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Taylor Swift takes on toxic masculinity as 'The Man'

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By VALERIE MACON

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Taylor Swift takes on toxic masculinity 

Is there any sexist or racist phrase so widely accepted as "toxic masculinity?" So much that a wealthy young women with an extraordinarily privileged life can make a video like this?

Is this some new replacement for Christianity's original sin? Only instead of all people being born with it, it's only boys? It's perverse.

A guy spreading his legs on the subway, or flicking ashes on someone, is rude and uncultured. Why the need to denigrate an entire gender?

8 ( +13 / -5 )

I haven't listened to the song either. Not the song so much as the phrase "toxic masculinity" that triggers me. I don't think it should be an acceptable expression, much less a headline phrase. I am thinking about boys who will grow up hearing this phrase. Can't lead to anything good.

4 ( +7 / -3 )

I agree - I hate that term. We could talk about toxic femininity as well, but we don't, because it's stupid. There are just toxic people.

But I can't tell if/that Swift used this term. The only usages seem to be in the title.

4 ( +4 / -0 )

Continued......

elites comes across as overboard virtue signalling.

Not to mention that sermons on so called 'male privilege' by multi-multi millionaires like Ms. Swift look hypocritical. Is she gonna share her wealth with all the underprivileged females out there? Or will she continue to make more money off them?

3 ( +4 / -1 )

Lectures by entertainment industry elites like Swift and co are getting tiresome and almost worse than the churches of the 60's. Their own industry is infected with toxic men (Weinstein, Cosby, etc etc) and many of their women are not roles models either. Many of them are materialistic, support brutal abortion at 40 weeks, promote the sexualisation and objectification of women, etc. (Note J Lo and Shakira at the SuperBowl where millions of families were watching) Much of what comes out of the entertainment industry (violent movies, toxic rap music lyrics, selfish sex, materialism, etc ) has a far more toxic effect on kids and the culture than anything they lecture us about.

How about cleaning up the entertainment industry first Ms. Swift?

2 ( +5 / -3 )

All these Hollywood types become "activists" with a "message" after being in bed with sleazy agents and talent agencies then greedily taking hundreds of millions of dollars from the record companies and becoming financially secure. Hypocrites, the lot.

2 ( +4 / -2 )

All these Hollywood types become "activists" with a "message" after ..... greedily taking hundreds of millions of dollars from the record companies

To be fair, I think it's the other way round. The record companies take millions from the artists who actually create the product. The world doesn't need big record companies anymore.

2 ( +3 / -1 )

Why blame masculinity? Her issues are obviously due to regret over making a bad contract.

2 ( +5 / -3 )

Just watched the vid, the lyrics are mostly lame & shallow, so no surprises, no depth, but hey she is a pop star so par for the course

2 ( +2 / -0 )

Actually, she's not. Take a look at the lyrics

That sounds like a lot of work. Can’t I just say “SJWs bad” and wait for my upvotes to roll in?

1 ( +2 / -1 )

@Toasted Heretic let me grant you your wish :)

I think Swift has a point. With all the stories of lacking equality in various fields, as a woman you can't help but wonder if things would be different if you had something extra between your legs. At the same time, I very much agree with posters pointing out how hard it is to take it seriously when coming from an extremely privileged woman (although I'm sure she had her share of unfair treatment because of her gender).

Also, I like the term toxic masculinity when used right. It can be a very helpful tool to cast light on how certain ideals of masculinity hurts both men and women, although I admittedly rarely see it in academia compared to public discourse. As someone pointed out, it would be useful to also talk more about toxic femininity, but I think we already do - we just don't call it by that term. I can also understand why people are sick of it being used as a blanket-term for any bad behavior coincidentally shown by a man.

1 ( +3 / -2 )

I don't think Taylor Swift likes men very much.

1 ( +4 / -3 )

I get what you're saying commanteer - I'm one of the 'not all men' guys myself. I really dislike it when people denigrate our whole gender for the actions of a few - it's no different than calling black people drug dealers, or calling latinos gang members.

But that said, from the lyrics in this article (I haven't listened to the original), she hasn't actually called out all men. She's wondering if things would be easier for her if she were 'a' man. Just one. Of course, those things that may be easier may also paint men with a bad brush, leading back to my first paragraph.

0 ( +4 / -4 )

(In)action plan doesn't seem to have worked there, buddy. No upvotes, and you still don't know what Taylor Swift is on about.

But as a JT poster, I’m owed upvotes for ignorantly claiming things are biased against white men without doing any reading or research! And as we know, people not actively agreeing with everything I say is the death of free speech.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

Well, she’s good at marketing, can’t lie about that, other than that, Nope.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

The amusing thing is that Taylor Swift has hardly any women working on her music, and it was men who originally made her music what it is today. So a privilege white women is claiming the men that got her there are now toxic - talk about biting the hand that feeds her.

-1 ( +3 / -4 )

Why the need to denigrate an entire gender?

In what that denigrates a whole gender to mock one type of man ? When some say "femme fatale" that denigrates all women ?

I don't think Taylor Swift likes men very much.

Seems she likes them too much. I mean it's OK to date dozens, but come on Sister, why do you waste songs on them ? They don't even appreciate.

I'd be interested to hear what women posters think.

The 'guy' in the video is too cute. Rude, OK. But rude and cute, that breaks the effect... if she meant to demonstrate 'toxic masculanity' (she doesn't , as lyrics sound to me). I'd invite her in my office so she could see really toxic dudes.

But well, it's not a coincidence she plays the role. Inside her girly body, she's a golden boy, Fortune 50 and co, and she knows it.

 So a privilege white women is claiming

... singing. Selling noise. It's entertainment not activism.

-1 ( +0 / -1 )

"When You’re Accustomed to Privilege, Equality Feels Like Oppression"

I don't think Taylor Swift likes men very much.

Her string of boyfriends would say otherwise, lol

-1 ( +1 / -2 )

Impressive video. Worth watching.

Not a Big fan of TS's music(ok), but I do admire her stance on things.

In this case her lyrics ask the right questions.

And yes - obnoxiousness - toxic at that - can be found across the gender framework, but no doubt men have got a hold on the title.

And just finished watching the excellent Netflix mini-series on OJ Simpson. It's about many things, but one power point is "It's a Man's World".

Check it out if you can. Rubs well with Taylor's take.

-2 ( +2 / -4 )

There are many toxic males out there who use their natural strength and aggression to bully and hurt others, with some even violently harming and murdering thier partners. This needs addressing. Teen boys need education on how to use thier masculinity to protect and provide for their future families and to contribute positively to society.

But as others have said here, not all men are guilty.

The recent lectures on the topic by entertainers and other

-3 ( +1 / -4 )

I'd be interested to hear what women posters think.

-3 ( +0 / -3 )

Lots of men has become insecure, since the Metoo movement,

-4 ( +1 / -5 )

And I was such a big fan of hers too. Yes, even as a man...

-5 ( +0 / -5 )

Taylor Swift is cool, her music is good, and most importantly she's entirely correct on this issue.

-9 ( +2 / -11 )

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