An interesting reply by Carolyn Hax, to a somewhat common generalisation. Found at the Washington Post site, in the advice column Tell me about it online discussion today:
RE boys will be boys: Well…if men’s self-worth and societal ‘value’ were predicated on looks and looks only, they’d freak out too.
Carolyn Hax: Is that really how you feel? Like nothing you say or do matters because you’re female? Are you reading this because you think I’m pretty? That is some serious self-loathing you’re carrying around. And I’m saying that not in a what’s-YOUR-problem-way, but in an I’m-worried-about-you way.