Even Taylor Swift herself is rarely single and actively promotes being in a relationship: case in point, parading Travis Kelce on stage at Wembley last week. Amongst the Swiftie stans, all anyone can speculate about is whether she and Travis will be having kids soon.
And rising alongside this, the status of motherhood has become almost fetishised. Motherhood is now a badge of honour for ‘women who can have it all!’ The messaging – and it is deafening – is that you have not fully completed the assault course that it is to be a woman unless you’ve procreated.
And this is coupled with the booming business of motherhood that has exploded in recent years: baby showers, baby moons, motherhood influencers. Actual uniforms have emerged, jumpers and jewellery with ‘Mama’ emblazoned all over them. It’s incredibly alienating for those who don’t have children.
Then there’s the massive rise of the ‘Tradwife’ on TikTok – women shunning careers and independence to devote themselves to a life of servitude to husband and family in the manner of a 1950’s housewife.
And despite the single, child-free woman being such a rapidly growing demographic, where is the messaging from our political leaders trying to win our vote in the run up to this week’s general election?
Single women are penalised financially due to the gender pay gap. It is almost impossible to get on the housing ladder – and holidays, eating out and accommodation are more expensive. And often single, child-free women find themselves picking up the slack at work for their colleagues with children.
Listen, I know and understand from my many friends who have kids that it’s certainly not easy for modern mothers. It’s by no means a walk in the park and I am in no way diminishing the problems and stresses that come with the juggle of being a parent today (I watch Motherland and feel smug).
I also of course understand that when an individual becomes a parent, one’s life is so completely, fundamentally changed, that I’d imagine it’s very hard to recognise or relate to a life without children.
I would love to say let’s hope that the joyous, empowering messaging of Taylor’s music, ingrained in the brains of millions of Gen Z and Gen Alpha Swifties will rise up and drown out the likes of Mr Mac Ghilionn’s sexist views. But as long as society keeps putting so much onus on a woman’s status being directly related to her marital and reproductive choices, I doubt that will happen.
In the meantime, might I recommend you listen to Taylor’s The Man, to not only understand why she is the genius powerhouse that she is, but also to see how she – five years ago – so perfectly identified and lampooned the sexist double standards that Mr Mac Ghillionn’s Newsweek column so expertly exemplifies.
For more from GLAMOUR’s Assistant Editor and Entertainment Director, Emily Maddick, follow her on Instagram @emilymaddick.