Not My Responsibility

Billie Eilish's spoken word piece 'Not My Responsibility' is a powerful commentary on body shaming, public scrutiny, and personal autonomy. The lyrics serve as a direct confrontation to the listener, challenging the societal tendency to judge and form opinions about others, particularly about Eilish herself, based on superficial assessments of their appearance and choices.

The song addresses the intense and often critical attention that Eilish, as a young female artist, receives regarding her body, fashion choices, and overall demeanor. She questions the expectations placed on her to conform to specific standards, asking rhetorically if the listener would prefer her to be 'smaller,' 'weaker,' 'softer,' or 'taller.' These questions highlight the impossible standards and contradictory demands often placed on women, suggesting that no matter what she does, someone will have something to say about it.

Eilish's message is clear: she refuses to take responsibility for others' opinions of her. She asserts her right to exist as she is, without being defined by external perceptions. The song is a declaration of self-empowerment and a call to reject the societal pressures that dictate how individuals, especially women, should look and behave. Eilish's work often explores themes of mental health, self-image, and the pressures of fame, and 'Not My Responsibility' is a poignant extension of these explorations.