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Tapestries: Interwoven voices of local and global identities

Abstract

In the landscape of the contemporary entertainment industry, Taylor Swift and Dolly Parton stand out as iconic figures with enduring influence and widespread acclaim. This paper explores the parallel trajectories of these two white, blonde, Christian, and country-rooted female artists, each known for their advocacy in women's issues in addition to their careers as influential musicians. They each attempt to project an apolitical image in their work to maintain broad appeal, but lack a commitment to more nuanced and intersectional concerns. I will utilize a variety of media sources coupled with academic texts that center feminism to critically discuss a few key aspects of the careers of Parton and Swift. I explore their respective rises to fame, philanthropic works, political actions (and inactions), portrayals in the media, and romantic relationships. This exploration of white feminism through the lens of Taylor Swift and Dolly Parton's careers illuminates a nuanced narrative of successes, challenges, and the intricacies of their feminism, urging a critical examination of influence, responsibility, and the evolving dynamics of popular feminist narratives.

Author Biography

Emma Kopplin (she/her), originally from Redfield, South Dakota, is a graduating senior American Studies major, History major, and Legal Studies concentrator at Macalester College. She is a first-generation student and the vice president of Macalester College Student Government, and hopes to attend law school in the future.

Creative Commons License

Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License

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