Taylor Swift is a good role model, contrary to the Newsweek article
I read an article recently from Newsweek that I couldn’t shake off…it was about how Taylor Swift is not a good role model. And it wasn’t just because I am a diehard Swiftie that I was perturbed by the author’s errant remarks–it was because of what this article symbolized.
John Mac Ghlionn cited Taylor’s dating history as the crux of his argument as to why she is not a role model for our girls. In his article, he argued about how her celebrity dating defiles her message against the patriarchy, how her lyrics portray her as a victim, and how her success is unrealistic for girls to aspire to. Perhaps the irony of it all is that this article is exactly the patriarchy that Taylor encourages girls to scream at the top of their longs at…because this masochistic view of a categorizing a successful woman’s admirability by her dating life is the perfect example of unfair bias toward women (See: “The Man” by Taylor Swift). Nonetheless, this article isn’t here to school Mac Ghlionn on his tacit compliance with age-old social confines and condescension toward women. I sense his article was a grasp at fame through a thinly veiled attack on Taylor Swift because she’s popular and trending. As a writer, I can appreciate the fact that sometimes, you write to the market, and Taylor Swift’s name certainly gets you at the top of the stack these days, even if your logic is unsound. This article is, however, a look at why I do think Taylor Swift is a positive role model for girls, for females, and for every gender–and why it is downright demeaning for anyone to defile someone’s reputation based on their love life. Because women are worthy of so much more than being defined by their romantic life. This antiquated view that feels like it's out of an 1800s novel, though, still runs through the modern world thanks to articles like this. And before John’s friends come for me in the comments, yes, I’m a Swiftie and a huge fan of her lyrics. If you look on my social media, you’ll see my cheesy grin on the field at the Eras Tour in my photos. Yes, I understand her lyrics and choices ruffle feathers and, especially with your children, you have to ascertain for yourself if her words comply with what you want to teach your children. And yes, I agree that worshiping anyone, even if they’re someone to look up to, can lead to unhealthy habits. All of that aside, though, I do think there are many reasons why Taylor Swift should be lauded as a positive role model and influence. Here are the points the aforementioned writer “forgot” or failed to mention.
At every tour stop on the Eras Tour, Taylor has made significant donations to food banks in the areas, positively impacting millions of people. But if you do a dive online, you’ll find this isn’t her only way to give back. Publicly and privately, Swift has shown kindness and generosity in her gifts of money and time to causes she holds dear. In December of 2023, the star donated one million dollars to the Community Foundation of Middle Tennessee after the tornado on December 9 caused damage and deaths. In August of 2023, she gave super-sized bonuses to her Eras Tour workers, reportedly giving $100,000 bonuses to her drivers. These are just a couple of her reported “sizable” donations to various charities over the years, including pet rescues and individuals going through hard times. It isn’t all just about the money, though. In 2012, Swift wrote the song “Ronan” in honor of a little boy who was struggling with fatal neuroblastoma. In the same year, she pledged all proceeds from the song to cancer charities. Yes, Taylor has the money and influence to do things like this–but she’s also a great role model for using your power and gifts to make a difference that lives on and impacts others. That’s something I think many of us can look up to. 2. Her body positivity In her documentary “Miss Americana,” Swift is vulnerable and honest about her struggles with eating disorders. And although the press still likes to make incessantly inappropriate commentary on her size and weight, Swift’s message has been one of body positivity. Her outfits on the Eras Tour demonstrate a confidence in who she is. As a thirty-six-year-old, I appreciate the strength and beauty Taylor demonstrates; she’s reminded me that a woman can still be seen as sexy and confident in her thirties and beyond, something I think many of us struggle with. This isn’t to say Swift is perfect. In 2022, she released a video for “Anti-Hero” that featured Swift stepping on a scale that said “Fat.” After realizing that the message of this scene could be hurtful to body positivity, Swift immediately cut this scene from the video. This shows she is not only trying to spread a positive body message to her fans, but that she’s willing to take ownership for her mistakes. 3. Her passion for her work Taylor Swift also demonstrates how pursuing your passion and being true to yourself leads to success and fulfillment. She is known for her tireless work and dedication to her artistry, constantly releasing new music and ideas. She speaks frequently about how music is her passion, and she’s living her dream. She also has been open about how she never could have imagined this success when she was a teenager from Pennsylvania. Her story reminds us all that dreams come true if you work hard and stick to your passion. Even when things get difficult for Swift due to bad press and haters, she’s stuck with her passion and still pursued her musical journey. In the middle of the Kanye and Kim media storm, Swift disappeared for five years…but then came back stronger with “Reputation,” an album with a message of female strength, confidence, and perseverance. She shows girls and really everyone that even when the world seems to be against you, you should stick to your passions and chase the dreams you want. She’s never shied away from being who she wants to be and saying what she needs to say, even if it ruffles opinion writers’ feathers. To have that unwavering sense of self and what your purpose is inspires all of us to find the thing that lights us up…and to dream big. 4. Her lyrics and emotional vulnerability For me, the pull of Swift has always been in her vulnerable, emotional lyrics that capture what it is to be a woman, an artist, an outcast, a dreamer, and so many other things throughout our lives. Swift’s ultimate role model status comes from the fact that she is inclusive in