Taylor Swift Has Positive Impact On Fans' Body Image Attitudes

[ivn]

Gareth Cattermole/TAS18, via Getty Images

In a new study conducted by researchers at the University of Vermont, Taylor Swift’s openness about her struggles with body image and disordered eating has been found to positively influence her fans’ attitudes and behaviors towards these issues. Published in the journal Social Science & Medicine, the research analyzed social media content to determine how Swift’s disclosures about her eating disorder have impacted her fans.

In her 2020 Netflix documentary, “Miss Americana,” Swift revealed how these issues affected her, particularly during the promotion of her 2014 album, “1989.” She spoke openly about the pressure to conform to societal beauty standards and the resultant harmful behaviors she adopted.


The researchers selected two prominent social media platforms, TikTok and Reddit, known for their active Taylor Swift fan communities. These platforms provided a diverse range of fan interactions, with TikTok being video-based and Reddit being text-based.

To gather relevant data, the researchers searched for posts related to Taylor Swift, body image, and eating disorders. They used search terms like “Taylor Swift body image” on TikTok and “body image” and “eating disorders” on Reddit. The top 100 TikTok posts and the top 101 Reddit posts, along with their associated comments, were included in the analysis. This amounted to over 8,300 comments being reviewed. The posts were collected between October and November 2023.

The researchers employed a qualitative thematic analysis approach to code and analyze the posts and comments. They developed a codebook based on existing literature on body image, eating disorders, diet culture, parasocial relationships, and celebrity influence. The thematic analysis allowed the researchers to identify key themes and patterns in the fan reactions.

Despite the positive influence, many fans continued to objectify Swift’s body, often under the guise of admiration or defense against criticism. This highlighted an ongoing challenge where even well-intentioned comments perpetuated body-focused narratives and objectification, underscoring the complexity of addressing body image issues in a celebrity-driven culture.

Lastly, the controversy surrounding the “Anti-Hero” music video, where Swift steps on a scale that reads “fat,” was a significant point of discussion among fans. While some defended Swift’s artistic expression, others felt the scene perpetuated anti-fat bias. This debate highlighted the complexities and potential pitfalls of addressing sensitive issues like body image in media, even when the intent is to share personal experiences.

The study had several limitations. The researchers could not ascertain the demographics of the social media users, which could affect the generalizability of the findings. Additionally, the analysis was limited to English-language posts, potentially missing perspectives from non-English-speaking fans. The focus on Taylor Swift fans, who are predominantly white millennial women, may also limit the applicability of the results to a broader audience.

Despite these limitations, the findings provide significant insights into the influence of Taylor Swift’s openness about her struggles with body image and disordered eating on her fans. Overall, the study highlights the powerful role that celebrity disclosures can play in shaping attitudes and behaviors.



Source



Disclaimer: I despise Taylor Swift for many reasons but it’s true that a healthy discussion can be made about body dysmorphia and eating disorders without commenting and shitting on other people’s bodies, you know. It’s high time ONTD tone down its toxicity tbh.