Reading materials that were obviously meant for members of the opposite sex. For some odd reason, this seems to apply primarily to males who read "girly books", but I suppose the same term could be applied to women who read Maxim or something. This practice can indeed be interesting, however, as it tends to lend some insight into the mysteries of the minds of the opposite sex.

While mallratting one evening, 7Ghent and I struck up an interesting conversation. Although he's read far more than I, and my body of knowlege is largely eclipsed by his, there appeared to be a discrepancy in the "young adult" novels we'd read.

When I was 12-ish, I used to read a bunch of books aimed, essentially, at 12-year-olds. Boys AND girls. 7Ghent mentioned that this seemed to him like the literary equivalent of cross-dressing. (Turns a nice phrase, 7Ghent does.)

I got to thinking - was it? I am a very heterosexual guy (as far as I know) so this was not indicative of some kind of sexual confusion. I think perhaps it was simple curiosity. I was and continue to be inherently interested in how the other half thinks, which would explain this literary gender-bending as well as my current interest in Shoujo Manga.

Is it okay for guys to read girl books? Are such definitions even useful? Is thinking about it a complete waste of intellectual energy? Probably.