What are little girls made of?
Sugar and spice,
And everything nice,
That's what little girls are made of
- Mother Goose
Girls are different from boys in many ways. For that reason, it may be useful for some boys to find out a bit more about girls before dating. This page is not a complete reference manual, but it does highlight some important points.
- Girls have been thinking about their married lives since they were young. As they grew up, they studied and talked about raising a family, and they "practiced" their skills by babysitting and helping at home.
- Girls realize that their subsequent marital status changes their lives, personalities, and interrelationships in ways that are very intense. Boys do not change to the same degree.
- Girls may be given a "textbook" background of the ways to be a good wife while the husband studies in a Yeshiva and/or works. Boys rarely discuss their side of the issue in the classroom.
- Girls study Jewish domestic issues (such as child care on Shabbat or Kashrut) more than boys. Therefore, they sometimes show greater concern for family traditions and hechsherim.
- Girls rarely stay away from home for an extended period of time. Even if they stay in a dormitory, they are likely to come home every week (unless they study very far from home). Thus, girls have much more contact with their families.
- Girls have already experienced the world of men. They may have contact with their Rabbi, male teachers, storekeepers, co-workers, or employers. They may look at the boys from behind the Mechitza, but not the other way around. This contact may be limited, but it does bring boys into their world.
- In general, "good" girls do not exchange off-color jokes, and almost never do so in the presence of boys. They apologize to each other more frequently, and they are more careful to maintain a courteous conversational distance than boys.
- Boys usually do not hesitate to deal with issues that make them angry, and then they often drop the issue. Girls may sulk for an extended period of time. Girls also may exhibit unexpected or unpredictable moods. They may also analyze your words or actions more carefully than you would expect.
