Beyonce - If I Were A Boy

In Beyonce's 2008 hit song, "If I Were A Boy," Beyonce argues that women are generally given the short end of the stick in relationships, even though more is expected of them than their partners in these relationships. She is asserting that a double standard exists for gender expectations in relationships.

Throughout the song, Beyonce describes the way she would behave if she were a male. She sings, "If I were a boy, I'd roll out of bed in the morning and throw on what I wanted," implying that males aren't held to the same appearance expectations that women are--if she were a male, she could roll out of bed and wear what she wants; as opposed to women, who are expected to always look pretty and put together for their man--a process that often takes a great deal of time and effort.

Beyonce also sings that if she were a boy, she'd "...kick it with who I wanted and never get confronted for it," meaning that men are able to be/sleep with whomever they choose, while women are often criticized and called out for the quality and number of partners that they have in their life. While men can hang out with/sleep with many people and be praised for it, women who engage in these behaviors may be regarded as "slutty" or "whores."

Finally, Beyonce sings, "If I were a boy, I'd put myself first and make the rules as I go... Cause I know that she'd be faithful," meaning that men can generally behave however they like in relationships, and get away with a lot. They are able to think of themselves and their needs first, and their woman will stick with them and be loyal to them no matter what they do--whereas if a woman called all of her own shots and put her needs first, she would probably be regarded as cold and unloving, and the man would probably leave her.

The hypothetical situations that Beyonce presents with her lyrics serve to demonstrate what male privilege can look like in romantic relationships. Hopefully, this song will challenge current relationship expectations for males and females--encouraging equality in effort and empathy.