Women DO Ask for Raises — They Just Don’t Get Them as Often as Men

Elizabeth King
Jun 27, 2018

In the last several years, the popular advice for working women who are paid less their male colleagues has been simply to ask for a raise. The idea is that women are conditioned to be less upfront than men, and therefore women just weren’t asking for raises and missing out on additional compensation. But additional new research shows that women are already taking this advice, and it’s not working at the same rate it does for men.

The concept of women “leaning in” at the workplace was championed by Facebook COO Sheryl Sandberg in 2013, but more and more research suggests it’s not a useful strategy. The issues with pay and raise disparities between genders have not to do with the behavior of women, but structural sexism. Now, new research outlined in the article “Do Women Ask?,” published in the journal Industrial Relations, finds that the problem isn’t that women don’t ask for raises, it’s that they aren’t given them when they ask.

Researchers from the University of Wisconsin at Oshkosh, Cass Business School in London, and the University of Warwick conducted a survey of 4,600 employees from 800 different workplaces in Australia in 2014. Examining the results of the survey, the researchers found, to their surprise, that women ask for raises as often as men. However, the study also found that women receive raises 15 percent of the time while men receive them 20 percent of the time.

Though this dataset comes from Australia, study co-author and associate professor at the University of Wisconsin at Oshkosh Benjamin Artz tells Brit + Co that tells us that “there’s no reason to believe (that I know of) that the results would be different in the US.”

Of course, neither 15 percent nor 20 percent is very high — it’s not that any gender gets a raise every time they ask. But the five percent difference between men and women demonstrates that women are hearing “no” more often than their male colleagues. As for why this is the case, Arts says, “We do not know for sure, but our results potentially point to some discriminatory practices within employers.”

Artz adds that women may also be under-selling their value when they ask for raises. “It is somewhat well documented that women tend to have lower expectations than men, and they tend to place less value on their own work than men place on their own work,” Artz says. “So women could be asking for raises, but not providing very convincing arguments that they deserve the raises.”

Other research published late last year indicates that women and men behave about the same ways at work, at least in terms of emails and interactions in meetings. It’s still possible that women and men ask for raises differently, but other research suggests that in general, women and men will act about the same at work. The issue seems to be about the ways women are treated, and less the way they actually work.

Artz also has some ideas for solutions to the gender gap in raises. “I think that rigorously structured promotion and raise policies in organizations can help a lot, with gender-diverse panels of supervisors making raise and promotion decisions,” he tells us.

He also says that workers can talk to “supervisors about what the company needs to be successful, and then articulate how the workers themselves accomplish these objectives. It’s all about negotiating and bargaining with the valuable skills and accomplishments workers can and do bring to the table.”

As more research on gender and work comes out, it becomes clearer that women are already following popular advice for gaining parity at work. The problem seems not to be rooted within women, their work ethic, or how they behave at work, but structures and policies that favor men. The key is correcting inequality in workplace practices, and not continuing to advise women in ways that ultimately do not help their situation.

What do you think? Tell us on Twitter @BritandCo.

(Images via Getty Images)

Betting On Yourself: Finding Courage As A Creative Entrepreneur

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Intuit TurboTax

Home decor and wellness creator Kelly Marcelo always wanted to be her own boss. “I never really wanted to have a job where I wouldn't be in control,” she says. She started a wedding photography business in college, added a photo booth rental business, and launched a t-shirt business with her brother. When the pandemic put events to a halt, she found herself at a crossroads. What to do next?

She decided to pour herself into her passion for home decor. She started posting several times a day on TikTok and finding a new outlet for her creativity. Within a few months, she had 10K followers, steadily built her following and hired a manager, and was recently chosen to decorate the White House for the holidays. “You have to ask that question, well, why not me?,” she says.

Check out Kelly’s colorful and creative world and how she’s making every move count in her business with the help of TurboTax, so she can focus on what she loves to do!

Don’t Wait for Perfection. In the first month of launch, Kelly’s goal was to post three times a day. “I was really trying to focus on getting as much out there at first, but then also being able to get that information to see what worked with people,” she recalls. That market research allowed her to build an audience, learn what her audience craved, and focus on the wins. “It was very intense at the beginning, and then I eased back. I'm like, ‘Okay, let me breathe, because it was not sustainable at all.’”

