Unpacking the 'Taylor Effect': Navigating the Complex Dynamics of Black Girlhood in the Entertainment Industry
Over the last year, enthusiasts, critics, and those in the middle have been immersed in a barrage of narratives surrounding Taylor Swift. From the financial implications of her Eras Tour to the premiere of her documentary film, her newfound romance with NFL star Travis Kelce, and discussions about whether she merits more accolades than Beyoncé - the globe has been captivated by the "Taylor Effect."
A recent episode on NPR’s podcast, “Code Switch,” took a different approach evaluating the Swift’s impact on the world, unpacking her persona and brand through the lens of girlhood and an implied undercurrent of racial dynamics.
The episode describes how the notion of girlhood, an idea where young girls can exist innocently without carrying the burden or distress of complex issues, is not a concept that has been afforded to Black girls (or any girl outside of the wealthy, white, girl-next-door ideal), especially young Black performers or entertainers. These women aren’t given the luxury to show up as the “girl next door” as Swift has been afforded to for her nearly 20-year career. They’re labeled as confident sex symbols who proudly own and flaunt their womanhood.
And while sexual freedom is something women, both Black and white women have fought for, I wonder if Black artists feel forced to conform to these standards out of necessity to be accepted by mainstream audiences.
Recently, we’ve seen a rise of young, Black female artists that have proven to be multidimensional talent, but I wonder, if these women truly had the opportunity to showcase their girlish innocence and if they did, could they without fear of not being accepted by the masses.
On one hand we applaud these women’s ability define how they show up in spaces. On the other hand, there’s a heaviness that comes with recognizing that young Black girls very rarely get to showcase their innocence and joy in simply doing what young girls do.
Of course, these overtly sexy depictions of Black women aren’t new. We’ve seen versions of the jezebel, sapphire and angry Black woman stereotypes reproduced in different version throughout music, film and television for decades. Historically, the media has rarely allowed a young Black girl to simply exist in her innocence and girlhood. Sure, we’ve seen young, Black girl groups like “Destiny’s Child” showcase a youthful element through their lyrics and costumes, but I wonder if the public ever attributed the same level of innocence to them that Swift still receives at nearly 35 years old? Is this a result of stellar branding from the Swift camp or are we inherently conditioned to believe white women hold a sense of fragility and womanhood that Black women don’t (or can’t)?
Whatever the reason for this disparity, young, Black female artists should have the flexibility to express their youthfulness, innocence, sexiness, confidence and control without being confined to mere sex symbols.