Stop The Hate: Why Taylor Swift Deserves More Credit

I came to the realization the other day, that I am the least confrontational person ever. Although it wasn't so much a realization as it was an observation. I'm a keep the peace, go with the flow, let's all just be friends kind of gal. It's my comfort zone, and I like it that way. However, there comes a time when things, or should I say life, happens and we want answers. Answers to how things turned out or how they didn't. Answers as to why your best friend ditched you and never gave an explanation. Answers to overwhelming questions like what happens after college and is this all in my head or is there really something going on? We all have questions we want answers to. Sometimes they're questions only we can answer, but most of the time it's a two way street. For me, I have a hard time confronting myself let alone anyone else. I don't even like to answer my own hard hitting questions so you can imagine my anxiety over demanding answers from another person. 

This brings me to my point of this post: Taylor Swift. As you know she's one of my biggest inspirations and I often find myself looking at quotes or song lyrics of hers for comfort. I've always been aware of the fact that she names names and I think I took it for granted. I never thought much of it, as opposed to everyone else in the world who seem to be enthralled by it. It never really affected me, until now. Taylor Swift writes her own songs about her experiences. She opens a door for her fans to get a sneak preview of her life. But the thing is, she doesn't open it just a crack. She drop kicks it down and pours out everything she's ever felt.  She lets everything go once she writes those lyrics. There is no stopping her when it comes to her songwriting and what she may reveal through her creative metaphors. It's fascinating to me just how much she opens up about. And it's not as if she's writing these songs for herself.  Not even close.  She unleashes personal, intimate details and exposes them to the world. If that wasn't enough, throughout the years we've not only felt her pain but we've attached names to that pain. Specific names of people those songs and feelings are about. Taylor doesn't just reveal what she went through, but the names of the inflictors of said pain or happiness. Taylor puts all her cards down on the table and truly puts her heart and soul into her music. Now like I said, I'm not a confrontational person. As a writer, despite the fact that yes I use this as an outlet, I don't think I could ever use real names. It takes a lot of courage to put yourself out there, but it takes a ton more to target the ones at fault.

Unfortunately the majority of the headlines surrounding Ms. Swift are more often than not focused on her relationships.  The media is more concerned  with who she's dating and who each song is about than the emotional, eye opening meanings behind the lyrics.  Taylor is more than just a girl who dates guys, gets dumped and writes a hit song about it.  She's a young woman who's figuring things out and happens to do so through music.  She's a woman letting her wounds bleed through her songs, and she's being criticized for it.  She's a woman, who by more people than I can count, has been labeled as America's sweetheart who lets her sass out through he music, and she's being criticized for it.  If she was a man would she be getting the same sort of negative attention? John Mayer is a womanizing, crooner and every time I mention him girls melt right in front of me. Point made.  It's not fair to hold our women up to impossibly high standards. Women have just as much a right to express themselves as men do.  Women have just as much a right to date as much as they want as men do without being judged for it.  Why is it okay if a man has dated a few girls in a few years but if Taylor Swift does it that makes her a slut?  And why isn't she allowed to call out a girl her boyfriend cheated on her with without being accused of being a slut shamer? She was letting off steam, or venting if you will.  Taylor just happens to vent her stories to the public.  It's a part of her job.  If you don't like it then don't listen to her music.   We don't have to like or agree with everyone but we have to learn to be respectful, to give credit where credit is due, and to experience another's pain before we make assumptions and stick our nose in the air. 

If you aren't a fan, or need somewhere to start here are two of Taylor's most beautifully written songs in my opinion:

Never forget the essence of your spark!