Refine and Strategize. To avoid burnout, she slowed her pace and stepped back to focus on the bigger picture. “I didn't pressure myself once I was on solid ground. I decided to focus more on refining the content, making it for the fun of it, and focusing on the strategy part.” Step back and analyze your learnings and decide how you want to move forward and grow.

Invest in Your Growth. Kelly joined a business accelerator for underrepresented creators in the middle of her journey that proved to be a smart strategic move. “I feel like that changed the whole course of where I am now, because once I was able to get support from them and talk to people directly after the program, that's when I got my biggest brand deal.”

Be Brave. “For me, it was recognizing that the fear was always going to be there,” says Kelly. “If you want to live a creative life, you're going to have to do something that's scary, and it's probably going to require steps that you don't want to take. For me, being on camera was very scary.” Growth happens outside of your comfort zone. Challenge yourself to take on moves that push your boundaries and help you develop new skills. Remember that being brave doesn't mean being fearless. It means acknowledging your fears but choosing to move forward despite them!

Photos: Courtesy of Kelly Marcelo

Ready to take your business to the next level? Make your moves count with TurboTax!*

*Experts only available with TurboTax Live. See details at turbotax.com/guarantees.

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Sydney Sweeney Is Rumored To Be Joining "Spider-Man 4" With Tom Holland

Tom Holland and Zendaya are the "it" couple right now, and they're both at the top of their game. Tom Holland took a recent break from acting and has been doing phenomenal charity work with his Brothers Trust foundation (don't worry, though, he's returning to the stage this year for Romeo & Juliet!), while Zendaya's had hit after hit with Euphoria, Dune 2, and Challengers. And it looks like the couple, who met doing Spider-Man: Homecoming, could be doing another new Marvel movie. Here's everything we know about Spider-Man 4.

Will there be a Spider-Man 4?

Image via Jay Maidment/Sony Pictures/Marvel

While Marvel Studios has yet to confirm Spider-Man 4 is officially on its way, the movie is definitely in the works. Producer Amy Pascal tells Variety (when asked if they're making a fourth film), “Of course, we are."

It might feel like this report conflicts with the fact Spider-Man: No Way Home set up an MCU without Tom Holland's Peter Parker, especially since Tom said he needed to take a break from acting after The Crowded Room "broke" him. ("I’m now taking a year off, and that is a result of how difficult this show was," he tells Extra.)

However, Tom's also been very vocal about how much Spider-Man means to him, and how much he loves the movies. He also told Variety at The Crowded Room premiere that he's “been having meetings” about the next installment. If he's on board, I know it's going to be a great film!

Will Zendaya return in Spider-Man 4?

Image via JoJo Whilden/Sony Pictures/Marvel

With the recent news that Euphoria season 3 is delayed — and the cast has been given the greenlight to take other projects — it's totally plausible Zendaya will return for Spider-Man 4. And fans are hoping for even more characters they love! "Hopefully Kingpin, Scorpion, Daredevil and Black Cat," says one Reddit user.

Forbes has also recently reported Sydney Sweeney could be joining the cast of Spider-Man 4. Sydney was in Madame Web earlier this year, and after rumors she booked the role thinking she was joining the MCU, this newest Tom Holland film would give her the opportunity to do just that. We could see her as Gwen Stacy, or as Felicia Hardy/Black Cat. Considering we've already gotten an extensive plotline surrounding Peter and Gwen in Andrew Garfield and Emma Stone's universe, I'm hoping we'd see her as Felicia!

Fast & Furious director Justin Lin and OG Spider-Man director Sam Raimi are two names rumored to take on the new movie.

Has Spider-Man 4 started filming?

Image via Sony Pictures/Marvel

Spider-Man 4 will reportedly begin filming in September or October 2024, according to The InSneider. Based on the fact that Spider-Man: Far From Home began filming in July of 2018 and premiered in July of 2019, it's safe to assume we could see Spider-Man 4 as early as fall 2025!

What is the name of Spider-Man 4?

