As I stroll the halls of Delphi High, there’s an abundance of thoughts running through my head. “Did I remember to do my homework? What’s for lunch? How many more days until graduation?” However, there is one thought that dominates my mind every time the bell rings and I return to the crowded halls. This thought dominates all the other thoughts. It keeps me up at night. It impedes my school work—why do boys and girls carry their books differently?

       Some of you just gasped with relief while realizing you weren’t the only one that noticed this crazy phenomenon. Others of you are questioning what I just said, so I challenge you, next time you walk through the hallway, look at each student and how they carry their books. Every boy will hold his books with one arm extended to his side, and every girl will carry hers tucked in on her hip or chest, as if she is holding a small child. For you skeptics out there, I fear that you read my above sentences as most kids follow this general trend, so I will reiterate—EVERY student will follow this trend. Every. Last. One. You can take it right to the bank. You could publish it in a scientific magazine. I have not once, after months of observation, seen a single person break this trend.

      After a simple Google search, I discovered that I was not alone in my observations. Yahoo Answers came in clutch and proved that others have questioned this odd gender separation. However, after many tests, no one can uncover this mysterious global understanding the sexes seem to have of how to carry their textbooks, and the best any of us can do is theorize.

      Here are the four theories I have come across in my research. #1.) Boys have stronger arms and bigger hands so they can carry their books without the support of their chest or another arm. I  disagree with this statement working for the entire population because some girls are much stronger and larger than some boys, but they don’t break the trend. Theory #2.) Girls are self conscious so they use their books to cover their body. Sure, I suppose it is a fair statement to say most teenage girls are self conscious, but so are a lot of teenage boys, yet they don’t cover their body with their books. The third theory is that most girls carry more to class so they can’t use one arm to hold all their books, while the boys and their light load can do that just fine. I know that I, a teenage girl, will still carry my books as all other girls do even if I only have one folder. Not to mention, not all girls are overly-prepared and not all boys are unprepared for class. Theory #4.) is the most “buyable” but I still find fault. It states that girls have maternal instincts that cause them to carry their books like the cute little toddlers they will one day coddle. And along with that, girls’ bodies are made differently, so maybe their way is easier with their wider hips. (Don’t boys have paternal instinct? I highly doubt that fathers carry their infants off to their side with reckless abandon, so this theory isn’t definite).

     All theories are possible for some, but I doubt they apply to every single student in the United States. I think the way we girls carry our books is the most comfortable. Boys, what do you think? I need answers, people. This article wasn’t just written as a cathartic release or as an attempt to cause this question to pain the whole student body. Comment your thoughts below, let me know what theory you think explains the human nature behind the science of book carrying.