her lyrics and who she reaches. When you go to the Eras Tour, you’ll see people from all walks of life, backgrounds, and personalities because her music has a universal pull. Her songs remind us that we are not alone, that we all go through difficult emotions and fall down. That we all feel like we don’t belong sometimes in “Anti-Hero” or that sometimes the memories of the past haunt us in “All Too Well.” She reminds us that it’s okay to stand up for yourself in “Look What You Made Me Do” and that moving on is difficult in “Fortnight.” Her songs are a celebration of the raw realness of being a woman…and of being a human. She reminds us that emotional vulnerability isn’t weakness but instead leads to connection, something our world is often missing. And if you talk to Swifties, you’re apt to hear story after story about how her music helped them through difficult times, through loneliness, and through good times. She’s hallmarked so many of our lives with her lyricism and honesty, and she’s reminded the world of important messages along the way such as with her song “The Man” and “You Need to Calm Down.” She isn’t afraid to go to the deep topics to make a statement, using her influence to make a difference. At the end of the day, admittedly no one knows Swift other than what we see of her in the media. It’s up to us to make our own judgment on who to look up to and why. But to blatantly disregard Swift’s achievements, charity work, and positive messaging for women simply because you don’t like how many men she’s dated is a flagrant disregard for who she is as a person. It’s not about protecting Swift’s image or her fans being upset that you tried to attack our idol. It’s that articles like these tell girls and women that no matter what they achieve or how good of a person they are, their validation always comes from the men they do or don’t date. And if you ask me, that message is the truly poor role model for our girls, for women, and for all of us. Lindsay Detwiler is a high school teacher and the USA Today Bestselling author of The Widow Next Door as well as several other thriller novels.
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Will you regret leaving teaching? Here's what I found
These are the two lessons I’ve learned this past year in my core, lessons I didn’t quite expect to come to fruition in the way that they did. But standing here over halfway through the year, I inhale deeply in the knowledge that these two mantras are true–and I share this in the hope that it will inspire you if you’re feeling stuck, trapped or fearful about your choices. Two years ago, I made the difficult decision to leave the classroom. At the time, a new opportunity to write in a corporate setting came up, and it felt like the right decision. It felt like a new adventure. So, I took the leap. And for the past two years, I’ve learned about corporate world. I’ve grown. I’ve explored. I’ve had all sorts of new experiences and changed in a lot of great ways. But there was one major problem. It didn’t feel like home. It didn’t feel right. And in my core, I kept thinking about how I’d left my one true calling. Like so many of us do, I tried to rationalize it away. I told myself change was hard, that it would just take time to feel at home. I shoved down the voice of my five-year-old self who wanted nothing more than to teach, who would set up twenty stuffed animals on the steps of her childhood home with a chalkboard at the bottom. I told myself that the fact I was running into my former students literally EVERYWHERE wasn’t a sign–and wasn’t making me sad. But deep down, I knew. The whole time, I think I knew that even though there were so many awesome perks in my new job and reasons to stay, it wasn’t what my heart wanted. So, after some re-evaluation and some soul-searching, I did what I needed to. I listened to my heart–and I turned back around. I changed my mind. And luckily, things fell into place to allow me to do a U-turn and go back to where I belonged, where I felt at home, and where my heart felt like I was meant to be. This fall, I’m heading back to my alma mater to teach. This time around, I’ll be a business teacher, which feels like it was meant to be; it’s made the past two years in corporate world and also my accounting degree make sense. It’s made my time away feel like it was necessary for me to grow in order to do the best I can in this position. And you know what? Ever since I’ve made the decision to go back, I’ve exhaled a breath I didn’t know I was holding for two years. I don’t wake up in the middle of the night anymore in a panic that I left teaching. I feel awakened and excited in a way I haven’t for two years. My heart, in short, is happy, and I feel at peace again. Making a change is scary but sometimes necessary. But I think the most beautiful thing about this life that we sometimes forget is that you’re never stuck, and no decision is final. You make the best decision you can with the information you have at the time. And then, you listen to your heart. You let your emotions guide you and you do the best you can again. You change your mind. You turn back or turn left or stand still for a bit until the path becomes clear. Because this life is too short to be somewhere that your heart isn’t happy. And I’m so excited that even though it’s been a long road these past two years, I’ve been reminded of what makes me happy, what makes me fulfilled, and where I belong. I’m fortunate and grateful to be given a second chance at my passion, at doing what I love. I’d like to think that five-year-old version of myself standing at her makeshift chalkboard would be excited that even though I veered off the path for a couple years, I found my way back to the front of the classroom where my heart knows I belong. Lindsay Detwiler is the USA Today and International Bestselling author of The Widow Next Door, The Diary of a Serial Killer's Daughter and several other novels. To learn more, click here. Summer Beauty Must-Haves for Low Maintenance Girlies
From the first Caboodle makeup holder I received in late elementary school, I've been obsessed with beauty products. New lotions, potions, hair masks...I'm here for it all. But I also consider myself pretty low maintenance with my looks. I don't get my eyebrows or lashes done. I don't go for manis or pedis. I'm at at-home, DIY, on a budget kind of girl. I'm okay with splurging for products that work...but I want to get the most out of my money.
