Music Study: Taylor Swift is a role model in dealing with eating disorders
Taylor Swift doesn't just influence her fans musically. She also inspires "Swifties" in the way they deal with their bodies, a study has found. However, the researchers also discovered contradictions.
US pop singer Taylor Swift repeatedly addresses her eating disorder and the associated doubts about her own body. In doing so, the 34-year-old is apparently helping fans who are struggling with their own body image. This is reported by a US research team in the specialist magazine "Social Science & Medicine".
Inspiration from interviews and song lyrics
In a thematic analysis, the authors evaluated around 200 posts published by Swift fans on the platforms Reddit and Tiktok. According to the study, Swift's role model function plays an important role for her often female fans.
Many of the so-called "Swifties" saw the musician as a pioneer in dealing with eating disorders. Swift's openness inspired them to overcome their own illnesses. Fans repeatedly referred to the documentary "Miss Americana" (2020), in which Swift spoke about the topic.
"Swifties" also used certain songs by the singer in their posts, whose lyrics allow associations with mental health. Songs such as "You're On Your Own, Kid" and "Tied Together With a Smile" were used by fans to deal with their own insecurities, the researchers reported.
Controversy surrounding "anti-hero" video
However, the topic of body image in connection with Taylor Swift was also discussed controversially on the platforms. According to the researchers, the music video for the song "Anti-Hero" from 2022 triggered a debate. In the original version of the clip, Swift stood on a scale displaying the word "fat" in one scene.
While some fans defended the depiction as an expression of Swift's own insecurities, others felt hurt by it. The artist later replaced the video online with another version that no longer contained the word.
"Swifties" objectify their idol
The authors also noted that fans themselves objectified their idol in the posts, i.e. reduced her to her body. For example, current pictures of Swift were juxtaposed with older photos. Users commented on how "healthy" and "happy" Swift looked in comparison to the past. At the same time, however, fans criticized media reports that focused on Swift's appearance or weight.
"This analysis shows the positive impact that celebrities can have, but also highlights the limitations of personal statements when it comes to addressing systemic problems like fatphobic bias," said lead author Lizzy Pope from the University of Vermont.
SDA
