How “The Man” by Taylor Swift and “Tomboy” by (G)I-DLE Flip Gender Rules and Say, “No Thanks” to Society’s Labels

1. Introduction

What do a billionaire American pop star and a rebellious South Korean girl group have in common? They’ve both had enough of being told how to act, dress, speak, smile, and succeed. All because they’re women. Taylor Swift’s “The Man” and (G)I-DLE’s “Tomboy” are literally confrontations. They hold up a mirror to society and ask, “Would you treat me the same if I were a man?”

This comparative analysis dives deep into the backstories, lyrics, literary devices, music styles, and cultural nuances behind both songs. Not just to praise them, but to understand why they matter now more than ever. This is a lyrical protest by breaking the societal norms, and it’s global.

2. Backstory: Why These Songs Matter

👠2.1 Taylor Swift's "The Man"

For over a decade, Taylor Swift navigated a career full of contradictions:

Be nice, but not fake. Be successful, but humble. Date, but not too much. Speak up, but not too loudly. Sound familiar?

Taylor noticed that men in her industry were praised for traits she was punished for. Her inspiration for “The Man” came from a single question she asked herself:

“If I had done everything exactly the same, but as a man, would I be seen differently?”

In her 2020 interviews, Taylor said she was tired of watching men rise to power while women were scrutinized for being “complicated” or “difficult.” Taylor explained that “The Man” was inspired not just by her own experiences, but by stories she’s heard from women across different industries. She believes that by putting these issues into a song, it helps people recognize and talk about unfair double standards especially how women are judged more harshly than men for doing the same things. She pointed out how women often have to work harder, appear effortless, and avoid mistakes, or they’ll be criticized while men can get away with doing less and still be praised.

📖 Free access: https://youtu.be/nDzhoofkRJI?si=ub7PEr2mkzmq6RKY

🖤2.2 (G)I-DLE's "Tomboy"

In 2021, (G)I-DLE were at a crossroads. After controversy and a long hiatus, the group could’ve played it safe. Instead, they came back louder, rougher, and more unapologetic. “Tomboy” was a total image flip. No pastel skirts, no aegyo smiles, no apologies. The rock-punk sound, the doll symbolism, and the bold lyrics screamed rebellion.

Leader Soyeon, who co-wrote the track, explained that “Tomboy” was their way of saying:

“We don’t exist to fit into anyone’s mold.”

📖 Free access: https://youtu.be/bUdyN4Ja1Uo?si=Bkos51eMfDNORP1u

This was especially bold in the K-pop world, where girl groups are still expected to be “cute, pure, and marketable.” The message wasn’t just aimed at haters, but it was aimed at the entire system.

3. The Struggle: Expressing Through Lyrics

🧠3.1 Taylor Swift – “The Man”

Taylor uses sarcasm and role reversal. She imagines a world where she’s “Tyler Swift” who is powerful, loud, unbothered.

“I’m so sick of running as fast as I can / Wondering if I’d get there quicker if I was a man.”

This lyric punches hard because it’s relatable across careers from classrooms to corporate offices. It reflects the invisible burden many women carry: being the best but still getting less.

She also criticizes how men are celebrated for the same things women are shamed for:

“They’d say I played the field before I found someone to commit to / And that would be okay / For me to do.”

Taylor isn’t angry, but she’s exhausted. And her exhaustion is educational: it shows how language, praise, and judgment shift depending on who’s speaking.

🔥3.2 (G)I-DLE – “Tomboy”

If “The Man” is a lecture, “Tomboy” is a riot. The lyrics are simple but loaded:

“You get the song right? You get what I mean, tomboy.”

“It’s neither man nor woman."

These lines dismantle gender binaries, flipping the concept of a “tomboy” on its head. In most cultures, a tomboy is a girl who acts like a boy, but G(I)-DLE says: no. Being rebellious, loud, or messy isn’t masculine. It’s just human.

4. Literary Devices

4.1 Allusion

“I’d be just like Leo in Saint-Tropez”

(from The Man)

Leonardo DiCaprio has become iconic for his carefree lifestyle, especially the legendary yacht parties in Saint-Tropez which is a symbol of celebrity freedom and privilege. By referencing Leo, Taylor isn’t just talking about a famous actor; she’s spotlighting the double standards that exist between men and women in society.