Image via Sony Pictures/Marvel

We don't have an official name for Spider-Man 4 yet, but fans are already coming up with new ideas. Some fan titles include The Spectacular Spider-Man,Spider-Man: Homeless, and Spider-Man: Home Again. I'd love for Spider-Man 4 to continue with the "home" theme, but switching things up with a brand new title would provide a fresh feel we haven't gotten before. I'm excited to see what Marvel goes with!

What are the Tom Holland Spider-Man movies in order?

Image via Sony Pictures/Marvel

Tom Holland has three Spider-Man movies, but he also shows up in some other MCU titles. If you want to watch all the movies Tom Holland plays Peter Parker, here's how you should watch them:

  • Captain America: Civil War
  • Spider-Man: Homecoming
  • Avengers: Infinity War
  • Avengers: Endgame
  • Spider-Man: Far From Home
  • Spider-Man: No Way Home

What do you want to see in Tom Holland and Zendaya's Spider-Man 4? Let us know in the comments!

Lead image via Emma McIntyre/Getty Images

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10 Unexpected Lessons I Learned From A Career Coach

My first career out of college was as a matchmaker. Not exactly something you get a degree in (I studied musical theatre and psychology at NYU), but fate had a different plan for me. But ultimately, I found my purpose at 21: making meaningful connections would be a theme throughout my entire career — up to my current role at Liminal.

After 5 years, I transitioned from my role as cupid, to fostering connections at a larger scale as a community builder — building social clubs, organizing retreats and conferences, then launching my own tech companies in the self-development space. A few years ago, I worked on a platform inspiring women to open their homes for group coaching and workshops. But, the moment the world shut down during the pandemic, so did my company.

My team and I worked around the clock to keep the lights on, and 9 months later, with two weeks of payroll left, we raised $3.5 million in venture funding. To add to the whirlwind, I also went unexpectedly viral on LinkedIn with my first ever post reaching 20 million views. All of this happened in 30 days. The pendulum swung so fast from almost heartbreak to exhilaration it left me feeling emotionally whiplashed. I was running on fumes, at the starting line.

Enter a career coach.

Serendipity led me to this career coach. It felt like fate — within just two days, his name came up in conversations with four different people.

I cried after our first session. I suddenly didn’t feel alone in all the responsibility I was carrying as a solo founder.

3 years later and we’re still working together. He helped me through the pandemic, my company pivot, and navigating difficult conversations with my team. He’s built up my confidence, and reminded me who I am and my worth in moments I felt lost. He’s held me accountable to my vision and taught me how to make decisions with clarity and ease.

The lessons he’s taught me have turned me into a leader and person I am proud of. Before I started working with him I was a young woman, navigating imposter syndrome, playing the role of what I thought a leader should look like. Today I carry a quiet strength and confidence as the leader I was meant to become.

Is a career coach really worth it?

Photo by RDNE Stock project / PEXELS

I believe everyone needs and deserves a career coach.

We spend 1/3 of our lives at work — sometimes more — and usually don’t have formal guidance on how to navigate our transitions and limiting beliefs throughout.

I'm often asked about the difference between a therapist and a coach, and how to choose between them. My simplest answer is that therapists focus on how your past has influenced your current situation, while coaches guide you from the present to where you want to be in the future.

Here’s a non-exhaustive cheat sheet to know if a career coach is right for you:

  • You’re unhappy with your current job but have no idea what you would do next.
  • You're navigating limiting beliefs in your current role that are holding you back.
  • You struggle to accomplish goals that you care about.
  • You are navigating a challenging situation with a coworker.
  • You want to develop yourself as a leader, either in your own company or within your organization.
  • You want to discover your purpose to make the most of your time on this planet.

What should you expect from a career coach?

Photo by Anna Shvets / PEXELS

I remember my coach telling me early on that a leader is anyone who can share a vision of the future that’s so inspiring, someone wants to follow them there. With this definition I see us all as leaders — whether in the traditional, professional sense or simply in leading our own lives and being in relationships with others.

While I can't predict what every career coach can offer, here are the 10 lessons that completely changed the way I lead, plus 10 questions you can use to reflect and integrate these lessons into your daily life:

These lessons will help you:

  • Be the leader of your own life journey
  • Lead with care and clarity
  • Make genuine connections
  • Realize that becoming a leader is a fast track to personal growth

Photo by Alexander Suhorucov / PEXELS

1. Trust is built in a context of care

Whether it’s with people you work with, or in your personal life, make what you care about known — needs, wants, desires, values. You can’t expect someone else to know them if you don’t clearly communicate them. And, make sure you make it known that you want to know theirs, too.

