A millennial social media influencer is coming to the defense of women "swifties" across the country after another tiktoker labeled the adult women fandom as a "major ick".
In a recent TikTok video that's garnering attention, Meredith Steele, a popular content creator with 1.1 million followers, has responded to criticism of adult women who admire Taylor Swift. Steele's video, a stitch response to another TikToker who described such admiration as "icky," offers a thought-provoking perspective on the evolution of female role models in pop culture.
@babiesofsteele Hi @laurenschefffer @ItsLo #taylorswift ♬ original sound - Meredith Steele
Steele, speaking from a millennial viewpoint, contrasts the pop culture icons of her youth with Swift's current influence. She recalls how figures like Britney Spears, Nicole Richie, and Paris Hilton were often presented in ways that catered to male audiences or required them to downplay their intelligence for entertainment purposes.
In contrast, Steele argues that Taylor Swift represents a new paradigm for younger generations. "As a mom," Steele explains, "seeing that my daughter has a role model in an adult who is telling her that it's okay to take up space, that it's okay to do things that maybe people don't love and like in the public eye but that make her happy and to fight against norms that maybe are different than the things that we were told that we had to conform to as little kids, from that moment on, I said to myself and my husband, I said 'we're gonna go out of our way to find ways to support women like Taylor Swift in a public space.'"
Steele emphasizes the importance of supporting successful women who are "loud and proud" in the public eye, rather than criticizing them or mocking other women for admiring them. She views this as a crucial aspect of modeling positive behavior for the next generation of young women.
While acknowledging that there are many admirable women to look up to, Steele believes that Swift's impact is particularly significant. Her video serves as a call to reconsider how society views and supports successful women, especially those who challenge traditional norms and expectations.
The TikToker's passionate defense of Swift and her fans highlights a broader conversation about the changing nature of role models and the importance of supporting women who break barriers and inspire others. As this discussion continues to unfold on social media platforms, it reflects evolving attitudes towards female empowerment and representation in popular culture.
