Challenging Social Structure
In Boys on the Side it is east to see how the female friendships throughout the film challenge the existing social structure. The first example that the film demonstrates is when Holly hits Nick in the head with a baseball bat and then the tree girls, Holly, Jane, and Robin strap him into a chair and leave him there. This shows how the women in this film are able to overcome the social identity of the female that does not defend herself. They are able to help each other recognize what a true relationship is supposed to be like and stop relying on people that are negative aspects of their lives, like Nick was to Holly.
Another aspect of the film that challenges the existing social structure was how open Robin was with her sexuality. Often times, gays and lesbians tend to keep to their selves about their sexuality so that they will not be judged in any way, but Robin did just the opposite. She was willing to give a piece of her mind to anyone that had something to say about her being a lesbian. She was able to defend herself in many situations throughout the movie. As an example, Robin continually made jokes to defend her self against people that were making fun of her. She was able to look past the existing social structure to create her own as a means to be the real person that she is.