Dear Mark Carpowich

So today, while looking through Yahoo News, I saw an article about Taylor Swift. Seeing as T-Swift is one of my favorite singers, and people in general, I obviously clicked on it. Come to find out, the article is a detestable piece of fiction that does nothing but list invalid ramblings as to why this man thinks Taylor Swift is no longer a role model for young girls. I'm sorry mark, but you're completely off your rocker, and I'm going to tell you why, point by point. Why am I doing this? Because Taylor Swift has been a defining role model in my life since I was 13 years old. She helped me through heartbreak, struggles with depression and even in the last year she's played a large role in helping me understand how to depend on myself for happiness, and how to embrace myself for who I am, and empower myself. If someone was trashing my family, or my best friend, I wouldn't sit by idly. So don't expect anything less that a strong selection of words when someone who has had a significantly impactful influence on my life is attacked.

Mark Reason #1: Taylor Swift only surrounds herself with "rich, famous and powerful women".

Why is this a problem? Taylor Swift is a successful young musician. Why wouldn't she hang out with other musicians? And the models, yeah she met them while performing at the Victoria Secret fashion show. I'm a college student. The majority of my friends are people around my age, who I work with and attend classes with. But yeah, Taylor is a completely awful person for being friends with a diverse group of strong, successful, independent women. Shield your daughters from such heinous behavior!

Mark is also displeased with the guests on Taylor's 1989 Tour. He wants her to be supporting unknown artists looking for their break. Maybe she can write a letter convincing a multi-million dollar company to pay those up and coming artists for their music instead of giving it away for free for 3 months. Oh yeah wait she already did that! I guess it really does say a lot about Taylor that DOZENS of interntionally renowned performers are willing to join her onstage and perform. Clearly this type of behavior is evidence of her demonic personality. Oh, and remind me again Mark, are her opening acts super famous or are they some relatively unknown up and comers? (I can wait while you look it up Mark, cause you clearly didn't fact check that before you started writing.)

Mark Reason #2: She Uses Others to Build Her Brand

According to Mark, T-Swift is just a big user, and has been since she "made her name in country music by titling her first single after another whose name was already established: Tim McGraw". I hardly think Tim McGraw, or his reputation had anything to do with her success. I'm sure the fact that every album she's ever released has been record breaking is completely because she had one song on her self-titled debut album. Riddle me this Mark, is Brad Paisley a user? Eric Church? Cause they both happen to have songs titled after other artists. Should I stop respecting the because of that? 

Mark Reason #3: Her Charity

I think my favorite part about this one is the fact that he first does actually talk about how Taylor is very charitable, he has no issue with that, in fact he even mentions the fact that Swift is recognized as one of the music industry's MOST philanthropic entertainers. Mark is just unsatisfied with how Taylor gives to charity. Yeah, I'm serious. Mark doesn't like that Taylor Swift chooses where make her contributions through fan surveys. I guess seeking feedback from a dedicated group of fans, and trying to be charitable in ways that will benefit them directly is super selfish of Tay. And I am sure that if we were to pull Mark's taxes they would reflect that he donates a reasonable amount of his income to a variety of charitable organizations. Of course, I would never judge him based on what he does or doesn't contribute to charity, nor question his reasoning, because that's none of my damn business and it would be rude to criticize a person's philanthropic choices.  

Mark Reason #4: She's Promoting Vanity

Apparently T-Swift is a deplorable human for A) Being an entrepreneur and B) Being a spokes person. According to him, her role as a spokeswoman for CoverGirl is inconsistent with Taylor's "love who you are" attitude. Ellen Degenres was also a CoverGirl spokeswoman, does Mark think she's a bad role model too? So, I can't love myself and mascara? Guess I can't be a confident and love myself, because I also happen to love eye shadow. 

Now, there were even more digs at Taylor Swift in Mark's little article, but for the sake of length I'm not going to get in to his inaccurate description of her musical evolution, or call him an idiot for saying she abandoned country music. I am absolutely positive that Mark loves the exact same music styles now, as he did when he was 15. And I'm sure he just forgot to consider all the famous male country artists who's music stylings have evolved throughout their careers. 

Basically, what I'm trying to say, is that you shouldn't go off judging a someone you dont know, have never met, and have never spent any time with. That is ignorant, and that is wrong. Mr. Carpowich is doing a wonderful job of showcasing the type of person we dont want our youth to idolize. He just happens to be doing it with his actions, not his writing. 

Mark's Article: 

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/mark-carpowich/taylor-swift-no-longer-a-role-model-why-everything-has-changed_b_7791264.html

The Real Shame

So, once again, America has completely overreacted to something trivial. We’ve taken something completely innocent, and turned it into a national crisis. We’re very good at this, and I’m kind of glad because it makes coming up with blog posts so much easier.

Oprah Magazine is in the news today because of a piece of fashion advice they gave women. In response to the question “Can I pull off a crop top?” the magazine said “If (and only if!) you have a flat stomach, feel free to try one. For more coverage, layer the top over a longer shirt”. Some people are calling this body shaming. I’m calling those people idiots.

I’m not sure if y’all are aware, but clothing items are not universal. Every person and every different body type can’t all wear the same style, cut, color and look good. We need to applaud Oprah Magazine. They’re doing what so many of us are unwilling to do; be honest about our bodies. 

One of my biggest pet peeves is when women refuse to dress in clothing that is flattering for their figure, because they can’t or won’t accept their bodies. Look at me, I’m a big girl. I know it, I own it, I whine about it on occasion (I’m only human after all). But I also dress for my body type. And guess what, its not all baggy sweaters. I’m fat but I’ll be damned if I don’t look cute as hell in an A-line dress. I know what kind of clothes flatter me, and I don’t really give a damn what the number on the tag says.

I have a pudgy white stomach, and I have no business wearing a crop top. Why would I? A crop top is not going to flatter my body, and Oprah Magazine knows that. They didn’t say “All you fat asses shouldn’t wear a crop top”. They said it’s flattering on women with flat stomachs (True.) and even gave a secondary option on how to wear a crop top if you don’t have a flat stomach (Thanks for the idea O!)

There is a distinct difference between body shaming, and being realistic about your style. We can’t be so over sensitive to things like this. If we turn every piece of fashion advice into body shaming, we’re going to create an environment where no one can be honest about their body. We need to focus on creating an open dialogue so that young girls can learn to embrace the body they have and rock it, not hide it while constantly saying “I’ll buy that when I can fit in the smaller size” or “I’ll be happy when I lose 10 more pounds.”

If your mom or your best friend told you to put the crop top down cause it didn’t look good on you, you would thank them for saving you from being a fashion don’t, but if Oprah does it she’s body shaming? Oprah? We’re really accusing the queen of embracing your body of being a body shamer? *Raises one eyebrow and shakes head* I don’t think so y’all.