Why Women Feel the Need to Carry Handbags

I know, I'm of the female gender. Why on earth am I posting this?


Because I hate carrying a purse or handbag everywhere with me. Yeah, some bags are really cute and all, but I don't like having it with me all the time. When I go shopping, I don't want to have to make sure that my purse is still with me. If I wanted to keep track of something all the time, I'd borrow a toddler or have kids of my own. Not only that, but if I do leave my purse somewhere, chances are it has a good deal of my valuables in it, like cell phones and mp3's, not to mention a wallet that has lots of forms of ID and money. That's not something you want to misplace or have taken from you.


Poking around a little on the fabulous Google, I couldn't really find a history behind carrying a bag- most of the articles I found are men who are baffled by their significant other's obsession with bags. One of them had some pretty good theories: "The bag is a surrogate baby." Heaven knows some bags that women carry are as big or bigger than a baby, and weigh probably more than that. "These large handbags are perfect for swinging and protection." That could make sense, to carry a ginormous bag with you so you can fend off unwanted visitors. "It’s primitive DNA gene." For this one, he goes on to explain, "Women were the hoarders or safe keepers in the caves and that’s why clutching bushel like parcels is hard wired in their brains. The bag replicates that experience – it makes them feel that they are in possession of something very material and hence the comfort of the big wobbly cushiony thing near them."

I can see why a purse would be useful. Sometimes, especially in the summer, I just have a few too many things to carry in my hands. The problem with taking a purse just to carry a few things is that those few things procreate and suddenly you're carrying the kitchen sink, the garden hose, six tubes of chapstick, every cosmetic you own (except for that blush your mom gave you that you hate), and pens that ran out of ink three years ago. (And let's not talk about receipts.) It is true that if you ever needed a bandaid or pain reliever or gum or to sew a button back on your pants after a huge buffet meal, you'll probably have that in your bag.


The mystery behind female fetishes with purses will probably never be explained. I'd be willing to bet that even the women who carry them probably can't explain why they do it. All I know is that you probably won't see me with one until Husband Man and I have kids and all the diapers and Cheerios that come with them.