Boys will be boys, they say

Girls better behave

He pushed you down on the playground at five

"He just likes you, honey, that's how boys thrive"

You cried for help but they laughed it away

"Boys will be boys," that's all they would say

She wore a tank top on a summer day

"Cover yourself up, don't you lead them astray"

But he's shirtless, sweating, running around free

While she's learning shame at the age of three

Different rules for the same damn game

He gets excuses, she gets the blame

But girls better behave

He can rage, she must smile

Boys will be, but girls on trial

Boys will be wild and free

Girls must fit perfectly

Double standards every day

Boys will be boys, they say

Fifteen years old, he's called a "player"

She does the same, she's labeled a "slayer"

His body count is something to brag

Hers makes her nothing but a dirty slag

He speaks his mind, he's "confident and strong"

She does the same and suddenly she's wrong

"Too aggressive, too loud, too much"

While he's rewarded for the exact same touch

Write it down, make it clear

One set of rules when he's here

Boys will be boys, they say

But girls better behave

He can rage, she must smile

Boys will be, but girls on trial

Boys will be wild and free

Girls must fit perfectly

Double standards every day

Boys will be boys, they say

"Boys will be boys"

When he hits

When he hurts

When he takes what isn't his

"Boys will be boys"

Locker room talk

Just a joke

Just boys being boys

But God forbid she raises her voice

God forbid she makes a choice

God forbid she takes up space

Or doesn't smile with perfect grace

Tell me again how boys will be

While you police everything in me

Tell me again it's just their nature

While you mold us into perfect creatures

Boys will be boys, you say?

Well, girls are done with this display

He can fail, she must excel

Boys will be? Go straight to hell

Boys will be? We're breaking free

No more excuses, can't you see?

No more double standards here

Boys will be held accountable, that's clear

Boys will be...

ACCOUNTABLE