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Lily Allen's always been outspoken, a quality that the pop singer says she learned from her father, actor Keith Allen. However, when she tried to imitate his bold behaviour, the 33-year-old found herself discovering more of the double standards we're beholden to as women.
"Growing up, my dad was quite famous and so was my stepdad [Harry Enfield], and they were praised for speaking their mind and going out and getting f*cked up," the mum-of-two told Stylist.
"So when I imitated that behaviour and was met with a completely different response, I was like, ‘Oh’. It was only relatively recently I realised that what I thought was fame, as a kid growing up, was male fame, which is a different breed to female fame."
The 'Smile' singer says that when women are famous, we're expected to be 'seen and not heard' because women who speak up are 'threatening'.
Looking at these sexist forces, the chart-topping artist says that she finds it difficult to teach her own daughters how to carry themselves through the world. She's mum to daughters Marnie, 5, and Ethel, 6, whom she shares with ex Sam Cooper.
"It’s really difficult because society tells them that they’re right: women’s value is in the way that we look. It’s not like things are being legislated to protect women in the workplace or that the pay gap is closing – nothing’s happening," Lily explained.
"So it’s really difficult for me as a mother of daughters to be like, 'You can do whatever you want', because actually, they can’t.
"I want to believe that, and that’s the struggle: filling them with confidence and the reality of what the world is about. Because I don’t f*cking know. I thought it was one way, and I’ve got here and realised it isn’t."
Unfortunately, the BRIT Award winner says that she's already seen how societal misogyny has affected her daughters, despite them being so young.
She recalled an incident when she brought her children to a recording of a BBC music show. Lily performed, as did James Bay and 5 Seconds Of Summer, who were then followed up by singer-songwriter Ella Eyre.
When Ella came on, Ethel asked her mum if the show was a competition, and Lily said that her daughter was concerned because she thought Ella would beat her.
Her daughters only felt worried when Ella, another woman, was on, compared to when the men sang. The idea of female competition is often ingrained into women from a young age, and Lily was shocked to see her kids had already accepted this construct.
"I certainly try and build up their confidence and don’t want them to compare themselves, but somehow it’s managed to get through to them – and they’re five and six," the mum reflected.
As worrying as this is, the songwriter has said she won't be quiet on the subject of gender equality. Her new album No Shame, which will be released on June 8, certainly doesn't shy away from the topic.
One of the songs on the album discusses women reclaiming what should be ours, declaring, 'Eventually you'll get a piece of that patriarchy pie/They'll be tears, drawn out fights'.
Speaking on the current state of the world for women, Lily said, "I think we’re at a watershed moment [for gender equality].
"It’s either change or The Handmaid’s Tale vibes. As soon as you have equal pay then that is equal power."
