Rowan Blanchard won’t be joining anyone’s squad anytime soon. The Girl Meets World star, 14, told Just Jared Jr. that she’s against using the terms “girl squad” or “squad goals” a la Taylor Swift because she thinks they make feminism look “one-dimensional.”
“Of course female friendship is a beautiful thing. It’s insanely powerful,” the teen told the site. “Sisterhood is something so valid and important when you are growing up that I literally think the essence of it should be taught in schools. But, the ‘squads’ we see in the media are very polarizing. Feminism and friendship are supposed to be inclusive, and most of these ‘squads’ are strictly exclusive.”
Blanchard added that the term “makes feminism look very one dimensional,” and that “feminism is so multilayered and complex that it can be frustrating when the media and the celebrities involved in it make feminism and ‘squads’ feel like this very happy, exclusive, perfect thing.” “There’s so much more than that,” she continued. “‘Squad goals’ can polarize anyone who is not white, thin, tall and always happy.”
As many are well aware, Swift is known for promoting her squad, which includes famous pals Selena Gomez, Lily Aldridge, Gigi Hadid, and pretty much any other successful twentysomething star.
Swift’s “squad” has, however, made a point to not promote cattiness.
“We talk about [female empowerment] a lot; it’s a conversation we often have,” Hadid, 20, told Elle Canada of her and Swift’s pals. “We want to be the generation and the group of friends known for supporting each other. ‘Squad Goals’ is a big social media thing right now, and that’s what we want to inspire in other groups of friends — to be proud of the power you all have when you’re together, which can be amplified so much by each person. That’s what has been cool about everyone’s willingness to be there for each other.”
