Thank you for adding this, Alexandria! I have to confess, I’m a bit clueless when it comes to pop culture; my friends actually make fun of me for how little I know of popular TV, movies, etc. So if that was the trope at the time, I’ll take your word for it. ;)

Funny enough, despite my awkward teen years, I was going through some version of the opposite struggle by the time “YBWM” came out; from 2008–2011, I was in a Ph.D. program, and by then, I did dress in a conventionally “feminine” sense: high-heeled knee-high boots, long voluminous hair, big earrings, smoky eye and plumping gloss, the works. This was all a MAJOR faux pas in the ivory tower (social scientists can WAY more sexist than one would assume), and I was definitely aware of my “unacceptably” feminine self-presentation. But even back then, I can’t say I felt attacked by lyrics like these, that reference a girly-girl. I guess there’s also the fact that Taylor Swift herself definitely knew how to glam it up… so I didn’t think she was genuinely taking shots at women who did. I also think her decision to portray her own rival in the video was a nice artistic touch; it reinforces the idea that the girl referenced in the song is not a total “other.”

In any case, when I reflect on my own internalized misogyny from younger years, it’s fascinating to explore. I remember having complicated feelings about makeup, plastic surgery, etc. The 90s were definitely not an enlightened time, LOL. I got a lot of mixed messages as a kid. Those are probably topics for another post, but it’s always good to reflect on these kinds of things. Thank you very much for your thoughtful comment!