In Taylor Swift’s “Look What You Made Me Do” music video she adheres to several gender norms while defying others. According to sex role perspective she defies the stereotypes for women by playing a dominant force throughout the music video, she is the center of attention throughout the entire video while maintaining eye contact with the camera the entire time even when the male background dancers are facing away from the camera. Additionally, in the beginning of the video, she is showed doing manual work and is covered in dirt. All of these things would traditionally align with the stereotypes for men. Alternatively, she plays into the gender stereotypes by sitting in jewels wearing full face of makeup and glamorous dresses. Using gaze theory, there are components that could hint towards the male gaze. There is a part of the video where Taylor Swift’s picture is being taken by many male paparazzi. There is also the sense of her objectification when there are many robots that are wearing the same more revealing outfit as her at one point in the video. This could also however, be a done as an ironic critique of the objectification she experiences.
Shared by: Margaret Shiverick
Image Credit: https://www.theringer.com/music/2017/8/27/16212980/taylor-swift-vmas-look-what-you-made-me-do