Teen girls.
Photo by Mark Metcalfe/Getty Images.
Their taste in music is crazy and inscrutable, what with their boy bands and their InstaSnapTunes and their Eds Sheeran.
One Ed Sheeran. Photo by Charles Sykes/Invision/AP.
Should they get off our lawns?
Photo via iStock.
Not according to teen heartthrob Harry Styles, who came through with a stirring defense of his young female fans in interview with Rolling Stone.
The question? Whether he'll ever ditch his teen-friendly stylings to seek out "credibility" with a more serious audience.
Styles thinks not — and furthermore, shut up forever.
"Who's to say that young girls who like pop music – short for popular, right? – have worse musical taste than a 30-year-old hipster guy? That's not up to you to say. Music is something that's always changing. There's no goal posts.
Young girls like the Beatles. You gonna tell me they're not serious? How can you say young girls don't get it? They're our future. Our future doctors, lawyers, mothers, presidents, they kind of keep the world going.
Teenage-girl fans – they don't lie. If they like you, they're there. They don't act 'too cool.' They like you, and they tell you. Which is sick."
Harry Styles. Photo by John Shearer/Invision/AP.
It's not that teenage girls like bad music. It's that idiots label a lot of good music bad because young girls like it.
Consider, as Styles urges, The Beatles.
Will these teen idols ever be credible? Photo by Evening Standard/Getty Images.
The Beatles didn't just magically become a good band when they wrote "Revolver."
Those screaming teen girls with posters of The Fab Four on their bedroom walls that everyone made fun of? They were on to something way before their older brothers were wasting countless hours getting high on oregano fumes and spinning "Revolution #9" diagonally.
(Not that it needs to be said, but "I Want to Hold Your Hand" is a way better song than "Revolution #9." Don't @ me).
This tendency to dismiss things teen girls like isn't restricted to music, either!
Remember when everyone was surprised that Teen Vogue was doing good journalism? That was because people couldn't believe it was possible that a magazine for "vapid" 12-year-old girls could have anything "real" to say.
Also, remember when Cosmopolitan's hard hitting interview with Ivanka Trump in September shocked the world? That was because how could a magazine that features makeup tips and stuff ever be serious? (Unlike, say, Playboy, whose very serious, very credible political writing has long been featured alongside very serious, very credible photos of naked women).
Teen girls do a lot of cool stuff in the world.
When they're not listening to Harry Styles' music, they're writing classic novels, standing up to their elected officials on reproductive rights, and sometimes risking their lives to defy religious extremists.
A teen girl. Photo by Christopher Furlong/Getty Images.
Styles is insisting that we re-evaluate the musical taste of teenage girls, long mocked as immature, shallow, and frivolous, and recognize that it's actually pretty good.
More importantly, though, he's insisting that his young female fans be taken as seriously as any other person on planet Earth. And that's true and awesome.
Yay! Photo by Mark Metcalfe/Getty Images.
The rest of us should log on to InstaSnapTunes and listen to boy bands more often.
- Texas teen added a 'Hamilton'-esque rap to Frank Sinatra's 'Fly Me to the Moon' - Upworthy ›
- Charlie Watts dies at 80. Here's how good he really was. - Upworthy ›
- Harry Styles stopped his concert to answer a fan's dating question and it was simply great - Upworthy ›
- Harry Styles stopped his concert to answer a fan's dating question and it was simply great - Upworthy ›
- Inside the Beatles’ messy breakup, 50 years ago - Upworthy ›
- Ed Sheeran and Elton John's viral Christmas song has some epic merry vibes ›
- Harry Styles thanks his 'first ever' teacher at a concert ›
- Harry Styles thanks his 'first ever' teacher at a concert - Upworthy ›
- Harry Styles helps man propose to girlfriend during concert - Upworthy ›
- Watch Jacob Collier create a 100,000-person a cappella choir - Upworthy ›
- Skittles supports Harry Styles - Upworthy ›
- Heavy metal singer call pop music a worse influence than metal - Upworthy ›
12 non-threatening leadership strategies for women
We mustn't hurt a man's feelings.
