"Boys and Girls in America"

 On the surface, Kerouac's On the Road could easily be viewed as that which simply follows main character, Sal Paradise, and his many companions on their seemingly endless travel. But, upon a deeper look, the novel also greatly touches on the portrayal of women and the male character's constant pursuit of their female counterparts. With this being said, speaker, Sal Paradise, repeatedly speaks on the fact that he has yet to successfully attain a relationship with a woman. While yes, his companions have, it does not mean that none of these relationships appeared to end well for any of them. 

Moreover, Sal notes that many of his companions solely speak on their sexual encounters with these women, rarely allowing any of these instances turn into any real sense of a relationship. Sal, on the other hand, appears to express his wish to understand a woman on a level that is deeper than just physical connection. For example, he states, "Boys and girls in America have such a sad time together; sophistication demands that they submit to sex immediately without proper preliminary talk" (Kerouac, 52). In saying this, Sal notes his wish to pursue a woman for more than just a sexual encounter.

With this being said, Sal speaks on a topic that is wholly present in our society today. Relationships are oftentimes solely based upon physical attraction - such encounters rarely include the two individuals getting to know one another on an intellectual or emotional level. In light of this seemingly universal experience, a number of singers have written pieces further delving into the conversation. One of such pieces being Khalid's, "Know your Worth". In saying this, Khalid's song greatly speaks to this generational conversation by encouraging listeners to solely seek for a relationship in which he or she is truly loved - a relationship that goes beyond just a physical attraction.