I believe that the song “Boys Will Be Boys” by Dua Lipa is incredibly important and relates to feminism, especially considering bell hooks’ definition of it: “feminism is a movement to end sexism, sexist exploitation, and oppression.” The song addresses the problem of gender-based violence and sexism at its roots, talking about what children are taught and what women experience.

The song starts off by mentioning an experience that too many women are familiar with:

“It’s second nature to walk home before the sun goes down

And put your keys between your knuckles when there’s boys around

Isn’t it funny how we laugh it off to hide our fear?

When there’s nothing funny here”

There are so many strategies that women implement in their daily life – when walking alone, they always have pepper spray on them, keys between fingers, cross the street when there is a man on the same side of the road; when being in an uncomfortable situation, the strategy often entails laughing or smiling in fear that if we address the problem, it might escalate.

Men are never taught those strategies. Perhaps, more and more of them realize that it is often frightening for women to walk alone at night, and they try to, for example, cross to the other side of the street to not seem like they are following a woman, to make her feel safer. However, it is not emphasized enough, especially from the younge age.

“No, the kids ain’t alright

Oh, and they do what they see

‘Cause it’s all on TV

Oh, the kids ain’t alright”

People’s perception of the world starts to form at a very young age. Girls are taught consistently what to do not to get raped, but boys are hardly ever taught not to rape. People consistently see in the media scenes where consent is nonexistent, how women are treated, and they follow those examples. Additionally, men’s and boys’ bad behavior is often dismissed; girls are taught in schools that if a boy hits them, it means that he likes them. It literally teaches young boys that violence is associated with love.

“Boys will be boys

But girls will be women”

We should hold men accountable for their words and actions, especially from a young age. Dismissing sexist comments by saying “boys will be boys” and “you know how men are” will never help solve the problem of sexism and gender-based violence. I believe that by creating this song, Dua Lipa strives to uphold feminist values by raising awareness about what women experience and how their experiences might be due to what children are taught from a very young age.