I think the statement is poppycock, but the preface "It is said…" carries no claim of scientific accuracy (nor does my belief), and may be anything from a universally-held opinion to pure baloney made up by the author. I have a daughter who would resent the stereotype, but I think that in general the context makes it clear that your purpose is to entertain and to provoke vocabularic (vocabularious?) thought. Case by case, I think.

Peter

Edit: I have another daughter who would probably go right along with you and take no offense. I wish I could ask my wife, but she's asleep.

Last edited by Tromboniator; 03/30/11 07:35 AM. Reason: Oh, by the way…