Boys vs. Girls

There are many, many differences between men and women. One of the most astounding I've found is the whole body image thing. I'm also mystified by the way boys joke with each other.

For instance, if I were in a group of girls who were doing a weight-loss challenge, and we decided to motivate each other by calling each other "fatty" and "lardass" and the like, well, I'm pretty sure there'd be tears, nail scratches and possibly a few newly-developed eating disorders.

But guys? Heck, there's no better friendly motivation than your friend calling you "tubby". It doesn't phase them. They accept that their body needs changing and love it anyway. Derrick is participating in this challenge with his friends, and now they call each other fat every chance they get.

"Hey man, what's up?"
"Your cholesterol, tubby."

"Hey dude, what's shakin'?"
"Your massive belly, you lardass whale."

I'm pretty sure that I wouldn't be motivated by this kind of thing.

So what's this fundamental thing that we teach (or don't teach) boys and not girls that makes them so okay with all this?