Pop Culture Happy Hour · NPR

Sabrina Carpenter and the Embarrassing Truth of Dating Men

January 8, 2026·15 min·1 clip
Hazel Sills reveals how pop stars like Taylor Swift are expressing 'heteropessimism'—embarrassment about being heterosexual.
NPR music editor Hazel Sills joins Brittany Luce to analyze the trend of 'heteropessimism' in pop music, where artists like Sabrina Carpenter and Olivia Rodrigo express frustration with men. They explore how this reflects broader shifts in dating culture, comparing modern songs to past eras and discussing what women are demanding in relationships today.
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