2. Riots start in the stands

There are 2 types of people: the people on the field, and the people in the stands. Find the people who want to be on the field with you. Rolling up their sleeves and doing the work — this might be at work in the trenches of your start up or in a romantic relationship. You won’t get far if you’re on the field alone surrounded by people in the stands.

Photo by RF._.studio / PEXELS

3. We live in a mirroring reality

Our external reality is a projection of our inner reality. When we offer kindness and compassion, we receive kindness and compassion. When we offer criticism or judgment, we receive that, too.

4. Curiosity is the emergency break to judgment

If your “mood elevator” is falling, curiosity is the fast track to lift it. In these moments, you can say something like: I notice I’m being judgmental, I wonder what that’s about? Then start to list things that have come up for you that you’re reacting to. Maybe you spent a little too much time on social media, or a colleague cut you off while you were talking and suddenly you’re in a reactive state. This is human. Use curiosity to get back on track.

Photo by cottonbro studio / PEXELS

5. Clarity is kindness.

Being clear and direct with others is a way to show respect and consideration. Ambiguity can create stress and uncertainty, but when we are clear we give others a sense of stability. This is a form of kindness. And if you feel unclear, communicate that and see where it goes.

6. Being someone’s fan is > anything else.

Sadly, we live in a culture where people get more attention for spewing their criticism at each other publicly than when we lift each other up. Seeing people tear each other down, whether it’s on social media, in relationships, or during meetings breaks my heart. Especially, when I’ve seen without fail, the positive impact offering admiration and support has on someone’s confidence and overall growth.

While I don’t blame people for the system that has normalized this behavior, I urge us all to do what we can to break free from it and do the inner work to heal our insecurities and fears, and celebrate each other’s unique gifts.

Photo by Antoni Shkraba / PEXELS

7. You can’t work harder for someone than they can for themselves.

“Help 49%” is something a mentor said to me a long time ago. As a leader, I’ve learned this time and time again. You can’t want something for someone that they don’t intrinsically want for themselves.

This applies to every type of relationship we have, both professionally and personally. You can’t help someone until they decided that growth is their priority. It’s up to you if you want to stick around patiently during that time or move on.

8. Love is allowing the other person — and yourself — to be whole.

This one really is about accepting and seeing people for who they are, not what we want them to be. As a leader, I try to see each person I work with as a whole, unique being and accept them fully as that person. Which means it’s my job to make sure I am not projecting onto them the person I want them to be as they grow.

The root of this wisdom lies in attachment theory, and while this line of thinking is usually strictly applied to romantic relationships, I think it’s useful for all relation aspects of our lives.

Photo by Kindel Media / PEXELS

9. If you need to win every fight, then you’ll be surrounded by people who are always defeated.

I often say the only competition anyone should be in is with themselves. The ego trap I’ve seen many people fall into, when choosing a romantic partner or building out their team, is subconsciously choosing people they can feel important or powerful around versus challenged by.

10. People need to be pointed to their own resiliency.

It’s fascinating to me how easily people forget their own capacity and strength. We have and continue to overcome a great deal as humans in this lifetime.

As a leader and friend, I've learned how important it is to remind people of their proven ability to bounce back, adapt, and recover from challenging situations or setbacks. As someone who’s worked with a therapist for decades and is professionally embedded in the mental health space, I initially underestimated the transformative power of a career coach.

However, my experience has been nothing short of revelatory, upgrading every facet of my life. My coach has been instrumental in helping me create a life I’m excited to wake up to. This journey was the catalyst for founding Liminal — the company I now head up – because I understand how hard it is to find the right coach at the right price point. Motivated by my own experience, I built the bridge, ensuring others could also access this life-altering guidance.

careerworkpersonal empowermentCareer Advice

The First "Tortured Poets Department" Music Video Premieres This Friday

We are now two for two on expecting Taylor Swift to announce Reputation (Taylor's Version) during an acceptance speech and getting an album announcement instead. After showing up to the 2022 VMAs in a "Look What You Made Me Do"-inspired outfit and announcing Midnights, Taylor Swift wore a black and white ensemble on the 2024 Grammys red carpet before telling the world her new album The Tortured Poets Department is coming this spring!

