Day Twenty-Five: An Interview with...A BOY

Boys have played a huge part in my life. Well, the lack of boys, I guess you could say. I hate to admit it, but a big part of my eating disorder stemmed from the fact that I got no attention from boys when I was growing up. They always gave their attention to my friends who were all skinny. Like I've said before, I was always the biggest kid in my class. Ever since I was a kid, I've dreamed of the fairy tale life: I want to meet the man of my dreams and fall in love and get married and travel the world, but I don't want kids. No thank you. Anyway, because that was always my dream and then never got attention or the slightest sign of interest from the opposite sex, I always associated that lack of attention to my weight. Again, boys paid attention to skinny girls, not big ol' me. At least romantically. All of my best friends back home are dudes. I get along with them better...just not intimately. 

I was curious to find out first hand from a boy what exactly one thinks of women. I've talked to my male friends about it before, but it's always interesting to see what boys think of women. I was also curious about what the opposite sex thinks of eating disorders. I interviewed a boy (well, man I guess...) named Brad that I go to school with...

       Zoe: What is your ideal woman?
       Brad: She is a Christian, more extroverted than introverted, she has a good sense of humor, she gets       along with her family, and she’s caring towards others and she has musical talents.
    
      Zoe: Is there a certain way a woman should be?

Brad: No. I don’t think there is a certain way a woman should be.

Zoe: Is there a certain way a woman should dress?

Brad: Yes. And it’s not that I’m saying women shouldn’t dress comfortable, I’m saying they shouldn’t dress in provocative ways. I understand there are tight clothes that are comfortable, but I’m not comfortable with revealing clothes.

Zoe: Is there a certain way a woman should eat?

Brad: I mean as long as she takes care of her body I don’t have any view of what they should eat or not eat.

Zoe: Is there a certain way a woman’s body should be?

Brad: No, I mean just well maintained, healthy.

Zoe: What do you think about women in the media?

Brad: I think that the women in the media are fine, it’s just what the media does to them that is wrong.

Zoe: What do you think about eating disorders?

Brad: I believe that there’s more behind the scene than just the disorder, and they can’t just snap out of it. They need love and counseling. It’s something anyone can get themselves into if they don’t watch what they’re doing.

Zoe: Do you think there are unfair pressures set on women?

Brad: Yeah

 Zoe: Do you hold women to society’s standards?

Brad: Yes and no. there are some things that I would like women to be stereotypical at, and there are things that the way society puts it is unrealistic and wrongfully placed on women.

Zoe: Would you ever love a woman society considered to be “ugly” or “fat?”

Brad: Yeah

Zoe: Do your beliefs in God influence your view on women?

Brad: Yes. I do believe in God and it does influence my view on women. 

Boys and girls really are a completely different species. I like boys better because girls tend to be more drama and they are generally more chill. Also, the fact that I'm heterosexual plays a pretty big part in that. It's interesting to see the way boys see things in retrospect to the way that girls do. For example, a girl could spend hours getting an outfit together to look cute, but all that a boy might see is clothes. I think many girls focus on what they think other people (especially the opposite sex) think of them, and that's the reason why they act the way that they do; I know I do. When in doubt, just ask. That goes for any situation in life, but in regards to what people think of you, it's definitely always the best bet. Do all men view women the way that Brad does? No. Are there many that do, though? No doubt. Boys may be a different species, but they aren't going to kill you.

Food Log: Tuesday October 22, 2013:

Breakfast:

Peanut butter multi-grain cheerios; peanuts

Snack: 

Chocolate milk; 4 crackers

Lunch:

Cinnamon raisin bagel with butter; eggs; cheese cubes; fruit 

Dinner:

Subway sub-sandwich

Snack:

TBD