just breathe for a moment! This is obviously a heated debate between taylor lovers and taylor haters. Personally, I love Taylor's music AND her messages. She's 19. She's writing about what teenagers go through because she has been through it. Please, author, tell me you have never had your heart broken by a guy, never looked at the popular girl and thought, "what a bitch. She's so pretty." You honestly are going to sit here and say that you never went through what 100% of other teenage girls do? Your going to say taylor isn't a role model because from hers and millions of others point of view, there are better things to do in life than "dating the boy on the football team"? I'm sorry but you just seem bitter and unhappy if you can honestly type a blog about an innocent girl who writes songs about her emotions. MIGHT AS WELL BASH ON EVERY SINGLE SONGWRITER EVER BORN. Because you don't agree with her, you can destroy her? Well, maybe you should focus on your own issues instead of taking it out on a brilliant singer. Maybe you were unpopular in high school, but everyone goes through something in life they wish they hadn't. So maybe, just maybe, you should get off your WHITE HORSE and realize that Taylor speaks to all of us teenage girls when she tells a story in a song that we can dance to or sing in the car. Songs that can brighten our day, or help us through a tough time. So grow up a little, and get over yourself.

ugh just give it another 2 years she'll be another Gaga, Paris, Lohan.... it's just a matter of time. Remember when Britney was a virgin? That lasted a whole 8 seconds. Role models for girls (for the most part) won't be found in "pop" music. Try folk, like Tracy Chapman (who?) exactly.

this blog is killing me. first there's an interview with gaga in which she makes herself look uberdumb. now, a point-by-point anaysis of the taylor's little life lesson that women are less valuable after they've been used up by the dirty, aggressive men. you are ruining pop for me....

Smart commentary -sharply written and convincing...and I can see your points. They were dulled however when I actually watched the second video. (Didn't bother watching the first.)
In that particular video I think she is saying that there are other things in life besides this guy and even though he may say he loves you- you should look before you leap. My take on that is at 15 hopefully your intuition is very on point because you life experience with guys in general is nothing compared to what you will consider watching out for when you are older. The upside is teenage boys are as relatively naive. It didn't strike me as being about not having sex. It struck me as being about watching out for one's own best interest- which isn't to have sex without any sense of what it is that you are really after or willing to risk. It depends. I DID have sex when I was 15. That guy was one of the best guys I have ever known. We dated on into college and he is still one of my closest and most cherished friends. We also both grew up and married other people and remember that bond from being young together fondly. It is great when two innocent and well intentioned hearts can come together. That said,
I don't think a lot of stories turn out that way and I do think it is a typical and healthy for a woman to feel like what she does physically she also does emotionally and there is no split there. If that is what Taylor S. is validating or holding the space for for young women then I see no issue with that.
The part below not only cracked me up but I agree. Thank you for putting words to something that was only a vague sense of discomfort that I felt about the message in some of her music but had yet to articulate. Also - I think personally she is probably a lovely human being. There is one thing about an attempt to up awareness -but the girl bashing finger might just be pointing both ways on this one;).

Except, um, not really. Actually, I would argue that "You Belong To Me" song and/or video is a triumph of girl-on-girl sexism. Starting with the first verse ("She's going off about something that you said / She doesn't get your humor like I do") - I mean, a girl EXPRESSING ANGER? To her BOYFRIEND? Because he MADE A JOKE THAT SHE FOUND INSENSITIVE OR MAYBE JUST ANNOYING? How DARE SHE - it put my hair thoroughly on end, with Taylor pleading over and over again for a boy to just go ahead and dump a girl (who apparently has goals in life outside of obsessively working to please this one dude), in favor of Taylor (who doesn't). I mean, I know we're supposed to be rooting for Taylor, because GLASSES, but this whole thing whereby girls who do not conceive of themselves as traditionally attractive deal with this by hating on girls who they think are prettier is just really repulsive to me, and I can't stand it, especially when it's framed as "empowering" rather than just insecure and gross. You have a problem with how limiting the mainstream beauty standard is? Fine. TALK ABOUT THAT. I will agree with you. But slamming "ugly" girls and slamming "pretty" girls both amount to slamming girls. So, you know. Less of that, please

I am way behind the times, but I am compelled to say something.

First of all- A lot of people are complaining that this is an attack of a young girl. I honestly do not think Taylor Swift feeling's will get hurt from this. She is a large enough figure in mainstream pop culture that people are going to talk about her and the image she projects and they may or may not be nice. Sady's post did not attack Taylor Swift the person. She did not say that Taylor is bad, disgusting, jealous and that is why she is making these songs. Sady, and correct me if I am wrong, takes issue with the message being sent out and the persona that Taylor projects to her fans.

I read all the comments on here- I am fascinated (sp?) by human conflict. I noticed that a lot of people attacked Sady personally and also attacked other users personally. One thing to keep in mind is that the worst way to drive a point home is to attack the person who you disagree with. You are only jealous of Taylor or You must be a middle aged nobody to say these things- they are assumptions with no factual basis and have nothing to do with the argument. Honestly, they undermine it. Just something to think about.

I am not a fan of Taylor Swift myself for many of the same reasons Sady expresses. That does not need anymore dissection on this post though.

I like how a lot of people are angry at the author for criticizing "a girl who is only 19-years old", as if that somehow makes her immune to such criticism. Last time I checked, a 19 year old is an adult, not a child that needs protecting.

with so many ideals to follow in this multi-cultural, globalized world we live in, its very important to keep your head and heart in the right place before following anything. We have developed a tendency to be extra opinionated about matters at hand. and more often than not, our morals are guided because of mass hysteria and vogue. Thus its very important to be clear becoming headstrong, and not act plainly upon bandwagon effect.

Music, unlike most of the things in life, has the power to be a really effective tool of mass communication. Thus the artists have the extra responsibility to be careful with what they say through their songs. It should not just reflect our archetypes, but engage the thoughts of the listener with a new idea, or a creative endeavor. Moral and self righteousness can only serve to uplift the musicians ascetic and puritanical stance. It does not add into the society. I think the writer has very well managed to throw light on the growing rate of people distorting morality and purity with righteousness. I also think that more emphasis should be laid on what we can contribute, rather than what is right and wrong. as the spanish say, "what cures martha, sickens sancho..."