And while accepting the 2024 iHeart Radio Music Award for Artist of the Year, Taylor also promises the rest of 2024 will be just as exciting as 2023. "We have so many exciting things ahead of us," the 1989 (Taylor's Version)singer says after thanking iHeart and the fans. "Most importantly, I have a brand new album called The Tortured Poets Department, which comes out on April 19. I cannot wait to share it with you...I just can't wait to keep having fun with you guys because we have a lot of exciting things coming up."

One of those exciting things includes a music video, which Taylor revealed in a "TTPD Timetable" Instagram video. This first music video premieres April 19 at 8PM EST, and if I had to guess, I'd say it's for the title track: "The Tortured Poets Department." Here's everything else we know about the new Taylor Swift album. (And everything you need to know about Taylor Swift (Taylor's Version) too ;)).

What is a tortured poets department?

Image via Taylor Swift/Instagram

Taylor Swift has spent years talking about her anxiety, her sleepless nights, and her emotions. "My muses, acquired like bruises / My talismans and charms / The tick, tick, tick of love bombs / My veins of pitch black ink," she writes in her official Instagram post. "All's fair in love and poetry." My guess is that The Tortured Poets Department features a bunch of artists who all feel very deeply and have a similar ethereal, larger-than-life approach to their music.

As far as the name, it looks like The Tortured Poets Department could be referencing her ex-boyfriend Joe Alwyn's group chat name — "The Tortured Man Club" with Paul Mescal (who starred in Normal People while Joe starred Conversations With Friends. Both series are based on Sally Rooney books).

Taylor Swift is also making major connections to the "poetry" aspect of TTPD because ahead of the album release, you can visit the limited library installation pop-up! From Tuesday, April 16 to Thursday, April 18, you can head to The Grove in Los Angeles to see all kinds of surprises that will tease Taylor Swift's newest era.

When is The Tortured Poets Department release date?

Image via Neilson Barnard/Getty Images for The Recording Academy

The Tortured Poets Department is dropping April 19, 2024. It looks like ahead of the release, Taylor Swift is sending fans on a scavenger hunt to gather clues about the album. @eurosweetheart on TikTok points out that on Apple Music, certain song lyrics from Taylor's discography feature random capital letters. But when the letters are strung together, they form words! So far, we have "Hereby" and "Conduct." Are we getting an announcement? Are these Tortured Poets Department lyrics? Taylor does love to reference games in her lyrics so this should come as a surprise to no one ;).

At the Eras Tour shows in Tokyo, Taylor Swift explained when she started working on TTPD. “I’ve been working on Tortured Poets since right after I turned in Midnights,” she said onstage. “So, you turn in an album months in advance…and I’ve been working on it for about two years. I kept working on it throughout the U.S. tour and when it was perfect, in my opinion, when it was good enough for you, I finished it.”

"Soon you'll get to hear it, soon we'll get to experience it together," she continued. "I'm over the moon about the fact that you guys care about my music...Everyone’s like, ‘Why do you make so many albums?’ And I’m like, ‘Man, because I love it! I love it so much! I’m having fun, leave me alone.'”

The brand new album follows Speak Now (Taylor's Version) and 1989 (Taylor's Version). When Midnights was announced after Fearless (Taylor's Version) and Red (Taylor's Version), I wondered whether she'd have a two rerecordings, one new album pattern and it looks like that's what we're getting!

What is Taylor Swift's The Tortured Poets Department?

Image via Taylor Swift/Instagram

Taylor Swift's new album (which is also referred to as TS11) is called The Tortured Poets Department. Taylor Swift announced the album while accepting the award for Best Pop Album at the 2024 Grammys. While we don't know the exact vibe of the album, over the last year, we've gotten quite a few clues about what we can expect! Just like "Daylight" at the end of Lover sets up Midnights, I think "Dear Reader" sets up The Tortured Poets Department.

