Taylor Swift’s relationship shows how unfair expectations are placed on women and your office music might soon be illegal…this week in social change
Thred Media
An award-winning Gen Z-led consultancy agency helping brands and agencies to connect with today's youth.
Welcome back to another week of social change news!
Every week we give you the rundown on the latest Gen Z news. Whether it’s a new report that global economic inequality is at the lowest it’s been in 150 years, our analysis on British prankster Mizzy , the ramifications of the new Global Plastics Treaty on the fashion industry, or New York City’s air turning orange , we’ve got it all right here.
Let’s get stuck into this week’s biggest stories.
Did you know that Paul McCartney recently revealed a new Beatles song is on the way? Thanks to AI, John Lennon’s vocal stems from an old cassette were enhanced and retouched, with the new track expected to drop later this year. Using artificial intelligence in music is already a contentious issue, and using previously unreleased material from a deceased artist presents its own moral questions. Read the full story on our website here .
Elsewhere, the UAE allegedly used fake accounts to defend its controversial hosting of COP28 this year. Across Twitter and Medium, at least 100 fake accounts are posting positive sentiments and experts claim its part of a shoddily executed popularity drive from within. Interested to learn more? You can read the full story here .
These are fascinating stories, of course, but what about our main features of the week? Let’s jump straight into it.?
First up, the backlash against Swift’s alleged coupling with The 1975’s Matty Healy demonstrated how women are often viewed as extensions of their partners. Our remote writer Flo took a deep dive into the implications and expectations of women in the public eye and – by extension – society at large.
Taylor Swift has long been in the public eye for reasons beyond her illustrious music career. In fact, fascination with Swift’s love life has arguably been as instrumental in her success as her full time job.
Her links to Healy have highlighted a disturbing toxicity felt toward female celebrities beyond gossip and fascination. This phenomenon reflects the broader pressure on celebrities to conform to a politically-neutral persona, often sacrificing their personal identities in the process.
Many could argue that the key ingredient to Taylor Swift’s success has been her mass appeal; brought about by an ostensible ‘harmlessness’, a vanilla bean style, paradoxically innocent sex-appeal and convenient silence on any subject that could remotely raise debate or intrepid thought.
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Swift is a constant media target, however, enduring relentless criticism and scrutiny, particularly when her relationships become public knowledge. This spotlights the unfair – and frankly unrealistic – expectations we place on celebrities to remain entirely nonpartisan. Check out the full article on our website Thred right here .?
Meanwhile, A US federal court is allowing a lawsuit brought forward by warehouse workers who say their workplace has become ‘more hostile’ as a direct result of music.
The Ninth US Circuit Court of Appeals in San Francisco overturned a previous motion to dismiss the case by Chief US District Judge Miranda Du. In the suit, the eight employees allege that powerful speakers were placed across S&S Activewear’s 700,000-square-foot warehouse and routinely played ‘sexually graphic and violently misogynistic’ music. Two songs mentioned specifically are ‘Stan’ by Eminem and ‘Blowjob Betty’ by Too Short.
Speakers were placed on forklifts and transported around the warehouse, according to the suit, making it difficult to avoid the music and its detrimental effects on the workplace environment.
According to the suit, complaints were submitted ‘almost daily,’ with management defending the music choices and referring to them as ‘motivational.’ Read the full story on our website Thred here .
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