barbaral@tekig1.UUCP (Barbara Lee) (12/02/83)
It's not true that men don't describe themselves as 'boys'. Quite a common expression I hear is "I'm going out with the boys tonite." Some older couples we know often say things like "let's go and see what the boys are up to" or "we better head back, the girls are waiting for us". I don't think there was any put-down intended. They all seem to have a jolly good time together and are very young at heart and energetic. Some people use the term 'gal', but I don't care for that word.