And in honor of the eclipse on April 8, Taylor Swift posted the first lyrics from TS11! "Crowd goes wild at her fingertips // Half moonshine // Full eclipse," the lyric post reads. While some fans think this could be a line from "Florida!!!" (which we're expecting to reference her Florida Eras Tour shows), others say it could be from "Clara Bow."

"The first line makes you think of someone who’s famous (Clara Bow was an actress) and...moonshine was a type of alcohol that was popular during prohibition during the 1920s which is when Clara Bow was famous," one comment reads.

Taylor's official announcement features even more beautiful language that evokes the same emotion "The Lakes" does, which makes me believe TTPD will be similar to Folklore and Evermore (maybe it'll even serve as the third sister album Swifties thought we'd get in 2021?). Some fans are also convinced TTPD connects to Reputation, and TBH, I'm hopping on this train!

"I think the two albums are sisters albums, but in like an opposite way," one Reddit user says. "Reputation is all black, this one is going to be all white and softly coded." Another agrees: "Reputation is presented as a dark album but is truly a love album...This one is presented as soft and white but I bet the lyrics will be devastating."

I'm expecting TS11 to have the same lyrical prowess as songs like "Would've, Should've, Could've," The National's "The Alcott" (on which Taylor's a featured artist), and "You're Losing Me." Taylor is all about looking past appearances and telling a complex story, and The Tortured Poets Department will be no different. Just like Reputation is an edgy, glittery, emotionally-charged version of the beginning of her relationship with ex-boyfriend Joe Alwyn, I totally agree that TTPD could look grounded, airbrushed, and dreamy from the outside, but the lyrics will be SAD.

There's also been some discussion that TS11 could be another pop album that's even more nuanced than Midnights. Well, during her Eras Tour show in Sydney, Australia, she played another round of suspicious surprise songs. While sitting at the piano, Taylor Swift takes her earpiece out and calls attention to the keyboard. "Do you hear that?" she says (via TikTok). "My damn keyboard's playing a synth sound." She then does what she almost always does when dropping an Easter egg: she smirks.

"That sound is how the album starts, mark my words," one comment reads. Another says, "That smirk tells me everything I need to know."

How do I presave The Tortured Poets Department?

Image via Taylor Swift's official store/UMG

Before The Tortured Poets Department's release on at midnight on April 19 (we're less than a month away!), go ahead and pre-save it. It'll make streaming the album a little bit easier because when you pre-save, the album will pop up for you as soon as it drops! Go to Taylor Swift's official website and click on the "Pre-add/Pre-save" button. It'll take you to a new page where you can save it on Spotify or Apple Music (depending on which service you use), and you can also pre-order at stores like Target!

How many songs will be on The Tortured Poets Department?

Image via Taylor Swift/Instagram

Taylor Swift dropped The Tortured Poets Department song list February 5, and we already have theories about what each track could reference. IMO, "I Can Do It With A Broken Heart" is totally referencing Taylor Swift's performances of "Lover" following her split from Joe Alwyn (you can see her crying during the set), while there's a good chance "Florida!!!" is referencing her first Tampa concert, which was the first show she performed after the breakup became public knowledge. Taylor Swift's dad Scott Swift recently told fans he's most excited for Swifties to hear the title track and "Florida!!!" Here's the full tracklist for TS11:

  1. Fortnight (feat. Post Malone)
  2. The Tortured Poets Department
  3. My Boy Only Breaks His Favorite Toys
  4. Down Bad
  5. So Long, London
  6. But Daddy I Love Him
  7. Fresh Out the Slammer
  8. Florida!!! (feat. Florence + The Machine)
  9. Guilty as Sin?
  10. Who's Afraid of Little Old Me?
  11. I Can Fix Him (No Really I Can)
  12. loml
  13. I Can Do It With A Broken Heart
  14. The Smallest Man Who Ever Lived
  15. The Alchemy
  16. Clara Bow
  17. Bonus Track: The Manuscript
  18. Bonus Track: The Bolter
  19. Bonus Track: The Albatross
  20. Bonus Track: The Black Dog

Will The Tortured Poets Department be explicit?