Men and the feels.
Note: This an excerpt is from Sarah Cooper's book, How to Be Successful Without Hurting Men's Feelings.
In this fast-paced business world, female leaders need to make sure they're not perceived as pushy, aggressive, or competent.
One way to do that is to alter your leadership style to account for the fragile male ego.
Should men accept powerful women and not feel threatened by them? Yes. Is that asking too much?
IS IT?
Sorry, I didn't mean to get aggressive there. Anyhoo, here are twelve non-threatening leadership strategies for women.
Encourage.
With permission from Sarah Cooper.
When setting a deadline, ask your coworker what he thinks of doing something, instead of just asking him to get it done. This makes him feel less like you're telling him what to do and more like you care about his opinions.
Sharing ideas.
With permission from Sarah Cooper.
When sharing your ideas, overconfidence is a killer. You don't want your male coworkers to think you're getting all uppity. Instead, downplay your ideas as just "thinking out loud," "throwing something out there," or sharing something "dumb," "random," or "crazy."
Email requests.
With permission from Sarah Cooper.
Pepper your emails with exclamation marks and emojis so you don't come across as too clear or direct. Your lack of efficient communication will make you seem more approachable.
Idea sharing.
With permission from Sarah Cooper.
If a male coworker steals your idea in a meeting, thank him for it. Give him kudos for how he explained your idea so clearly. And let's face it, no one might've ever heard it if he hadn't repeated it.
Sexism.
With permission from Sarah Cooper.
When you hear a sexist comment, the awkward laugh is key. Practice your awkward laugh at home, with your friends and family, and in the mirror. Make sure you sound truly delighted even as your soul is dying inside.
Mansplain.
With permission from Sarah Cooper.
Men love explaining things. But when he's explaining something and you already know that, it might be tempting to say, "I already know that." Instead, have him explain it to you over and over again. It will make him feel useful and will give you some time to think about how to avoid him in the future.
Mistakes.
With permission from Sarah Cooper.
Pointing out a mistake is always risky so it's important to always apologize for noticing the mistake and then make sure that no one thinks you're too sure about it. People will appreciate your "hey what do I know?!" sensibilities.
Promotions.
With permission from Sarah Cooper.
Asking your manager for a promotion could make you seem power- hungry, opportunistic, and transparent. Instead, ask a male coworker to vouch for you. Have your coworker tell your manager you'd be great for the role even though you don't really want it. This will make you more likely to actually get that promotion.
Rude.
With permission from Sarah Cooper.
Sometimes not everyone is properly introduced at the start of a meeting. Don't take it personally even if it happens to you all the time, and certainly don't stop the meeting from moving forward to introduce yourself. Sending a quick note afterward is the best way to introduce yourself without seeming too self-important.
Interruptions.
With permission from Sarah Cooper.
When you get interrupted, you might be tempted to just continue talking or even ask if you can finish what you were saying. This is treacherous territory. Instead, simply stop talking. The path of least resistance is silence.
Collaboration.
With permission from Sarah Cooper.
When collaborating with a man, type using only one finger. Skill and speed are very off-putting.
Disagreements.
With permission from Sarah Cooper.
When all else fails, wear a mustache so everyone sees you as more man-like. This will cancel out any need to change your leadership style. In fact, you may even get a quick promotion!
In conclusion...
With permission from Sarah Cooper.
Many women have discovered the secret power of non-threatening leadership. We call it a "secret power" because no one else actually knows about it. We keep our power hidden within ourselves so that it doesn't frighten and intimidate others. That's what makes us the true unsung heroes of the corporate world.
About the Author: Sarah Cooper
Sarah Cooper is a writer, comedian, and author of 100 Tricks to Appear Smart in Meetings. Her new book, How to Be Successful Without Hurting Men's Feelings, is out now.
The comedic book cover.
With permission from Sarah Cooper.
A satirical take on what it's like to be a woman in the workplace, Cooper draws from her experience as a former executive in the world of tech (she's a former Googler and Yahooer). You can get the book here.
This article was originally published on March 25, 2019.