The language of resistance: A Feminist reading of Taylor Swift’s “The Man”
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.24090/celti.2025.1311Keywords:
Gender inequality, Taylor Swift, The Man, Other, Second SexAbstract
This study explores the gender inequality in Taylor Swift’s song and music video “The Man” through the lens of Simone de Beauvoir’s feminist theory, particularly her concept of woman as the “Other” articulated in The Second Sex. Utilizing a qualitative and feminist approach, this research examines how Swift’s lyrics and video on song entitled “The Man”, critiques societal double standards, sexual objectification, and the gendered limitations imposed on women in both public and private spheres. The study analyzes specific scenes from the music video and key lyrics to illustrate how patriarchal norms continue to define and constrain female agency. By embodying a male persona, Swift challenges traditional gender norms and exposes the privileges accorded to masculinity, demonstrating how societal power structures favor men in contexts of ambition, sexuality, and recognition. The analysis reveals that Swift’s artistic expression serves as both a critique and a form of resistance against patriarchal narratives that marginalize women's achievements and subjectivities. The song and video act as cultural texts that reflect and resist the ideological reproduction of gender inequality in contemporary society. This research contributes to the broader discourse on feminist cultural criticism by demonstrating how popular music can function as a medium for articulating gendered experiences and advocating for social change.
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