Janis Ian - Society's Child - Are you a "society's child"?

The song/poem is entitled "Society's Child" because the song/poem is about a girl who cannot have a black boyfriend. The girl is expected to have a white boyfriend, it is what society expects, and no, I am not a 'society's child'. Being a society's child means giving up the right to be independent. Parents can influence this expectation of a child. The unknown citizen is an example to what a "society's child" is, …

…no better then her family and friends. She had lost her independence when she gave up. Her freedom lost. Her mind now a servant to society. This girl gave up her boyfriend for society. She couldn't stand up for herself and gave in to peer or family pressure. Society overlooked them when it was none of their business or concern, but they felt it was their concern because a white girl was dating black boy.