Feminist Theory

Derived from the word “femina” which means as “woman”, Feminism can be understood as the study of women whereas it also ranged as a kind of social, economic, political, and ideological movement in order to obtain the gender equality through the lens of society. Feminism also explained that the contribution of women in society is huge and there are three wave of feminism. Feminism also has eight kind of feminism such as; liberal feminism, radical feminism, Marxism feminism, gender psychoanalyst feminism, existentialist feminism, postmodern feminism, ecofeminism, and multicultural and global feminism.

Tyson (2006) believed that by using feminism criticism, one is capable to examine the way of how the reinforcement of the economic, political, social, and psychological oppression of women often happened in literature. Freedman in addition also state that feminism is a term which emerged long after women started questioning their inferior status and demand an amelioration of their social position. Even when the word feminism and the ideology of it has appeared for so long, it is yet to be the identification for many of those who campaigned for women’s right.

Radical feminism as one from eight type of feminism belief that women's fate were profound to be linked as one, thus, it claimed that the personal (of the women) is political, and women are “sisters”. The insist of men’s control for both sexually and reproductive of women also women’s self-identity, self-respect, and self-esteem is what makes women believe the oppression is real especially towards them and from there the fundamental of radical feminism then exist.

Tong explained that Radical feminists viewed themselves to be the revolutionaries instead of reformers. These revolutionary feminists, known as "radical feminists," integrated consciousness-raising practices into feminist theory. Women met in small groups to discuss their own experiences as women with one another. They learned that their specific experiences were not unique to them, but rather common among many women (2009).

Background of the Study

Music has been around since ancient times and has become an integral aspect of society's culture. Historically, music was exclusively used for religious or cultural rites. In the early days of music, performers used simply tones and melody. Music began to flourish during the Middle

Ages and was utilised to communicate emotions. Music has evolved swiftly throughout time,

with lyrics being used to enrich and emphasise the song's message. In the present day, many

individuals express their emotions, thoughts, ideas, opinions, and so on through song lyrics.

On top of that, song lyrics serve as communication tools, allowing people to communicate

sentiments or thoughts that they cannot articulate clearly. Song lyrics are an intriguing aspect

of poetry since their meaning varies from lyric to lyric, and the language of lyrics differs from

other literary works such as theatre, prose, cinema studies, and children's literature. A song

lyric is also someone's expression of what they have heard or experienced. Song lyrics vary from

other literary works in that the material is simple yet contains profound significance for

the readers. With that being said, song lyric can be the tool to express the concern that people

often has in their everyday life, that include the differences which women and men often has

in their life.

The contradiction of men and women has always been the issue that roaming around for so long, indicating that the issue never once settled down for good and women in general have always yearn the possibilities where they expressed as someone that is equal with men. The existential of gender and its issue had always easily found in various aspects, name it songs, movies, novels, and any literary works that compiled in English Literature as general. It is also always been an interesting path for everyone to choose and tries to unravel from their own perspective following with the concept of feminism ideology as a whole. The strong gender stereotype have also become the concern that shown in the lens of women, how often problems occurred in women just because they are women is one thing issue that researcher wish to find or to ended for.

There are plenty authors or song-writers who also profoundly lead themselves to dwell in this concept, and one of them is Taylor Swift. Swift, born in 13th December 1989 is the milestones singer song-writer who often expresses her story life and concern and paint it into the songs she released for herself. Taylor Swift who has been in the industry for more than a decade often known as someone who is capable to bring her biography as something that allows the listeners feel relatable of her life and story. Lover is one of her self-written album which was released in 2019 mainly talks about everything in her life. Among 18 songs that it has, one that reach the peak interest of many people with the release of its music video is none other than “The Man”

The Man has a deep lyric which talks about the complex that women has when it comes to her

life through the society. It fantasize what it feels like when women has the capability to pursue

everything they wishes for if only her gender is not woman, but a man. Man has so much

capacity to do whatever he likes, to purse everything he desired for. Man often gets everything

and it is only practical for them to do everything with their own command.

While on the other hand, this song from Taylor Swift’s narration belief that as woman, she

often feel her life isn’t as practical as men are. The narrator has to run in order to do everything

or even to be in the same exact place as men, just because their path not as smooth as men are.

This song has a loud capacity to express the feminism which occurs, especially through the

lens of radical feminism whereas it solely put their question regarding the condition which

women has which include their positional in society, the oppression they have to face every

single day on their life, and the fact that men often idealize that women is none other than what

they have symbolize for so long, when women can actually dreams and do whatever things

they desire.

From the lens of this song, it is meant to be find that how The Man has its capability to shows

the side of side from what concern women and the idealism of Feminism, much more radical

feminism, and from that background the researcher wish to find the explanation to the said

question.

Statement of the problem:

How the message from the lyric of The Man by Taylor Swift shows the indicate of radical feminism?