Patti Smith once said, “I never felt oppressed because of my gender. When I’m writing a poem or drawing, I’m not a female; I’m an artist.” In Just Kids, Patti focuses on her and Robert’s place in the world concerning their creative contributions. Their only limitations were within themselves as they searched for the source of their artistic purposes and needs. Robert did this inwardly, as portrayed in the scene in which he yells at his reflection in the mirror wearing the devil mask. Patti searched for herself outwardly by traveling, often to Paris, and by touring. Patti drew from her poetry writing skills to create music, and with the help of artists such as Jimi Hendrix and Bruce Springsteen, she produced successful songs such as “Because the Night.” The topics of her songs and drawings do not draw any attention to gender. Her art feeds off human emotions such as love, lust, suffering, and wonder; these emotions are not specific to males or females, but to humans in general. She speaks often of having a divine calling or undeniable need to be a creator. She relates this feeling to “holding the hand of God.” Something greater than herself was flowing through her, resulting in pure and true creative works. Seeing her art, it is unclear if the artist is male or female, therefore, her art does not comment on gender roles in any significant way. Despite being a woman, she became an incredibly influential component of the punk rock movement in New York in the 1970’s.