Explain why do you think these perceptions are so different between girls and boys?
What you have discovered from the readings and what research tells us is that the psychological effects of puberty are directly associated to discrepancies between what adolescents think must happen and what actually does. Those whose development takes place outside of their expectations experience more negative outcomes and feelings. Research confirms the given:
Girls who are early developers experience lower levels of self esteem and have more negative body images. They are more probable to get in trouble at school and home, experience depression and be included in delinquent behaviors. They as well tend to think of themselves as fat - this could be because girls should have at least 17% body fat to enter puberty and at least 22% body fat to maintain regular monthly cycles so their body fat does tend to be a little more than girls who have not yet entered menarche.
Boys on the other hand which experience early development tend to have higher self esteem, do better in school and have more friends.