In addition, let’s also acknowledge that Peeta went through WAY more shit than Gale did and still came back to himself (and Katniss), retaining his kindness, compassion, and strength of character along the way. I’m not saying Gale didn’t go through a lot more than any one person should have to endure. But let’s compare and contrast. (Spoilers below)
BOOK ONE: The Hunger Games
Gale, who comes from a loving and supporting family that respects him, is the oldest of 4 kids and one of two income sources for their family (remember Hazelle did laundry). His best friend and assumed (on his part) future wife volunteers to go into a national death-match to save her sister.
Peeta, who comes from an unloving, unsupportive family (at least on his mother’s end but there’s certainly no evidence in canon that the rest of his family were his spirit squad). He is physically abused by his mother once in canon, and it alludes that the violence is a recurring thing for him. He just saw the girl who he’s secretly crushed on forever (and once fed her/saved her life even though it meant getting a beating) volunteer to go into a national death-match to save her sister. As he is coming to grips with fear for her and hope that she will be the one strong enough to win, his own name is called. And now he is faced with the certainty that not only will he probably die, and not only will she probably die, but they might be forced to kill each other.
Gale has the stress of watching Katniss on TV, being paraded around like a lamb for the slaughter. He sees all the Capitol get up and sparkle, but he knows who Katniss really is. Gale has never said anything to Katniss about having a relationship beyond friendship with her. He makes angry faces at the TV.
Peeta has the stress of interacting with Katniss, who isn’t exactly into conversation, while in a strange city with strange people, most of whom are actively learning how to kill him. He is under constant surveillance, from the audience to the Gamemakers to the Capitol in general. At the expense of his own ego, he decides to admit on national television that he has a crush on Katniss. He does this, we assume, with Haymitch’s guidance about his true feelings, in order to make Katniss seem more likable to sponsors. He put ALL of his pride on the line to try and turn the odds into her favor. Peeta goes into a dangerous alliance, presumably to both help him live longer and to protect Katniss. His own life is at risk numerous times, including when Peeta ran back to warn Katniss (after the tracker jackers) and get her to run, despite the fact that action would give away his “cover” and nearly end his life. Later on, he is starving, dehydrated, fevered and dying, but so grateful that Katniss is alive and that she came to save him. When she begins to reciprocate feelings, both as a ruse and unintentionally (don’t make me cite lines from the cave scene), he is overjoyed and in love. When they survive together (BARELY for him), he thinks they’re going to live happily ever after (or I dunno, maybe start with a date?)
When the victors return home, Gale gets his best friend back. Peeta leaves alone. Also, without his left leg.
Gale has to work in the mines 6 days a week, and it really, really sucks, especially since it’s presumably the same mine where his father died. He goes home to a loving family and sees Katniss once a week, but the majority of his time is spent doing back-breaking labor underground.
Peeta lives alone in a mansion, down the street from the girl who broke his heart. We do not know why his family is not living with him (although I’ve seen fics with excellent versions). He is suffering from emotional trauma from the Games and learning to live with a prosthetic leg. We don’t really know how he fills his time since he doesn’t seem to be working at the bakery anymore. We learn that he has nightmares, and paints what he sees in order to try and pull them from his mind.
Gale kisses Katniss as is his way of admitting he has feelings for her. Later in the book, after much bitching and moaning about “her boyfriend” Peeta, he tells her he loves her. When she is unable to return the sentiment, he throws down her gift, insults her and leaves.
Peeta kisses Katniss all the time, except he’s doing it knowing that the “relationship” is all a facade. She is unable to return the sentiment, but Peeta still sleeps besides her every night - not for show, but to protect her from the nightmares she has.
Gale is tied to a post in the middle of town and publicly whipped. Katniss AND Peeta both stand in the whip’s way and challenge the Head Peacekeeper. Later, Peeta helps her bring Gale to her home, watches her flip out over him and fall asleep by his side, and still helps take care of him.
Gale is sad that Katniss is going back into the Quarter Quell.
Peeta is sad that Katniss is going back into the Quarter Quell. Also, that he’s going back too.
Gale makes angry faces at the TV.
Peeta is electrocuted and dies, then burned by poison gas, attacked by killer monkeys, nearly flung off a spinning cornucopia. The entire time he does this, he makes sure Katniss stays alive.
District 12 is bombed. Gale is able to save some from the Seam, but the overwhelming majority of citizens die in the blasts. Gale takes the survivors into the woods and keeps them alive for 3 days before they are rescued.
Peeta is taken by the Capitol.
Gale still has his entire family alive and well, living in District 13. He finds satisfaction in being a soldier rebelling against the Capitol. He worries about his best friend and her tendency to hide during bouts of PTSD. Gale bravely volunteers to rescue Peeta from the Capitol, despite real danger to his own life.
Peeta is in the Capitol, being imprisoned and later tortured. His entire family is dead. Snow is feeding lies into Peeta’s brain and injecting him with hallucinogens in order to hijack his memories, then beating the shit out of him and killing people he knows RIGHT IN FRONT OF HIM. He also gets to hear his friends being tortured next door. He’s then “rescued” by rebel soldiers and brought back to this strange place called District 13, sees the girl he loves, and is overcome by a desire to kill her.
Gale goes out on missions and undergoes training and helps film propos. Everyone thinks he’s great. Katniss kisses him, and he tells her she only did it because she feels sad for him. Gale gets important duties in District 13, like designing weapons and planning tactical missions. He is very respected by President Coin and other soldiers.
Peeta is tied to his hospital bed, trying to make sense of everything and convince everyone that Katniss is the enemy, because Snow brainwashed him. Everyone thinks he’s crazy. Peeta is allowed to frost a wedding cake and occasionally leave his cell, under heavy guard.
Gale gets to go out on a “Star Squad” mission with Katniss and several others that he has spent months training with. He is SO FUCKING READY to stop the Capitol. He takes his sexual frustration with Katniss out by blowing up a goddamned mountain.
Peeta is sent there as well (against his will), has to be watched at all times and knows that they don’t trust him, and is in direct contact with the girl he loves/hates/everything in his brain is kind of fuzzy at this point. He has an episode and kills a squad member by accident and tries to kill Katniss. When he “comes to” and realizes what happened, he begs for them to kill him so he won’t put anyone else in danger. When they don’t, he makes sure he stays restrained. He remains kind and friendly to the other members.
In battle, Gale is taken inside someone’s home, and we don’t know who took him or what happened to him. We don’t know what happened to Peeta, but he received severe burns (the reader can assume he was near the explosion at Snow’s mansion.
Gale tells Katniss that she will never be able to forgive him, because the bomb he designed was SO like the bomb that killed her sister. He walks away.
Peeta urges Katniss to NOT continue the violence with a Capitol Kids’ Hunger Games. Despite his anger at her vote, he is still there to save her when she attempts to commit suicide.
Gale goes off and has a high-profile career in District 2. To our knowledge, he does not come back or visit Katniss.
Peeta comes back to District 12 and immediately plants a memorial for Katniss’s sister, who he also cared about. He visits her the next day and makes sure she is taking care of herself, and they help each other heal and form a genuine relationship - no cameras.
To sum up, Peeta goes through way more shit than Gale does and still comes out as the compassionate, kind, morally sound boy with the bread. If you don’t see how that takes superior emotional and mental strength, you’re fucking blind.
In conclusion, anon, fuck you sideways with your mom’s dick.