Pop star Taylor Swift endorsed Kamala Harris for president right after Tuesday night’s presidential debate against Donald Trump. She did it through an Instagram post of herself holding one of her three cats, Benjamin Button, and signing off her endorsement as the “childless cat lady.” Swift was, of course, referencing the now infamous comments by Trump’s running mate, JD Vance.
In a resurfaced 2021 Fox News interview with Tucker Carlson, Vance, who was a Senate candidate at the time, claimed something bizarre. He says that the U.S. is being run by “a bunch of childless cat ladies who are miserable with their lives and choices. These women want to spread that misery across the country.” He added, “If you look at Kamala Harris, Pete Buttigieg, AOC, the entire future of the Democrats is controlled by people without children.“
So, according to Vance, if a woman is childless, she is basically just a sad person. Moreover, she has nothing better to do than ruin everyone else’s day. Because, of course, nothing could be more validating in a patriarchal society than using motherhood and marital status as the ultimate measure of women’s worth and competence.
Just checking, are we really in the 21st century?
Childless Cat Lady: Why does being childfree still get unjustified criticism?
I have been a fan of Taylor Swift for ages. Her indie folk album Folklore is a personal favourite, and I keep up with her Eras Tour updates (you know how it is when you fall down a rabbit hole with a celebrity). Occasionally, I come across someone, often a man no one has ever heard of, commenting about Taylor not having kids. “She is almost 34. I really hope she has babies soon,” they say.
For a bit of background, Taylor Swift is a billionaire and one of the most successful women on the planet. She’s got an army of devoted fans (called Swifties) who spend their last cent just to see her record-breaking tours. Swift is the first and only artist to win the GRAMMY for Album of The Year four times. When she is on her music tour to a city, excitement and money flow like never before. In fact, Taylor Swift is so influential that there is now a term for her impact: “Swiftonomics.”
Yet, despite her monumental success, some still view her as a bad role model because she is an unmarried woman without children. A couple of months ago, John Mac Ghlionn published a rage-bait article claiming Taylor Swift is a terrible role model for women because she’s “34, unmarried, and childless.” He argued, “While Swift’s musical talent and business acumen are certainly admirable, even laudable, we must ask if her personal life choices are ones we want our sisters and daughters to emulate.“
The reactions
Then there is Andrew Tate, who took it a step further, calling Swift “ancient.” He questions why a woman should even bother living past 30 without kids. It is funny how no one seems to say the same thing to men. I have not read or heard anyone suggesting The Weeknd or Bruno Mars should hurry up and have a baby.
Sure, these articles, tweets, and podcasts might focus on a specific person. But let us be honest: this view is not just slapped on female celebrities. It is a broader issue. A woman can be incredibly talented, successful, and accomplished, yet people might look down on her if she does not fit the traditional mould.
Being a ‘Cat Lady’ might actually be a win.
The term “cat lady” is often used derogatorily towards women who choose not to have children. Unlike men, who are often praised as “bachelors” when they remain childless, the “cat lady” label carries negative connotations. It implies that such women are either physically unattractive or workaholics to the point of being socially deviant. The insult suggests that a pet cat is their only source of love and companionship.
With all the news about the abuse faced by married women with children, I’d argue that being a “childless cat lady” might actually be something to aspire to. After all, studies show that single women without children are often happier. They are also healthier than their married counterparts. Anecdotally, from my own family, friends, and acquaintances, child-free (by choice) single women seem to be the happiest too.
A page from the past
Back in 2019, Paul Dolan, a professor of behavioural science at the London School of Economics, made an interesting point. He said, “If you are a man, you should probably get married; if you are a woman, don’t bother.” Dolan joked about the data showing that “the healthiest and happiest population subgroup are women who never married or had children.“
Anyway, I am not going to dive more into the history and semantics of every misogynistic label society has slapped on women. What I really want to ask is: Is being childless by choice really the tragedy that society makes it out to be?
The final thoughts
Out of curiosity, I googled “childfree celebrities,” and the first article I found was titled “17 Childfree Female Celebrities on Why They Don’t Want Kids.” Right below it was “17 Male Celebrities Who Are Proudly Childfree.” It is funny how the focus seems to shift depending on the celebrity’s gender. It is as if women have to justify their choice, while men making the same decision are admired as a refreshing break from convention.
Marriage and motherhood should be personal choices, not obligations dictated by others. People need to stop being nosy about women’s personal life decisions, whether they’re celebrities, homemakers, or anyone in between. Women don’t owe the world or anyone a child.
Disclaimer: The views expressed in this article are based on the writer’s insights, supported by data and resources available both online and offline, as applicable. Changeincontent.com is committed to promoting inclusivity across all forms of content, which we broadly define as media, policies, law, and history—encompassing all elements that influence the lives of women and gender-queer individuals. Our goal is to promote understanding and advocate for comprehensive inclusivity.
