Negotiating Portrayals of Women’s Emotional Vulnerability in Taylor Swift’s Song Lyrics

Abstract

This study focused on the lyrics and contexts of Taylor Swift’ selected songs. The selected tracks are You Belong with Me, Blank Space, and The Man. Following qualitative approach, this study aimed to discover Swift’s negotiation of the portrayals of women’s emotional vulnerability in her lyrics. This study used Stuart Hall's representation theory and focused on the constructionist approach. Gender stereotypes have developed for decades and have shaped social expectations about how men and women should behave, speak, and interact with each other. These stereotypes could be emphasized or opposed through the media, including popular culture. Taylor Swift as one of the prominent artists in popular culture is considered as an artist who represents women’s feelings. Based on her broad influence and high consumption of her works, this study chose some of her popular tracks. You Belong with Me, Blank Space, and The Man were chosen to be studied further as a form of representation and negotiation of women’s emotional vulnerability. The results of the analysis showed that Swift’s trajectory of emotional awareness and her negotiations to women’s emotion. In You Belong with Me, she still submitted and internalized the patriarchal norms, then she gained the awareness of the social construction, until she totally challenged the narrative that led to moral double standards. She rejects the portrayal that emotional expression is a weakness and an obstacle. Instead, she uses it as a form of strength and claims to women’s agency. In her lyrics, Swift reframes women’s emotional vulnerability as legitimate, while still asserting control over the narrative about herself. Through her wellwritten lyrics, including the capitalization of her works, Swift becomes an active subject who speaks out against inequality and demands equal recognition for women in the public sphere, particularly in entertainment industry