Why Do Women Carry Around Such HUGE Purses? --- What's In There?

[arwalden]

Do you keep an inventory? Is it arranged in a special way? How many pennies are at the bottom?

Flame me if you want to...I know that some men carry "man-bags" too... but it certainly SEEMS like women take the prize on carrying the most stuff with them everywhere they go.

I'm guessing that folks like my mom and my sister are expecting a disaster at any moment. We're not talking about an extra tampon or maxi pad... we're talking: sewing kit, anti-diarrheal medicine, aspirin, band-aids, midol, sudafed, gum, extra keys, mace, extra cell phone battery, pen light, snake-bite kit, extra pantyhose, maps, hard candy, pens, pens, dried marker, pencil, pens, mirror, five shades of lipstick, mascara, eyeliner, foundation, powder, tiny travel sized cans of hairspray, travel toothbrush, floss... the list goes on.

I don't envy you women at all... that's an admirable task you've taken on in carrying around an extra 20-pounds of stuff all day long.

-- Allen

[mindem]

1. Hey, why carry spare keys

when you can carry a spare car???? The purse thing has always been just one of those mysteries.

[MissMillie]

2. The big purse theory

When you see a woman w/ a big bag she is more than likely carrying stuff for her hubby, who thinks that carrying a bag is too feminine. "Honey, hold my keys, will ya?"

Or she might be lugging her kid's stuff around.


My sister won't carry a bag, but she thinks nothing of bringing a hairbrush with her and then saying to me, "Here, put this in your purse."


I have since started carrying a very small purse--a wallet with a shoulder strap.

[LynneSin]

10. I hate people who do that

When I use to go out to the bars more frequently, I would try my best to not have to carry some giant purse. I mean, if it wasn't for my neck my head would be lost so why carry a purse and have to deal with that mess. I'm a pretty casual person so I would either have pockets or a purse small enough that I could dance without bothering someone else to hold it. All I really needed was cash, ID and a tube of lipstick (and maybe a few condoms :eyes: )

Nothing burned my ass more than when a friend would be with me who used a purse the size of a freaking suitcase. Then when they wanted to dance they'd be like "Hold my purse I'm going to dance" Now I'm stuck there with the damn purse and if someone wants me to dance I can't cause I'm on purse sitting duties. I had one friend who was notorious for doing this and I finally put a stop to it. I told her she had to downsize or find someplace else to stash her purse because I never had that problem.

As for what's in that purse? Mine - depends on what day of the week it is. I have a bigger purse for work because I have to be in work early so I carry my makeup with me and take care of it at work (plus my eyes are usually still too irritated to put eyemakeup on). I get to work, run my reports and then go to the bathroom and put some makeup on before the rest of the day. I usually have some lunch in there and a few other necessities of life

But for the weekend I'm still the small purse gal. The only time I don't use a small purse is when I'm going to the movies. You can stuff a few bottles of water in those big purses (which saves like $4 on buying water at the theater)

[notadmblnd]

22. Asprins, asthma inhaler for my son ,antihistimine ,eye wash, safety pins

hairbrush, kleenex, perfume, makeup, bandaids checkbook, changepurse, hairspray, change of shoes, lunch, silverware, oh and there's a pocket for trash. My note book/agenda, somtimes a bottle of water and a book, magazines, coughdrops and a partridge in a pear tree.

[northzax]

12. see, my gf does the exact opposite

she refuses to carry a purse, and often doesn't have pockets (especially at a wedding or something) so I end up carrying her keys, wallet, lipstick, tampons etc in my pockets.

it's only fair, I guess, she has to wear pantyhose and uncomfortable shoes, so it all evens out.

[LynneSin]

13. Buy her a teeny tiny purse

Seriously, I know how she feels about purses, but there are ones that are small enough that you can put a few things in them and not have to force your boyfriend to carry something like

TAMPONS

[northzax]

20. what's wrong with tampons?

should I somehow be embarassed by them? I even buy them for her (so there's a stock at my apartment) I mean she buys everything I need for her place, why shouldn't I do the same at my apartment?

I don't see what's neccesarily so embarrasing about tampons, they represent a way of dealing with a perfectly natural bodily function, right? no different than carrying mints, tissues or eyedrops, in my opinion.

[MissMillie]

35. Why is such enlightenment so rare?

Good for you.

[MuseRider]

3. All your husbands and kids stuff!

I quit carrying a purse after I saw a picture of our family on vacation. We were walking along a sunset beach, kids frolicing, husband playing with them and there in the corner of the shot was me, slumped over, about 50 feet behind them with a cloth bag as big as I was dragging in the sand behind me. Everything they ever thought they might need had to come with us because they knew someone else was going to carry it. I stopped that day and they still bitch at me about it. Now...do NOT look inside my truck.

