Taylor Swift Calls Herself a 'National Lightning Rod for Slut-Shaming' and It's Important

Having questions thrown at you rapid-fire is a scary thing. It's anxiety-producing to feel like you have to come up with the best possible answers to every question completely in the moment. And that is the exact challenge Vogue tasked this month's cover star, Taylor Swift, with in their video segment "73 Questions with Taylor Swift."

The 10-minute single-take interview shows Swift leading the interviewer around her home, answering question after question about dozens of subjects including her songwriting process, her cats, her childhood goals, and her secret talents.

The whole video is an interesting and endearing gift to Swift fans, but the best and most powerful moment came when the interviewer asked Taylor what she would tell her 19 year-old self:

"If I could talk to my 19 year-old self, I'd just say 'Hey. You know, you're gonna date just like a normal, 20-something should be allowed to, but you're going to be a national lightning rod for slut-shaming," Swift replied.

It's a quick moment, but it's one that brings you back a handful of years to when Taylor was constantly criticized for dating what the media and the internet machine dubbed too many men. She was ridiculed by comedians, writers, reporters, and even her fellow artists. It became a national joke that everyone knew about. There were t-shirts.

We can't help but be profoundly proud that now, a few years later, Swift is calling out how she was treated so blatantly and honestly.

Of course, this is not a knew thing for her. "Blank Space," one of the biggest singles from her uber popular album 1989, is all about that time in her life.

Taylor Swift speaking out about how the media and the industry shamed her is important. We need to remember that it happened, we all contributed to it, and that it was in no way acceptable. Because she's exactly right.

Every 20-something should be allowed to date without being shamed. And, maybe, if we remember how we wrongly treated Taylor Swift, we can remember to treat the upcoming generation of artists with a bit more kindness, openness and understanding.