What is in women's handbags (or purses as Americans call them) ....
.... and why, has long been a sources of mystery or bemusement to men.
And in fact, as I discovered writing this, something of interest to women as well. It often seems to be very similar to the kitchen drawer .... the one that houses every bit of string, elastic bands, paper-clips, batteries (that may or may not have a charge), knife handles etc etc.
Only the handbags don't hold so many domestic items, but rather (from my observations over the years), seem to contain credit cards, cash, phones, a mini-make-up kit, tablets of various kinds, a mirror, tissues, hand wipes, spare tights, nail clippers, and anything required to deal with a small child in distress .... Oh, and possibly a couple of bricks.
Apparently, from what I have gleaned researching this post, it depends to some extent on the woman's age and status. Under the age of 35 and unmarried, its less likely to carry bizarre items (sex toys excluded), while those married are more likely to cater to the needs of small children. Those of any status over the age of 35, are more likely to fill their bags with a lot of strange items. In fact one report suggested that the average British woman carries around £512 ($654) of stuff, including a £200 tablet, £151 mobile phone and £25.50 worth of make-up in her bag, but at the higher end of the market, some women carry a hefty £3,144 ($4016.46) worth of items. Jewellery (£944), tablets (£698) and mobile phones (£500) were identified as the highest-priced items.
This all came to mind, when I saw a news report about a bag handed in to a cloakroom attendant by a couple in the Konzerthaus Opera House in Vienna, Austria. Shortly after the performance started, the cloakroom attendants heard a noise, and saw the bag vibrate. Fearing a terrorist attack (what a sign of the times), the management called the police (but didn't evacuate the building). Armed officers and a bomb squad rushed to the building.
The bag was examined for traces of explosives, and it was only then, when that tested negative, that the bomb officer gingerly opened the bag ...... only to discover, what is sometimes euphemistically called a 'pocket rabbit' (aka a small sex toy), merrily vibrating away. After the opera performance finished, the police handed the couple their bag, with its contents now turned off, and explained to the embarrassed owner what had happened. The police concluded by wishing the couple a "pleasant evening".
Sticking to this theme .... this is not the first time that news outlets have reported sex toys sparking a security concern.
In September 2016 an internal flight was grounded after staff at Chiang Mai airport in Thailand heard a loud humming, and felt the green rucksack shaking, as they hauled it onto the AirAsia flight to Bangkok. The bomb squad was called out to at an airport due to vibrating baggage, but after tearing open the luggage they found a silver vibrating bullet, with the speed dial that had accidentally turned on."We checked it and found it was safe to take on the plane so we put back in the bag," they said. The passenger was left unaware that their bag caused a security alert.
The X-Factor judge Tulisa Contostavlos, reported to her 1.6 million Twitter followers (in another sign of the times), in March 2012, that while at the Miami Airport check-in for a flight to London, her suitcase started vibrating, and the security asked her to open the bag. The offending sex toy (which doesn't sound like it was the 'pocket' version), was examined then turned off. She later claimed that it wasn't hers (of course not), but bought as a joke for a friend, and that the joke had ended being on her. However battery operated toys aren't routinely sold with the batteries in them ..... ahem. The other smoking gun was that she had earlier tweeted "Happy valentines day uk.. all u lovers, I wish u a romantic day... 2 all my singles, hook up wid ur girls n go home 2 ya wabbit! Yeziirr."
And perhaps most amazingly, I found that when searching for the news stories, I was bombarded with advice on how to get vibrators through airports ..... who could know? I never even knew this 'problem' existed.
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| A Mysterious Realm - A Woman's Handbag Contents |
.... and why, has long been a sources of mystery or bemusement to men.
And in fact, as I discovered writing this, something of interest to women as well. It often seems to be very similar to the kitchen drawer .... the one that houses every bit of string, elastic bands, paper-clips, batteries (that may or may not have a charge), knife handles etc etc.
Only the handbags don't hold so many domestic items, but rather (from my observations over the years), seem to contain credit cards, cash, phones, a mini-make-up kit, tablets of various kinds, a mirror, tissues, hand wipes, spare tights, nail clippers, and anything required to deal with a small child in distress .... Oh, and possibly a couple of bricks.
Apparently, from what I have gleaned researching this post, it depends to some extent on the woman's age and status. Under the age of 35 and unmarried, its less likely to carry bizarre items (sex toys excluded), while those married are more likely to cater to the needs of small children. Those of any status over the age of 35, are more likely to fill their bags with a lot of strange items. In fact one report suggested that the average British woman carries around £512 ($654) of stuff, including a £200 tablet, £151 mobile phone and £25.50 worth of make-up in her bag, but at the higher end of the market, some women carry a hefty £3,144 ($4016.46) worth of items. Jewellery (£944), tablets (£698) and mobile phones (£500) were identified as the highest-priced items.
This all came to mind, when I saw a news report about a bag handed in to a cloakroom attendant by a couple in the Konzerthaus Opera House in Vienna, Austria. Shortly after the performance started, the cloakroom attendants heard a noise, and saw the bag vibrate. Fearing a terrorist attack (what a sign of the times), the management called the police (but didn't evacuate the building). Armed officers and a bomb squad rushed to the building.
The bag was examined for traces of explosives, and it was only then, when that tested negative, that the bomb officer gingerly opened the bag ...... only to discover, what is sometimes euphemistically called a 'pocket rabbit' (aka a small sex toy), merrily vibrating away. After the opera performance finished, the police handed the couple their bag, with its contents now turned off, and explained to the embarrassed owner what had happened. The police concluded by wishing the couple a "pleasant evening".
Sticking to this theme .... this is not the first time that news outlets have reported sex toys sparking a security concern.
 |
| Chiang Mai Airport Was Unexpectedly Brought To A Halt .... Oops |
In September 2016 an internal flight was grounded after staff at Chiang Mai airport in Thailand heard a loud humming, and felt the green rucksack shaking, as they hauled it onto the AirAsia flight to Bangkok. The bomb squad was called out to at an airport due to vibrating baggage, but after tearing open the luggage they found a silver vibrating bullet, with the speed dial that had accidentally turned on."We checked it and found it was safe to take on the plane so we put back in the bag," they said. The passenger was left unaware that their bag caused a security alert.
The X-Factor judge Tulisa Contostavlos, reported to her 1.6 million Twitter followers (in another sign of the times), in March 2012, that while at the Miami Airport check-in for a flight to London, her suitcase started vibrating, and the security asked her to open the bag. The offending sex toy (which doesn't sound like it was the 'pocket' version), was examined then turned off. She later claimed that it wasn't hers (of course not), but bought as a joke for a friend, and that the joke had ended being on her. However battery operated toys aren't routinely sold with the batteries in them ..... ahem. The other smoking gun was that she had earlier tweeted "Happy valentines day uk.. all u lovers, I wish u a romantic day... 2 all my singles, hook up wid ur girls n go home 2 ya wabbit! Yeziirr."
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| Who Would Have Thought That This Was Such A Problem? |
And perhaps most amazingly, I found that when searching for the news stories, I was bombarded with advice on how to get vibrators through airports ..... who could know? I never even knew this 'problem' existed.
Hahaha it is a surprising problem. Like you, I would never have guessed that so many seem to need advice on this subject. Nor indeed that there are so many willing to give that advice. But then I am not a woman.
ReplyDeleteErr, yes it is, certainly not one I had ever considered existed ... But then I am also not a woman haha Thanks for the comment.
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