But we've heard this all before. People spend plenty of time talking about eating disorders and the media's impact on body image and whatnot, and I don't mean to harp on that. I only want to share my amazement at the diet-free world of a guy I know, and my ensuing amazement at my own amazement, if you see what I mean.

James's question should not have surprised me so much. But I have a feeling that it would surprise most women he might've asked, and that's a pretty miserable fact if you think about it. We go to the dining hall and watch girl after girl load up her tray with salad, while boys fill one plate with pasta and one with chicken fingers and save room for dessert. We consider both trays appropriate and normal.

Sometimes we satisfy ourselves with the half-truth that boys just need to eat more; sometimes we make the absurd assumption that girls just like salad more; mostly we just don't think about it, because we've been watching it happen like this for years. And I could add disclaimers about how boys have eating concerns too, which is certainly and sadly true, or about how I don't speak for all girls or about how chicken fingers every night is not the healthiest of diets either. But with all that said, the situation still stands, and I almost wish I hadn't answered James's question. Why not let him go on not knowing?

It must be awfully nice.