Beyonce's If I Were A Boy

The song “If I Were a Boy” by Beyoncé is a video showcasing a role reversal of boy and girl, encapsulating the double standards that exist in society. The lyrics and video depict what Beyoncé would do if she were a boy, and explores how some things are seen as acceptable or unacceptable dependent on one’s gender. The entirety of the video is a role reversal of Beyoncé and her music video boyfriend, as Beyoncé is personifying him to show these double standards.

The first verse says: “If I were a boy, Even just for a day, I’d roll outta bed in the morning, And throw on what I wanted and go”. This line is showing that girls have more pressure to look presentable and fit the socially constructed ideal of “perfection”. In the morning, girls put a lot of time into putting on makeup, doing their hair, and picking out a cute outfit. However, if she was a boy, all she would have to do is wake up and go, putting little to no effort in her appearance. This shows the contrast between standards of appearance in relation to gender.
This line captures the idea that it is acceptable for guys to “kick it” with girls and whoever he wants and not be criticized for it. On the other hand, if a girl did the same she would be labeled a “slut” for having a lot of guy friends, and no one would “stick up for her”. This is another instance where gender has an impact on what is seen as “acceptable” in our society. Acceptable behaviour is heavily influenced by gender in our