Image via Taylor Swift/Instagram

There are 7 explicit songs on The Tortured Poets Department: "The Tortured Poets Department," "Down Bad," "But Daddy I Love Him," "Florida!!! (feat. Florence + The Machine)," "loml," "I Can Do It With A Broken Heart," and "The Smallest Man Who Ever Lived."

What is The Albatross about?

Image via Taylor Swift/Instagram

During one of her Eras Tour shows in Sydney, Australia, Taylor Swift announced a new version of The Tortured Poets Department featuring exclusive bonus track "The Albatross." This new album already has some crazy track titles — all with pretty noteworthy meanings.

According to Collins Dictionary, if you call someone an Albatross, "they cause you great problems from which you cannot escape, or they prevent you from doing what you want to do," while a Bolter could refer to someone bolting out of a relationship (or bolting from a restaurant to a car like in this viral clip 🤨).

Meanwhile "The Alchemy" refers to the continual process of trying to turn something into gold — remember how Taylor Swift spent 6 years saying her relationship with Joe Alwyn was golden? Buckle up Swifties, TS11 is going to be a wild ride.

What does loml mean?

Image via Taylor Swift/Instagram

At first glance, the twelfth song on The Tortured Poets Department, "loml," means "love of my life." Some fans were wondering if the song was a nod to Harry Styles since his Harry's House finale track is "Love of My Life" (the album also features a track named "Daylight" which is another funny connection to Taylor Swift). But Bonnie & Emily from ChatsAndReacts have got me thinking about the track in a whole new way.

Emily says that while Taylor might sing about the love of her life at the beginning of the song, she also has the potential to switch it up each verse. "Lie of my life" and "loss of my life" are HEART WRENCHING, and totally something Taylor would write.

How can I buy The Tortured Poets Department?

Image via Taylor Swift store

You can pre-order a bunch of different versions of The Tortured Poets Department on Taylor Swift's website right now, includingThe Tortured Poets Department CD + Bonus Track "The Manuscript", The Tortured Poets Department CD + Bonus Track "The Manuscript" andThe Tortured Poets Department Cassette + Bonus Track "The Manuscript".

Will The Tortured Poets Department have any featured artists?

Image via Frazer Harrison/Getty Images

Yes, The Tortured Poets Department will feature Florence + The Machine on the song "Florida!!!" and Post Malone on the song "Fortnight." And after Taylor Swift teased a variety of collaborations by posting handwritten lyrics from artists like Harry Styles and Lorde, Swifties are wondering if The Tortured Poets Department will be the "collab album" we never got.

Another clue that leads me to believe this is true is the fact that the title of this album is so much longer than her other titles — and she refers to herself as "Chairman" of the department. Who are all the constituents?! Are they all the same artists who left Scooter Braun's management last year? Only time will tell, because as far as I'm concerned, surprises aren't out of the question until the TS11 era is over!👀

What is the theory of Taylor Swift's double album?

Image via Matt Winkelmeyer/Getty Images

Throughout her stay in Sydney, Australia for the Eras Tour, Taylor Swift has been dropping lots — and I mean lots — of twos. @v_swiftie_ points out that in addition to holding up the number two while announcing The Tortured Poets Department, she's been playing more surprise song mashups than normal, and Taylor Nation has been posting Instagram stories featuring the number 2 instead of the number 13. Suspicious, Tay, very suspicious.

Are you excited for The Tortured Poets Department? What kinds of collabs or songs are you hoping for? Let us know in the comments and check out these Taylor Swift Disney Movie Posters Inspired By Her Songs for more fun content!

Lead image via Taylor Swift/Instagram

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Zendaya Already Has Outfit Ideas For This Year's "Very Special" Met Gala

Siri, play “It’s A Beautiful Day” because we be getting the first glimpses of spring, but I’m already daydreaming about the First Monday in May. While you might think about Christmas or the first day of summer when you hear “the best day of the year,” I’m talking about Met Gala Monday. Instead of a uneventful, sleepy Monday like most of the year, Met Gala Monday might as well be a scene from a rom-com: celebs are pulling up to their hotels to spend the day getting ready, social media goes crazy over every little detail, and you can basically feel the electricity in the Manhattan air.