[noonwitch]

4. The contents of my purse:

wallet
Checkbook
pens
shades
keys
comb
lipstick
extra female supplies
bottle of ibuprofin
cigarettes/lighter
gum
cell phone

I try not to carry more than the bare essentials. It certainly doesn't add up to 20 pounds, more like one. Sometimes I carry more-kleenex, cold medicine, a camera, but not usually.

[Red State Rebel]

5. If I told you, I'd have to kill you.....

My kids swear I could live in the wild for 3 months with just my purse. Last time I started digging I found a pair of pliers and wire cutters...

[GOPisEvil]

6. The bodies of their victims.

:scared:

[rbnyc]

7. Inventory:

Wallet
Date-book
Bottled Water
An Apple
Work Keys
Mini First Aid Kit
Sun Screen
Lip Gloss
Hair Brush
Hair Tie
Mirror
Bills to be Paid
Worry Stone
Pen
Check Book

Edit: Forgot last 2 items

[VelmaD]

8. It's simple really...

they don't put pockets on a lot of women's clothes and the men in our lives are too "macho" to carry a bag to put all their crap in.

[iconoclastic cat]

9. A periwinkle-colored flamethrower.

I think...

[fudge stripe cookays]

11. It's a chick thing....

Much of mine is indeed crap, but I do have a hefty amount of it.

Wallet,
1 bottle of ibuprofen,
My arthritis medication (2 bottles of drugs take up some room, seriously!),
lipstick,
lip balm,
Checkbook (I keep custody),
Multitudinous pens,
1 pair sunglasses,
Coupons for various places (restaurants, Bed, Bath & Beyond, Dress Barn),
Political buttons,
A couple of pairs of earrings that have sunk to the bottom,
Various political tracts that people have given me or that I give to other people,
A bumper sticker or 2 getting a little beaten up,
my DU nametag which goes with me everywhere now (thanks Richardo!)
A small hairbrush,
Keys,
At least 1 tin of mints
A BUTTLOAD of voter reg cards (since I'm a deputy reg now, I always try to be ready...)

And sometimes I have room to carry the digital camera when we're out at political events and reprehensor doesn't want to carry it...

[LynzM]

14. Ok, let's see

Diabetes supplies (I hate having to bring them everywhere...)
Wallet
Checkbook
Comb
Various receipts/papers
Mints
Gift cards
Cell phone
Pen or 3
Granola bar
Chapstick
Ibuprofen
Usually baby powder + diaper for my daughter
Sippy cup if she is with me
Eye drops
Tampons/pads
Nail clippers

1/2 of this is for my husband/daughter more often than me, but saves me having to carry a separate diaper bag...

I figure, if I have to carry all my diabetes stuff everywhere anyway, might as well have the other stuff I might need. If I didn't, I'd probably be a itty-bitty-purse girl! (or none...)

[put out]

15. Some serious male-bashing coming at you.

Just kidding, mostly. My purse is a discombobulated, disorganized mess of redundant junk. I clean it out and then re-accumulate crap until it gets too heavy and then I clean it out and then....

And when I clean it, I'm thinking, "Do I really need five pencils and four pens, plus a Sharpie and a highlighter? Do I need three combs? How did a butter knife get in here, I didn't steal it, it's from my own kitchen! Why do I need ten shopping lists, including one from last Christmas? Why am I carrying four bottles of nail polish, one of them leaking?".

Then I go somewhere with my beloved menfolk. And I am asked "Do you have room for my wallet? Can you put the camera in there so it doesn't get wet? Will you carry my sunglasses, I forgot the case. Do you have any clippers/bandaids/ibuprofen/sunscreen/lip balm? Oh, and did you bring your license? I left mine on the dresser, so can you drive? Can I use your comb? Do you have something to write with, and something to write on? Do you have any gum? Do you have my mom's cell-phone number? What day does the 24th fall on next month, I thought you had that calendar. Did you bring the checkbook? Honey, my allergies are kicking up, so did you bring tissues and do you have any medicine?"

And then, "Well, what's wrong with you today? Wow, you're so touchy".

;)

[La Lioness Priyanka]

16. make up, vibrator, money, credit cards

ets

[LWolf]

17. Some of us don't.

I carry a fanny pack. It contains a small wallet, checkbook, calendar/datebook, a pen, and an emergency tampon. That's it. I carry keys and cash in my pockets; I will almost never wear something without pockets. If I don't need it, the fannypack is locked in the car. If I do, I wear it, so I'm not carrying anything.

