Women and Shopping

Shopping is essentially a feminine occupation. It requires discrimination, patience, and tact and though these qualities are not the monopoly of women, no one will deny that women exhibit them more than men, at least in the sphere of shopping. But more than this, it is clear that these qualities have to be utilized even for small ends. A man may reveal these when he is handling big things but he will not be at pains to practice them when he has to select a tie, a hat, or a pair of shoes. But women have an infinite interest in small things. They are penny wise, though not necessarily pound foolish. In fact, I have always questioned the validity of the proverb. I can never believe that a person can be penny-wise and yet pound foolish. On the other hand, I think to be wise about pennies is the secret of being wise about pounds. The difference between a man and a woman is only this: a woman handles life from the right end while a man starts at the wrong end. A man cares more for bigness and size, while a woman is interested in the small but indispensable things of life. Man lives more in the world of everyday facts. This is the reason why a man is more often a failure than a woman. This also explains why women are such adept at shopping. They are solicitous about the quality of vegetables that they cook, the texture of clothes that they wear, and the price of the furniture that they use. These may be petty things in the eyes of men, but who will deny that they are the stuff of life?