I'm taking some of the guess work out of your beauty routine by racking up my Sephora points...and giving the newest products a try. Learn from my loves and leave-its below. (Links are to Amazon, which I am an affiliate for, so I get a small commission if you buy using my links. But I always post products I've tried and ACTUALLY love). 1. Huda Baking Powder
I came across this setting power that is SO MUCH MORE on influencer Sydney Schiffer's page. The secret is to get the Cherry blossom variety. And yes, it's pink...but for my pale girlies, this one is the BOMB. Literally.
Since losing weight, my 30-something wrinkles around my eyes are so much more noticeable. I've been working all summer on a concealer routine that will mask my dark circles without accenting my fine lines. This powder is a lifesaver. It literally blurs your skin and makes your pores/wrinkles disappear with just a tiny bit. And it smells amazing. Check out my non-filter photo below (ignore the wonky eyeliner...it's been a morning). It also comes in a mini size, which is nice if you want to just give it a try. 2. AG Firewall Heat Protectant
My salon recommended this as a heat protectant for my hair, and I'm obsessed! It not only protects your hair but also gives you mega shine! I will say to be careful when spraying because it makes ceramic floors SLICK (My Great Dane won't walk past my vanity now because the floor is perma slippery). But the shine makes it my favorite heat protectant to date!
Find yours here. 3. Sephora Brightening Exfoliating Scrub
If you want your makeup to look smooth, sometimes it's all about the skincare. This exfoliating scrub is a perfect addition to my routine about twice a week. It's gritty, but not like the exfoliating scrubs I used as a teen. It's gentle but still sloughs off dead skin for a better makeup application. And this one is super budget friendly (around $14). Click here to check it out.
4. Pravana Intense Therapy Leave-In Conditioner
A co-worker recommended this leave-in spray, and I'm a fan! I use it twice a day. You can spray it on damp hair, or I even spray it on dry hair for a refresh because it smells AMAZING. Like amazing amazing. And it lasts forever.
Just shake it up, spray, and your hair will be so soft and smell heavenly. It also doubles as a detangler, which I love. Check itout here. 5. Good Molecules Sunscreen
My co-worker also got me hooked on Good Molecules products. They're super budget-friendly, work well, and are cruelty-free. I have so many of the serums, but my favorite product is the mineral sunscreen. It gives you protection without being greasy at all, and is less than $12. Click here to grab yours...I wear it every single day! (I also love their brightening serum).
And a product I'd leave behind...
When I decided to go darker with my hair for summer, I wanted to make sure to keep it popping. I bought Matrix Keep Me Vivid. And it works great on my locks...EXCEPT my bangs.
If you've got Taylor Swift bangs going, this product is NOT for you. Or at least not for your bangs. I couldn't figure out why my bangs constantly looked greasy, no matter what I did or how much I washed them. And then I sorted out it was this shampoo. So if you're going to give it a go, be sure to use a different shampoo on your bangs. Alright, that's all for now, everyone! Happy summer, happy shopping, and be sure to let me know what you think if you grab any of the products above! Xoxo, Lindsay (L.A.) Detwiler A Free Creature Horror Short by L.A. DetwilerLooking for a spooky read? I've got a quick short story for you below. It's a creature horror set in a dystopian world, perfect for fans of A Quiet Place or Bird Box. Give it a read, and let me know what you think in the comments!The Deranged Variety
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L.A. DetwilerUSA TODAY Bestselling Thriller author with Avon Books (HarperCollins), The Widow Next Door, The Diary of a Serial Killer's Daughter, and other creepy thriller books Categories
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