According to a recent article in the Boston Globe romance is the new “it” thing. And they are giving Taylor Swift credit where they believe credit is due. Here is a quote from the article:
Eighteen-year-old music phenom Taylor Swift has scaled the charts with narratives that suggest there is more to romance than sex. Swift’s former boyfriend Joe Jonas and his siblings in the pop group the Jonas Brothers wear purity rings to signal their vows to remain chaste prior to marriage. Disney franchises like “High School Musical” and “Hannah Montana” peddle wholesomeness as fervently – and profitably – as then-17-year-old Spears begged her boyfriend to “hit me baby one more time.”
They go on to say that she represents a radical departure from the last wave of teen icons, whose seductive looks and lyrics encouraged girls, like all teenagers, impatient to grow up, to hurry it up.
Ok, I LOVE Taylor and think that compared to Britney Spears, Miley Cyrus and Christina Aguilera she is a saint. BUT – Taylor still does things that are a bit risky for a teenager to watch. Do you remember her water routine at an awards show this past year? What message was that supposed to send to a thirteen year old? Also, she has boys ripping off her clothes to reveal cute and sparkly dresses in almost every performance.
I will agree that Taylor is much more conservative than others in the music industry (especially pop music) and that her music reflects a great spin on an unattainable romance situation with boys. BUT – I would not go as far as to say that she is a role model for teenage girls in America. Just my two cents. As I step off my soapbox.
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I love Taylor but I don’t think that any personal that is in the spot light should be considered a role model. I think that kids need to go back to having their parents, grand parents and family as role models. That is the only way they are going to be able to have morals.
Good thinking. Susan.
Totally agree with the blog. She’s more conservative than most, but when was the last time she had on a real bra?
And that line in “you belong with me” about “she wears short skirts I wear t-shirts” don’t really fit anymore.
I have to say that I think if a child is going to look up to a “celebrity” Taylor is a good one. She is still “real” in her teenage-ness (thus the wet performance and boy crazy songs), but she also doesn’t seem to compromise herself. I was listening to Fearless the other day and totally love the song “Fifteen.” I think wow….finally someone said it.
I have to say that I think Taylor IS a great role model for teens. While it’s an ideal thought for kids to look up to their family members for a role model, more realistically, they’re still going to look at celebrities in the spotlight. I think Taylor does a phenominal job of staying respectable in the spotlight where so many others her age have failed to do so.
[...] though I don’t think she is a good role model for teenagers I still like her and want to wish her a very Happy 19th [...]