Why do we hate happy women?

“She has the mentality and behaviour of a 15 yr old”

“Can’t stand the nonsense. A grown woman without a care in the world acting like a fool!”

“Did she just not break up with her last boy of 3 years? Already in another?”

“She’s the most annoying person on the planet”

“Her authentic self = being obsessed with herself”

These are all supposed to be hate comments on a random photo of Taylor Swift out with Travis Kelce. Now the internet can, and will, say whatever and I’m not one to ever really focus on it. But these really struck me because I think it’s so telling what they are focusing on.

Acting like a teenager.

Acting as if she hasn’t a care in the world.

Being in a new relationship.

Being very visible and therefore annoying.

Being obsessed with herself.

You know what it all boils down to?

She looks fucking happy. She’s just out there living her life, not really seeming to give a shit. Just boosting the economy and not playing by rules of how things should be done.

And oh my god, how dare she.

These comments don’t just come from men, either. Society hates a happy woman.

Why should we care though — Taylor’s not reading these comments and being bothered by them, right? So what’s the point?

You might not be worried about a photo of you getting posted on Instagram and the comments blowing up with hate.

But I’ve bet you worried about coming across as too full of yourself to your friends and family.

I’ve bet you worried about what people will think if you show up too much in your marketing.

I’ve bet you worried about looking like a fool if you make the wrong choice, or if you do the thing that would make you happiest instead of the Right(TM) Thing.

And if you’re a parent I know that you’ve worried about if your choices might make you look like a bad parent.

How the internet treats Taylor teaches our inner protector what to worry about. It tells us “don’t get too big — it’s not safe out there”, “don’t do anything where people might think you’re obsessed with yourself”, “don’t be childish”.

And oh my god, fuck that.

Please be childish.

Please be obsessed with yourself.

Please be so fucking happy that it radiates out of you.

Expand and take up so much space and be the shiniest object in every room.

And most of all, stay weird. It’s the best version of you.