Taylor Swift Criticized for Being 34, Unmarried, and Childless – Yet She’s the Ultimate Role Model

Taylor Swift has achieved what few can dream of: her Eras Tour became the first to gross over $1 billion, she’s shattered two Billboard chart records previously held by the Beatles, she’s emerged as the world’s leading contributor to combating food poverty per capita, and the Victoria & Albert Museum in London recently announced a major exhibition celebrating her cultural impact. These are the kinds of accomplishments that should dominate conversations about Swift’s legacy. But instead, in a recent Newsweek article, American conservative commentator John Mac Ghlionn chose to zero in on her personal life, questioning her suitability as a “role model” for “our sisters and daughters.” His reasoning? At 34, Swift remains unmarried and childless, and has dated 12 men “in a few years.” He went on to ponder what kind of message her lifestyle sends to young women about “stability, commitment, and even love itself.”

TAYLOR SWIFT JOINED ON STAGE BY TRAVIS KELCE AT THE ERAS TOUR 2024. ©GETTY

The double standards Swift faces as the world’s biggest pop star are nothing short of staggering. Consider this: her boyfriend, NFL superstar Travis Kelce, is also 34 and childless, yet no one is clutching their pearls or suggesting that young men need to be shielded from his influence lest they watch too many football games. The relentless focus on Swift’s dating history—used to cast moral judgment and fuel clickbait headlines—is a tired trope. It’s also one Swift has consistently turned into creative gold, catching criticism with one hand and spinning it into pop masterpieces with the other. There aren’t enough of her signature friendship bracelets in the world to spell out the hypocrisy she endures, but her ability to transform scrutiny into art is quintessentially Swiftian. Case in point: Kelce joined her on stage during the 2024 Eras Tour, a moment that radiated joy and defiance in the face of naysayers.

For certain men, like Ghlionn—who has a history of expressing misogynistic views—Swift’s unparalleled influence is a direct threat. The only way they seem able to cope with her power is by reducing her to outdated notions of womanhood, ones that were last widely accepted in the 1950s. To acknowledge her achievements—her billion-dollar tour, her chart-dominating records, her philanthropy—would be to admit that women can be far more than their proximity to a man, and that they can accomplish extraordinary things without one. Swift isn’t the only woman subjected to this kind of sexist rhetoric. Jennifer Aniston has faced years of tabloid scrutiny for her single status, only recently pushing back by saying she’s perfectly content and rejects the idea of sacrificing her identity or needs for societal expectations. Women who challenge the status quo—whether by prioritizing their ambitions over marriage or achieving stratospheric success—still make parts of society deeply uncomfortable. Ghlionn’s critique feels like a flurry of flimsy paper arrows aimed at a towering giant who doesn’t even notice he’s there.

But there’s a deeper issue at play, one that goes beyond Swift’s marital status or her string of high-profile relationships with handsome leading men. It’s not even about the fact that she writes songs about those relationships, which some might argue invites public discussion. The real problem for people like Ghlionn is that Swift disrupts the natural order. Young women, in their view, are supposed to be frivolous, irrelevant, and silly. Their greatest achievements should be becoming wives and mothers. Yet here is Swift: a shrewd, self-determining cultural force, an economic powerhouse, and a billionaire whose most enduring love story isn’t with a man but with the legions of female fans who adore her across the globe. She is the antithesis of the “trad wife” archetype, and that’s precisely why she’s so powerful.

Swift is an exceptional role model, not despite her choices but because of them. She lives life on her own terms, embodying the ethos of a generation that’s increasingly rejecting traditional expectations. Look at the declining marriage and birth rates in many parts of the world: Swift is part of a broader cultural shift, one where young women are redefining what success and fulfillment look like. She’s not afraid to challenge norms, and she’s certainly not afraid to call out her critics. “Who’s afraid of little old me?” she sings on her latest album, a pointed jab at those who tremble at her influence. Men like Ghlionn are terrified—not just of Swift, but of the millions of women she inspires to live boldly, unapologetically, and on their own terms.