Just Because I'm a Woman

Album: Just Because I'm a Woman (1968)
Play Video

Songfacts®:

  • Dolly Parton was a strong female voice in the male-dominated world of country music, where she excelled as both a singer and a songwriter. In this song, she demands equal treatment, making it clear that she shouldn't be judged more harshly simply because of her gender. This being the American South in 1968, it was a bold statement.

    Released on Parton's second album, the song was a modest success on the Country chart, reaching #17, but she felt that radio stations withheld airplay because they deemed it too "women's-libby."
  • In the third verse, Parton points out women and men are judged differently based on their sexual experience:

    Now a man will take a good girl
    And he'll ruin her reputation
    But when he wants to marry
    Well, that's a different situation


    This stems from a real-life dispute with her husband, Carl, whom she married in 1966. "When I was first married, Carl and I were very happy," she told Mojo. "Then eight months in he suddenly asked me whether I'd been with anyone else before we got together. I told him I had and he was so upset, he had a hard time getting over it. That's why I wrote it: 'My mistakes are no worse than yours, just because I'm a woman.' Carl hates for me to tell the story, but I say to him, I've got to tell the truth, don't I?"
  • This song gave an early indication of Parton's unique talents; how she could be both a paragon of traditional values and a champion of women's rights. She had a staunch supporter in Porter Wagoner, who brought her in to co-host his TV show in 1967. Parton stayed on the show for seven years, finally heading out on her own in 1974. Her song "I Will Always Love You" was written for Wagoner as a sweet goodbye.
  • Parton considers this one of the defining songs for her career. She titled her 2003 tribute album Just Because I'm A Woman: Songs Of Dolly Parton, and sung this one herself (the others are songs Parton wrote recorded by other artists).
  • This, along with many other Parton songs, was used in the 2018 Netflix movie Dumplin', starring Jennifer Aniston.

Comments: 4

  • Celestino from Harrisburg, Pa Immigrated To The Usa In 2017I like this song since from africa and find the really story waht happen to this song. All are equal. She is write and want to know if she is still alive. Great song and love it...
  • Simphiwe from DurbanI love this song
  • Abigail from ZambiaMy first time listening to this song,am we'll impressed
    Infact I love the combination of reality in this song
  • Jennifur Sun from RamonaAmen and thank you Dolly.
see more comments

Editor's Picks

Frankie Valli

Frankie ValliSong Writing

An interview with Frankie Valli, who talks about why his songs - both solo and with The Four Seasons - have endured, and reflects on his time as Rusty Millio on The Sopranos.

The Girl in That Song

The Girl in That SongFact or Fiction

Billie Jean, Delilah, Sara, Laura and Sharona - do you know who the girls in the songs really are?

Michael Schenker

Michael SchenkerSongwriter Interviews

The Scorpions and UFO guitarist is also a very prolific songwriter - he explains how he writes with his various groups, and why he was so keen to get out of Germany and into England.

Actors With Hit Songs

Actors With Hit SongsMusic Quiz

Many actors have attempted music, but only a few have managed a hit. Do you know which of these thespians charted?

Charles Fox

Charles FoxSongwriter Interviews

After studying in Paris with a famous composition teacher, Charles became the most successful writer of TV theme songs.

Rock Revenge Songs

Rock Revenge SongsMusic Quiz

John Lennon, Paul Simon and Lynyrd Skynyrd are some of the artists who have written revenge songs. Do you know who they wrote them about?