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Amna Shahzad

Challenging the Double Standards: Analyzing "The Man" by Taylor Swift



“The Man” song by Taylor Swift was released in 2019 as part of her album called “Lover”. This song is no ordinary song but contains a deep-down critique on gender inequality around the world, but most importantly in the entertainment industry. Taylor Swift talks about double standards and the lack of women's rights, which oppressed them. The lyrics, historical context and the song's tone play a great role in highlighting it.

 Taylor Swift used her own platform to raise awareness and concerns regarding gender disparity and power dynamics that exist in the entertainment industry. This song was released when there was a global movement of #MeToo expanding on all social media platforms, which raised concerns about the experiences of many women who face systemic sexism. The timings of the song were crucial as they were aligned with the shift in society. It results in more open discussion and debates on gender inequality across the globe from multiple perspectives.

Now, let’s look at the lyrics of the song more closely. Lines like “I’m so sick of running as fast as I can, wondering if I’d get there quicker if I was a man” captures the frustration and anger of a women who had to work twice as harder than that of men in the same field to achieve something or get the same recognition. Throughout her song, she demonstrates how her life and career in this entertainment industry would be if she were any male singer. She shows frustration by explaining the privileges men have of the same field which are not given to women.

The bitterness and resentment of Taylor have also been shown by the type of musical elements she used. “The Man” is a pop music with an upbeat tempo that depicts the anger women feel due to double standards in society. The background music contains a steady beat, which reinforces the persistence of Taylor’s message throughout the song. Taylor’s vocals and chorus were full of confidence and determination, reflecting the message of women's empowerment and resistance against societal gender norms. Moreover, while we look at the music video of “The Man”, we can see the use of bold and vibrant colors throughout, presenting an assertive and strong tone. These saturated colors symbolize the intensity and strength of Taylor when she stands against the masculinity part. She challenges the viewers to rethink their biased perspective regarding women in society.

This song became very popular and was included in the discussions about sexism and gender inequality by many feminist groups. It is important to look deeper and understand the impact of a song on society. By presenting these issues, Taylor significantly contributed to the critical gender debates.


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