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And at that precise moment it won’t matter the size, color or shape of the purse. At that precise moment the only thing that will matter is the thin line that this man walks between the potential humiliation if he takes the bag and the guaranteed earful of trouble if he doesn’t. It’s not a request. It’s an emasculating ultimatum disguised with misleading seduction to viciously grasp the tender male heart into a brutal catch-22. It’s an offer a man can’t refuse. So what does a man do when he finds himself in this no-win situation? Does he quickly snatch the purse in a symbol of affection or does he reject it in a symbol of masculinity? For men, the only thing worse than staring glassy-eyed into rows of lingerie for hours is admitting to being a personal purse valet. /Rusty, WSU Evergreen. More here. Shellhorn
Question (for men): When did you last have to hold your Sweetie’s purse?
D.F. Oliveria is a columnist and blogger for The Spokesman-Review. Huckleberries Online was judged the best 2008 Idaho newspaper blog by the Idaho Press Club. And the best 2007 news blog in the Pacific Northwest by the Society for Professional Journalist. Print Huckleberries is a past winner of the Herb Caen Memorial Column contest by the National Association of Newspaper Columnists. The Readership Institute of Northwestern University cited this blog as a good example of online community journalism.
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Cindy_H on February 04 at 1:04 p.m.
Oh, come on. It’s 2009! Are men really humiliated by holding their sweetie’s purse? Is it such a life-scarring event that it becomes seared into a man’s conscious? Maybe this is a generational thing.
All I know is when I’m out shopping and I see a fellow holding his sweetie’s purse, I give him a wink and a smile.
Men secure in their own masculinity are attractive and helpful men even more so.
moscow_minidoka on February 04 at 1:31 p.m.
I’ve never been humiliated by holding any woman’s purse, be it my sister, grandmother, mother, or wife. However, my wife doesn’t use a purse (she’s got a sporty KAVU thing that goes over her shoulder) so it’s not usually an issue.
Kage_Mann on February 04 at 1:42 p.m.
When we go to the store,I put my significant others purse in the
grocery cart.It’s embarrassing when you have to go to the store and buy womens items and have two teenage girls snickering behind you in the checkout line.I try to act non-chalant about it,but I can’t wait to get to get out of there.Heck,holding a purse is nothing and I’d hold one especially, if there was alot of money in one. ;-)
Sparky on February 04 at 2:28 p.m.
I normally take care my own purse. If its going to be an issue then I don’t bring it in, I shove my credit card and id in my pocket and go.
Kage…really? women’s items? If you are talking about feminine hygiene products also known as tampons, pads, or whatever, relax. Life happens! Want you to know a secret…I have teenage girls and I was one. We giggle at uptight men, who try to try to act nonchalant. So its not what you are doing but how you are doing it.
Nick_Adams on February 04 at 2:43 p.m.
I have no problem holding my girlfriend’s purse, as long as it matches my shoes.
Sisyphus on February 04 at 2:54 p.m.
Exactly my thought Nick. I hate it when dutiful compliance with a polite request causes my style to clash. For that reason I’m not modelling lipstick anymore. We do have standards, you know.
Bent on February 04 at 5:10 p.m.
“For men, the only thing worse than staring glassy-eyed into rows of lingerie for hours …” — Confused college journalist
This boy is seriously confused…
First of all, if I am in a Victoria’s Secret store with a woman, you would not find me “staring glassy-eyed into rows of lingerie.”
Oh, no. A real man would be staring wide-eyed into the dressing room area.
And, if the woman I am with needs more hands to try on more lingerie, I’d hold her purse AND all of her shopping bags…
BTW Kage, I’ve lived with a house full of women/girls all of my life, so I am comfortable saying that buying a box of tampons with confidence is a sign of maturity… (Aside from earning brownie points, it also gets you out of the house when the mood in the house just isn’t as rosey as it usually is… if you know what I mean)
Liz on February 04 at 6:05 p.m.
I would never make my husband hold my purse. I can’t think of a situation where I would have to hand it over. If my arms were that full, surely I could hand him something more neutral than a purse to help me out…
Me on February 04 at 6:37 p.m.
I’ve never asked my husband to hold my purse either. Although the visual is hillarious. My husband also rarely shops with me - grocery or otherwise. This is perfectly fine with me as I would feel rushed etc if he did. I have seen various levels of this in other couples.
There is the very uncomfortable, very bored man who has parked himself somewhere near the dressing room. This one won’t look you in the eye and seems as if he wants to fade into the carpet.
Then there is the one who is IN the dressing room, going out and fetching new outfits, mixing, matching etc. This one bothers me a bit because they are back where I am trying on clothes and I’m self concious enough without having some stranger tsk tsking when I come out to look in the mirror.
Then there is the guy who kind of seems like the overprotective one - or maybe the one who DECIDES what his partner will wear. This one totally creeps me out.
Do any of you guys shop with your partners and if so what type are you?
Kage_Mann on February 04 at 7:05 p.m.
My husband also rarely shops with me - grocery or otherwise. This is perfectly fine with me as I would feel rushed etc if he did. Me on February 04 at 6:37 p.m.
My significant other also,feels rushed when we shop.She hates shopping with me,because I happen to hate shopping.My whole
goal in the store,is to get in and out of there as fast as possible.
Why?Because,the longer were there, the more money I spend.
And invariably,she always forgets something and blames me for rushing her and I pretend to be concerned about the item she forgot to buy.All the while,laughing to myself about how I was able to save a few bucks. ;-)