The evening is always full of incredible Met Gala outfits, shocking moments, and all the best unexpected (or very expected) celebrity couples. We may not know the Met Gala 2024 guest list until the night of the event, but we do know the Met Gala 2024 co-chairs and they’re *amazing.* Keep reading for everything you need to know about the 2024 Met Gala before you press play on The Devil Wears Prada again!

What is the 2024 Met Gala theme?

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The Met Gala 2024 theme is “Sleeping Beauties: Reawakening Fashion.” According to the official exhibition site, "Sleeping Beauties" takes around 250 pieces from across 400 years that are all related to nature, "which will serve as a metaphor for the fragility and ephemerality of fashion and a vehicle to examine the cyclical themes of rebirth and renewal."

The exhibit will also feature different activations to engage your senses (think smell, sound, texture, and movement) since the pieces are now too old to wear — something that’s been a hot topic since Kim Kardashian wore a Marilyn Monroe dress to the 2023 Met Gala, and then the internet questioned whether she ripped it.

During the Challengers press tour, Zendaya told E! News that this year's gala is "very special." "[Stylist Law Roach and I] have some ideas," she says. "I know that Jonathan [Anderson], who is our incredible costume designer, is also hosting, so it felt like the right time."

I’m very interested to see how guests interpret the theme for their outfits because when I first heard the theme, I thought it was referencing the Sleeping Beauty fairytale! (Although, the dress code is "The Garden of Time.") I love how the whole Met Gala 2024 theme captures the lush richness of nature, rather than things decaying or dying away, which is what I usually think of with the passage of time. However Zendaya and all the Met Gala guests interpret the theme, this is sure to be one for the books.

Who is invited to the Met Gala 2024?

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We won't know the official Met Gala guest list until the night of the event, but it looks like we'll see a lot of our favorite TV and movie stars this year. The Bear star Ayo Edebiri will reporedly attend, as will Killers of the Flower Moon Oscar nominee Lily Gladstone. We could also see Gisele Bündchen, Kendall Jenner, and Rihanna, who never fails to look amazing when she shows up to the Met Gala! Olivia Rodrigo, Uma Thurman, Sarah Paulson, Cara Delevingne, and Barry Keoghan will reportedly attend, and I hope Barry brings girlfriend Sabrina Carpenter too!

What is the Met Gala?

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The Met Gala is an annual event put on to raise money for the Metropolitan Museum of Art's Costume Institute. The Met Gala is best known for the maximalist, costume-like outfits the attendees wear — from Rihanna dressing like the literal Pope to Blake Lively dressing like the Empire State Building (although my favorite Met Gala look of all time is this red and gold number Blake is wearing!). Different celebrities and creatives gather in their best ‘fits to explore the new fashion exhibit before it’s open to the public.

Who are the co-chairs of the Met Gala 2024?

Image via Dimitrios Kambouris/Getty Images for The Met Museum/Vogue

There will be four Met Gala co-chairs this year: Jennifer Lopez, Chris Hemsworth, Zendaya, and Bad Bunny. Vogue Magazine announced the quartet on February 15, 2024 via a funny Instagram video. All four of these celebs are power houses, but I’m most excited to see Zendaya. She hasn’t been to a Met Gala since 2019, and I know that with her poise and her creative approach to carpets, she'll knock it out of the park!

When is the Met Gala date?

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The 2024 Met Gala will take place on May 6, 2024. Every year, the Met Gala happens on the first Monday in May, and it’s become such an iconic event that the First Monday in May is as well-known as the gala itself!

Can anyone go to the Met Gala?

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No, unfortunately to go to the Met Gala, you have to be invited. However, anyone can wait outside to watch the red carpet! The streets around 5th Avenue in New York City start getting crazy by lunchtime as celebs get ready and leave their hotels to head to the Metropolitan Museum of Art. In 2021, I stood outside the hotels and was able to see stars like Emily Blunt, Simu Liu, and Gigi Hadid!

How much does it cost to go to the Met Gala?

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In 2023, a ticket to the Met Gala cost upwards of $50,000, via TIME.

What do you think about the Met Gala 2024 theme? Are you excited to see Zendaya (and hopefully Blake Lively) walk the carpet? Check out our Facebook for the latest celebrity news!

Lead image via Dimitrios Kambouris/Getty Images for The Met Museum/Vogue

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