I have a not-so-secret obsession with purses and bags, as an observer of my closet would note. All the purses I own are similar in size; I purchase them knowing that I need a certain amount of space. I change my purse frequently. Why, one might ask? Well, I was asked that same question not long ago, but the question included the contents of my purse and why I carry those things.
This got me thinking about purses. In very general terms, I think every woman has an accessory that is perfect for her style, her image, and, on a higher level, her comfort. Some women may choose a belt, the perfect pair of shoes, a pair of earrings, or a scarf or a purse. In my case, as well as many others, the perfect accessory is a purse. You can add a splash of color, drama, or sophistication with such a simple utilitarian item. However, there are women who do not agree. So I decided to take a semi-scientific approach to determine whether purses were considered an essential accessory or just a necessity. My first step was to locate a group of women, diverse in cultural backgrounds, and ranging in ages from nineteen to fifty-eight. I would interview them, asking a series of questions—five, maybe six in all—to find out about purses and what we keep in them.
My task was fairly easy: I know a lot of women and they graciously agreed to talk with me about the secrets inside their purses. The first and foremost question—do you carry a purse? Twenty-four out of the twenty-five I interviewed said “Yes.” The one who did report “no” actually carries a backpack of sorts and did not consider it a purse, but it’s pretty close if you ask me. To illustrate this point, please see the definitions. According to Random House Unabridged Dictionary, a purse is a bag or box of leather, fabric, plastic, or the like, held in the hand or carried by means of a handle or strap, commonly used by women for holding money, toilet articles, small purchases, etc. A bag is a container or receptacle of leather, plastic, cloth, paper, etc., capable of being closed at the mouth or pouch. So either way, it’s pretty close.
The second and third questions were—do you change your purse frequently, and why? Seven of the women, age range forty-five to fifty-eight, said they change seasonally. Sixteen, age range of nineteen to thirty, said they change daily or weekly to match their outfits, and the rest said “No, only when the bag gets beyond repair.” Fourth and final question—what five items do you always carry with you and what is their significance? Not so surprisingly, they all had similar items: keys, wallets because they needed money, checkbooks, credit cards, and their cell phones so that they could be in communication, take a photo, or just pretend to be talking to someone.