🎓According to Gemmill (2019), Taylor imagines herself living the same “playboy” lifestyle that Leo is famous for, but she knows the truth that society won’t applaud her for it. Men can date multiple people, party openly, and maintain a glamorous reputation. Women doing the same? Often face harsh judgment, sl*t-shaming, or worse.

📖 Free access: https://www.teenvogue.com/story/taylor-swift-the-man-leonardo-dicaprio-saint-tropez-sexist-double-standards

“Your mom raised you as a prince, but this is queendom, right?”

(from TOMBOY)

Here, (G)I-DLE plays with one of the oldest cultural stories which is the fairy tale. “Prince” conjures images of male royalty, heroism, and entitlement, a figure traditionally associated with leadership and control. But this lyric turns that narrative upside down by boldly claiming a new world order: a queendom. Instead of silently accepting the idea that men lead and women follow, they reclaim and rewrite that story.

Fairy tales shape how we understand gender roles from childhood onward.

🎓According to Biana (n.d.), Bell hooks, a leading feminist thinker, argues that cultural narratives deeply influence power dynamics in society. By subverting those narratives in pop music, (G)I-DLE is not just making a catchy lyric , however they’re participating in cultural activism by reshaping how listeners think about gender and power.

📖 Free access: https://www.researchgate.net/publication/345127663_Extending_bell_hooks'_Feminist_Theory

4.2 Irony

“If I was a man, then I’d be the man.”

Taylor is already successful, confident, and accomplished. Yet, she points out that if she were a man, people would view her very differently with more respect and authority. The irony is that the same person’s worth is judged differently just based on gender.

Instead of being praised for her achievements as she is, she imagines how much easier it would be if she had a male label. The lyric shows how unfair and contradictory societal attitudes can be.

“Do you want a blonde Barbie doll? / It’s not here, I’m not a doll”

Here, the irony lies in rejecting the idea of the perfect, delicate “Barbie doll” that society expects women to be. By saying “I’m not a doll,” (G)I-DLE contrasts the shallow stereotype with their real, strong identity, highlighting how outdated these expectations are.

In South Korea, where beauty standards for women are famously strict, this lyric said a lot. Female idols are often expected to act cute, gentle, and physically “perfect,” almost like toys. But (G)I-DLE flips that image completely. While society asks women to be like dolls which is pretty but quiet, the group uses that stereotype to mock the expectation and not fulfill it.

5. Tone and Musical Style

A song’s mood depends a lot on how it sounds. The speed, instruments, and singing style all affect how we feel the message.

• Taylor Swift’s “The Man” has a steady, smooth electropop beat. It sounds polished and controlled, matching her calm but sharp way of pointing out unfair treatment of women. The cool, steady rhythm helps the listener focus on her clever words instead of feeling angry.

• (G)I-DLE’s “TOMBOY” is very different. It’s loud and rough, with distorted guitars and strong drums. The fast, wild sound shows their anger and rebellion against strict rules, especially in K-pop where girls usually sound softer. The rough music makes their message feel powerful and immediate.

6. Cultural Differences, Universal Emotions

Both songs fight patriarchy, but the cultural stakes are different.

In Western media, Taylor is pushing against years of sexist headlines and industry bias, but she can be direct. “The Man” reflects a feminism that calls out inequality while maintaining mainstream appeal.

In South Korean culture, (G)I-DLE are pushing against K-pop’s manufactured femininity, strict gender roles, and conservative media control. Saying “I’m not your doll" is a rebellion against the system that made them idols.

Yet both share a universal feeling:

“I want to be more than what you expect of me.”

7. Conclusion

Taylor Swift and (G)I-DLE didn’t write typical girl power songs. They wrote something smarter, braver, and riskier. They didn’t just say, “I’m strong.” They said, “I’m tired of playing by your rules.” And more importantly: “I don’t need your approval.”

By using clever lyrics, genre-shifting sounds, and fierce imagery, both artists turned their personal frustrations into educational anthems that challenge gender stereotypes globally.

Remember:

You don’t need to act like “a man” to be powerful. You don’t need to act like “a girl” to be accepted. You just need to act like you.