DINH DOONG

Taylor Swift’s Sharpest Responses and Brilliant Comebacks to Sexist Questions

Taylor Swift stands out not only for her chart-topping music but also for her razor-sharp wit in the face of misogyny. Swift has handled everything from probing queries about her personal life to negative comments about her songwriting abilities with grace, intelligence, and a lot of grit. These weren’t just great comebacks from her; they were lessons in advocating for oneself and women all over the world. Here’s a compilation of all of her incredible comebacks when the questioning became sexist.

1. The ‘Settle Down and Have Kids’ Question

Swift is known for her sharp wit, especially after Kanye West shockingly ambushed Swift during the 2009 MTV VMAs. She rose like a Phoenix right after that. Many female artists are asked about settling down, having kids, and their plans for marriage, and Swift was asked the same. But she wasn’t happy with the question when asked in a German interview. Swift’s response was quick and pointed: “I really do not think men are asked that question when they turn 30, so I’m not going to answer that now.” Her refusal to answer such a question empowers many women and shows that a woman’s worth isn’t tied to her marital or parental status.2. Writing About Exes: A Double Standard

Swift has heard plenty of flak for writing songs about her exes, and she tackled it head-on in a 2014 chat with 2Day FM. “You’re going to have people who are going to say, ‘Oh, you know, like, she just writes songs about her ex-boyfriends.’ And I think frankly that’s a very sexist angle to take,” she stated. Swift then highlighted the double standard by comparing herself to male artists. She noted, “No one says that about Ed Sheeran. No one says that about Bruno Mars. They’re all writing songs about their exes, their current girlfriends, their love life, and no one raises the red flag there.”

3. Defending Female Songwriters

In a 2014 Time magazine interview, Swift tackled the persistent doubts about female songwriters. She expressed frustration at having to constantly prove her abilities. Swift said, “And we all know it’s a feminist issue. My friend Ed [Sheeran], no one questions whether he writes everything.” She highlighted the unfair scrutiny faced by female artists. Swift added, “It’s a little discouraging that females have to work so much harder to prove that they do their own things.” She extended this observation to other artists, saying, “I see Nicki Minaj and Iggy Azalea having to prove that they write their own raps or their own lyrics, and it makes me sad, because they shouldn’t have to justify it.”

4. Owning Her Music and Refusing to Be Questioned

After being named Billboard’s Woman of the Year in 2014, Swift addressed those who continued to doubt her songwriting abilities. She firmly stated, “If someone has studied my catalog and still doesn’t think I’m behind it, there’s nothing I can do for that person. They may have to deal with their own sexist issues, because if I were a guy and you were to look at my catalog and my lyrics, you would not wonder if I was the person behind it.”

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5. Reframing ‘Boy-Bashing’ as Heartbreak Songs

Swift addressed charges that her songs are ‘boy-bashing’ in a 2015 interview with The Telegraph. She reframed the narrative by saying, “There was a bit of a reputation for having a lot of boy-bashing songs. Which is a sexist way of saying heartbreak songs. To trivialise someone who’s heartbroken is really cruel. But people have to simplify things.” Swift defended not only her own work, but all artists’ freedom to express authentic emotions through their art, by calling out this sexist classification. Her statements question the tendency to reject women’s sentiments and experiences as unimportant.

6. Taking a Stand Against Sexual Harassment

Swift spoke out strongly against sexual harassment in 2017. She won a case against former DJ David Mueller, who sexually harassed her two years ago. Surprisingly, Swift just wanted $1 USD in compensation. This symbolic gesture conveyed a powerful message about the significance of coming out against sexual misconduct. Swift’s legal fight demonstrated to young women that sexual assault is never acceptable. Her actions revealed that the purpose was to use her position to raise awareness rather than for financial benefit, as per The Guardian.

7. Challenging Society’s Ageism Towards Women

Swift shared 30 things she learned before turning 30 on the cover of ELLE US in April. One painful lesson addressed society’s ageism toward women. She wrote, “I’ve learned that society is constantly sending very loud messages to women that exhibiting the physical signs of ageing is the worst thing that can happen to us. These messages tell women that we aren’t allowed to age. It’s an impossible standard to meet.” Her words serve as a reminder that a woman’s worth is unaffected by her age or beauty, as per Elle.