Taylor Swift dominates the music industry in 2021, but it was not easy to get to the top when she was fighting misogyny for her whole career. In February of 2019, Swift released her hit song “The Man” confronting sexism in the music industry, and declaring that if she was a man, she’d be the man. Her lyrics compare her achievements and life as an artist to the same of a man, and how society interprets both very differently. Men are far more respected in the music industry, and women who make it to the same place as men are often portrayed as “lucky”. Some lyrics that struck me the most include these two:
“I’m so sick of running as fast as I can
Wondering if I’d get there quicker
If I was a man (Swift, lines 11-12)”
and similarly,
“They’d say I hustled
Put in the work
They wouldn’t shake their heads and question how much of this I deserve (Swift, lines 19-21)”
These ideas date back to the first wave of feminism. This reminded me of when our class read “Declarations of Sentiments and Resolutions” from the Women’s Rights Convention held at Seneca Falls in July of 1848. This document argues that women are oppressed by the government and the patriarchal society of which they are a part. One quote that emphasizes the ideas that are present in Swift’s song is, “That woman is man’s equal—was intended to be so by the Creator, and the highest good of the race demands that she should be recognized as such,” (Stanton 1). Women were first fighting for suffrage against the existing notion that they should not have careers outside of the household, but instead their only duty was to tend to the home and take care of children. This was a time of expanding the women’s role to the outside world and creating new opportunities. They were regarded as incapable and had to fight exponentially harder to just obtain a similar place in society among men. Unfortunately, I think that this is still a present idea that is attributed when women outrank men. It is almost seen as intrusive when a woman holds a lot of power, as if she is not welcomed to have such a high status. Society resorts to wondering how she got there or if she had connections, instead of recognizing her hard work and drive. Women in this position are also called bossy and bitchy, instead of being viewed a strong leader like men.
One limitation of how this song represents feminism is that Swift herself is a wealthy, white female who through hard work was able to make it to the top. I think this view is not inclusive with the intersectionality of different races, disabilities, etc. that other female artists have to face. Swift did not have these added obstacles to work past on her journey to success. Overall, this song, accompanied by its music video, is a way to expose the sexism within the music industry and how women need to work harder for the same results and recognition that men receive.
Music video link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AqAJLh9wuZ0
Citation:
Stanton, Elizabeth Cady, 1815-1902. Address of Mrs. Elizabeth Cady Stanton, Delivered at Seneca Falls & Rochester, N.Y., July 19th & August 2d, 1848. New York :R.J. Johnston, 1870.
Swift, Taylor. “The Man.” Lover, Republic Records. accessed November 9, 2021.
Molly, thank you for writing such as thorough analysis of Taylor Swift’s song “The Man”. This song was a great choice for this project. It is truly unfortunate how society has made is so that even if women become successful in the music industry, they were just “lucky”. This reminds me of the phrase that used to be used, but is not used as much anymore, “you did good for a girl” — this phrase is a back handed complement in that they are complementing Taylor for her achievements by saying that she is good “for a girl”, which is a misogynistic complement and inherently makes women’s accomplishments inferior to the accomplishments of men, even if they accomplished the same thing. I also like how you referenced the limitations of the song being that Taylor is a wealthy white woman and had the opportunity and resources to create a successful career, whereas many women do not have this privilege. Great job!
“The Man” is a great song! I love how you analyzed that “Society resorts to wondering how she got there or if she had connections, instead of recognizing her hard work and drive” when women have “similar” achievements as men. That prevails in music industry when female artists’ own work is questioned and the public prefer to give credits to their male collaborators. When female singers write a good song, people would ask:”if her male co-producer contributes more than she does?” I believe the truth is that women has to work even harder, to be more capable than men to have similar achievements as men did, because the society always provides easy path for men. That’s also what Taylor is stressing in this song.