[LynneSin]

18. Fanny Packs are great but they make my ass look bigger

I had this great Hilfginger Backpack Purse but it got stolen in DC so the only backpack purse I still have is my Fake Fendi one.

[LWolf]

21. I wear mine backwards.

It makes my gut look bigger, lol.

[arwalden]

25. Worn On The Side (Or Front) They Look Like A Colostomy Bag...

ewwww!

-- Allen

[billybob537]

19. The severed head of an abusive husband

Be afraid be very afraid.

[GoddessOfGuinness]

34. Wouldn't it smell?

Or did you have it shrunk and pickled?

[notadmblnd]

46. Not when it's kept in a tupperware bowl.

nt

[billybob537]

53. No you keep it in tupperware.

Just like the movie um Damn I wish I could think of that movies title.

[Insider]

23. dennis-the-menace

some of us just use our pockets. sometimes the pockets just have billfold, keys, cell phone.

but other times, pockets are full like dennis the menace: skate key, yo-yo, gummi bears, wrigley's (mint), bubble yum (watermelon), pen, pencil, notepad, tampon, shoelace, rubberbands, crayons (broken), etc

[Insider]

24. .

[arwalden]

30. :

[Insider]

36. :..:..:.:.: .

and that's all.

[arwalden]

40. ;;,,,;;,,,

says YOU!

[Insider]

44. 1st ever DU Braille?

the ideas expressed are not necessarily those of democraticunderground.com

[SOteric]

26. I rarely carry a purse and the few I have are all quite small.

As in the size of a maybe a camera.

I keep a spare kit of emergency supplies and toiletries in my glove compartment and another in my desk at work. My wallet, lipstick and keys are small enough to tuck into my pocket.

[Lydia Leftcoast]

27. What I carry:

wallet, credit card holder, checkbook, make-up for touch-ups after the gym, a paperback book for those times when I have to stand in line with no one there for company, a collapsable umbrella (holdover from my Portland days, but i've needed it here in Minnepolis, too), NasalCrom spray (for those allergy moments), hand sanitizer (for when I have to use an inadequately stocked restroom), keys, cell phone, Kleenex (for those allergy moments), a hairbrush, and lots of writing implements. :-)

You never know when you might need one of the above. I'll never understand how men can get along on a couple of measly little pockets.

[sus]

28. what's in there?

the severed head of the last guy who asked me why my purse was so big.

:)

[arwalden]

31. Yikes!!

http://cabanedebart.free.fr/grabpics+other/bart%20scared.gif

[edbermac]

29. Have to admit it but I HATE women with huge purses...

Especially when I'm behind them in line when they buy something. Take the purse off the shoulder, open the purse, look for the wallet, pull out the bills, open the coin compartment, put the change back in the coin compartment, put the bills neatly back in the wallet, put the wallet back in the purse, close the purse, put it over the shoulder and THEN leave the line. All the while I just stand there with steam coming out of my ears thinking, "Jesus lady, hurry up and get PACKED will you?!!!"

Sorry...

:loveya:

[arwalden]

32. "Wait... just a minute... I *know* I have an extra nickle here somewhere."

[GoddessOfGuinness]

33. My purse is like my life...

hopelessly disorganized with clutter.

[geniph]

37. I don't carry a purse at all

I usually leave the house with no more than a driver's license, ATM card, and my keys. All fits in my pocket. I hate carrying anything in my hands or slung over a shoulder.

[leftofthedial]

38. their boyfriends' egos

[Bertha Venation]

39. BOOKS BOOKS BOOKS BOOKS BOOKS BOOKS (but it's a backpack, not a purse)

The only other things in my backpack are my wallet, keys, an umbrella, some bills, and drugs. (Legal drugs.)

I think you've been sucked into a stereotype, Allen. ;)

[MI Cherie]

41. Thanks a lot!

Now you have reminded me of what I forgot to pack when I tried to transfer to a tiny purse! Just had to go dig out a bigger one!

Now I have almost everything I or family might need:

Wallet w/plastic, cash, license, insurance cards
Check book w/calendar
Note pad
Pen
Keys
Reading glasses
Mini magnifying glass
Sun glasses
Cell phone
Mini camera
Kleenex
Wet wipes
Ibuprofen
Mini brush
Eye drops
Mints
Gum
Lip balm
Small make-up case w/basics
Lighter
Perfume
Nail clippers
Nail file
Binaca
Sample size hand cream
Hand sanitizer
Female supplies only when needed


I did remove all the loose change during the transfer!

[arwalden]

43. Wow! Add A Sleeping Bag And Tent And You're Ready To Go Camping!!

Or is it one of those fancy purses that DOUBLES as a sleeping bag AND a tent??

:hi:

-- Allen

[MI Cherie]

45. It's not as big as the one

I had prior to the tiny one! It weighs less than 5#. I have to keep looking for my "travel tote" to put the things I don't need every day or on simple errands. Then I can go back to the teeny one.

It's probably a "MOM" thing. We always feel the need to try to be prepared. Probably because it is expected! ("What! You didn't bring ...?")

:shrug:

[laruemtt]

42. once you've gone out for lunch break

and not come back for 2 1/2 weeks because you ended up in the hospital after a bad car wreck that happened in said lunch break, you never again leave without the necessities of life! it's amazing how much stuff i had to ask family and friends to bring me while i was in the hospital!

[jmowreader]

47. I love my sister's purse

My BIL once showed me the new purse he bought for my sister. This thing was about the size of a duffel bag. "Well, she's going to need it."

"Yeah, I want to get her all new stuff, so she doesn't have to transfer the old stuff out of the one she has. This one deserves all new stuff, don't you think?" So we borrowed, disassembled, inventoried and reassembled her purse.

Into the new purse went:
New wallet
New complete set of cosmetics
New feminine hygiene products
New road maps--she carries an Idaho map, a Washington map and an Oregon map.
New cell phone
New bunch of other shit she carries with her

Then we made one more stop on the way back home. Into the new purse went:
New .45-caliber pistol (yes, this is one of those purses with the gun pocket in the back)
New ammunition
New magazines

Oh yeah: he's the head narc in Nez Perce County, Idaho; they get three death threats on a slow day. She has to shoot someone every 18 months on average, so needs something that will ensure the people she shoots stay dead. She carried a mini-Uzi for five years and killed three people with it, which is why she now carries a .45--the .45 has better stopping power.

[lazarus]

48. books, meds

spare keys. That's about it.

Yeah, I carry a "purse". It's actually a book bag with a nice shoulder strap.

I've carried a bag of some kind for years. Since I'm ADD, I'm forever carrying stuff, so I finally got myself trained to miss it when I don't have my bag with me.

[Skittles]

49. you're telling us you don't have a big purse, Allen?

:7

[arwalden]

54. Mine Is Disguised As A Hardsided Briefcase

Other times it looks like a softsided laptop PC case... only no laptop inside.

-- Allen

[Book Lover]

50. I think it's more mom-correlated than woman-correlated

Ever since Mr Pickle entered our lives, I find I've got more crap in my knapsack (don't have a purse), but it's all related to him - extra empty bottle, clothes, toys. It's all baby stuff.

[nickgutierrez]

51. Bricks.

Lots and lots of bricks.

[flamingyouth]

52. LOL - just wait until you need an Ace bandage, a band aid

A bottle of water, a choice of three paperback books, a variety of cosmetics and lip gloss, my datebook and various other sundries - then you'll be sorry I'm not there with you!:D

[Deja Q]

55. Women with huge purses? I'd rather have men with huge...

palindromes in their vocabulary. Palindromes are great, but hard to think of examples of... :D

[bookfreak]

56. Ah geez, do you have an hour?

Mine is huge, but it does have a built in wallet so I have:

Money
credit cards/bank card
Drivers license
Various cards (insurance, store discount, etc, etc)
Prescription and non-prescription medications (oodles of them)
Eye drops
Lip balm
Nail clippers
Feminine hygiene supplies
Toothpaste/toothbrush/floss
Keys, spare keys, work keys
Mace
Hand cream
Napkins (never know when you'll need one)
Pen

[dryan]

57. Here's my list:

Wallet with various credit cards, photos, AFSCME union card,library card, Cornell Museum card, Orlando Museum of Art card, BPW membership card, Costco card, I am a Catholic in case of death, please call a priest card, voters registration card, $5.00 in singles and my driver's license
spare sunglasses
cellphone
change purse with lots of silver
comb
small bag that I keep spare sewing kit, aspirin, eyeglass repair kit, Shout wipes, and handsanitizer
tissue
car keys, house keys, keys for my office, etc
two current Avon brochures
business card case with my regular job cards, Avon cards, BioChoice cards (my other two business)
business cards for people I've met
small spiral notebook containing info on people I meet (hey I learned this from Bob Graham about 25 years ago)
mileage ledger for business trips
2 lipsticks, 1 compact, 1 small spritzer for touchups
mints
checkbook
a couple of Kerry bumper stickers - hey people ask!
small calendar - carry large planner in my totebag

[Susang]

58. Everything you guys don't feel like carrying

Yes, I do happen to have a pen. Sure, I have room for your keys, and your cell phone and your gum and your little notebook and your cds, etc.....

I've tried to go out with just a small bag, but the whining is just too much to bear! ;-)