Traditional thinking is that most men are on shopping trips with wives just to “carry and pay for packages” procured by their spouses. I know you’ve seen the scene where the guy follows his wife through various store departments, standing off to one side with his arms folded across the chest, seemingly tolerating his spouse while she examines new clothing, furniture, dishware, etc., etc. Or the “Dagwood” cartons where the husband is staggering under a six-foot high load of packages asking for guidance to wherever they are to be placed; or the reluctant doling of dollars from the wallet and giving them to the wife who’s is obviously dressed to go shopping. And we all know that men detest any king of shopping that doesn’t involve tools, sporting goods, electronics, or fishing gear. Right?
This role wasn’t ingrained in me during my formulative years I suspect because my father died the summer just as I turned a teenager and my mother was left with the task to raise two youngsters (myself and my 4 year-younger sister). Having to be both parents at the same time she didn’t have time to perform the roles in the traditional manner – much to the betterment of both of her children’s social education. Even though I had grandfathers, uncles, aunts, older cousins who embraced the more traditional roles we didn’t live close enough for all that to be much of an influence on me. Oh, I played baseball, basketball, football, and I hunted, fished, all the boy/man things; I never experienced the, man/woman, leader/follower social roles as did most of my friends.
Today, most women have just as much money as the men (or more); Women buy or influence the purchase of 80% of all consumer goods including family health care and other major purchases. Women own 48% of all shares in the stock market; 47 percent of full time wage and salaried workers in executive, administrative, and managerial occupations are women; and, there are more than 9,000,000 woman-owned businesses in the U.S, generating 3.6 trillion dollars in annual revenues.
Women do have a greater affinity for what we think of as shopping — walking at a relaxed pace through stores, examining merchandise, comparing products and prices, interacting with sales staff, asking questions, trying things on, reading labels and ultimately, making purchases. Even when shopping for mundane everyday necessities, even when the shopping experience brings no particular pleasure, women tend to do it in a thoughtful, agreeable manner. Women take pride in their ability to shop prudently and well.
Men make impulse purchases; they don’t clip coupons, and they don’t work from lists. When men shop, it’s usually for themselves, when women shop it’s for themselves and their families.Women consider technology a tool and aren’t afraid to use the internet to seek the information and finalize purchases.
So, I’m trying to learn! I often go shopping with my spouse. Occasionally, you’ll see me standing behind her, leaning against a clothes rack with my arms crossed; but, I’m not patiently awaiting the next move – I’m just tired. I enjoy seeing her pleasure when she selects items to purchase. At times she’ll insist I buy a new shirt, etc. and I’ll mumble and try one…two…whatever, then we’ll proceed to do groceries. Maybe I will look at the electronics, find printer supplies, replenish some liquid refreshments…or… and the next time she asks me do I want to go shopping with her, the answers always, when, and where??
Living as an retired expat in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico, adds different elements to just shopping…adventure, happening, experience.
Even though we have large supermarkets, malls, SAM’s Costco, etc. it still takes a visit to each and every one in order to do a complete job. This never takes less than 4-5 hours. And naturally you will meet people you know, catching up on local social life, and always lunch at some out of the way bistro or sidewalk café with a large refresca, ice-tea, a cold cerveza, or glass of wine _happening.
Or do you do the annual bus trip to Guadalajara/Tonala to visit the weekly teinda or go furniture, artifact, dishware shopping with 25 to 35 shoppers_ a two day trip that can occur 2-4 times season _adventure/experience?
Did all this come with retirement, did I just get smarter, or maybe I just opened my eyes wider to a experience that has always been there?
This role wasn’t ingrained in me during my formulative years I suspect because my father died the summer just as I turned a teenager and my mother was left with the task to raise two youngsters (myself and my 4 year-younger sister). Having to be both parents at the same time she didn’t have time to perform the roles in the traditional manner – much to the betterment of both of her children’s social education. Even though I had grandfathers, uncles, aunts, older cousins who embraced the more traditional roles we didn’t live close enough for all that to be much of an influence on me. Oh, I played baseball, basketball, football, and I hunted, fished, all the boy/man things; I never experienced the, man/woman, leader/follower social roles as did most of my friends.
Today, most women have just as much money as the men (or more); Women buy or influence the purchase of 80% of all consumer goods including family health care and other major purchases. Women own 48% of all shares in the stock market; 47 percent of full time wage and salaried workers in executive, administrative, and managerial occupations are women; and, there are more than 9,000,000 woman-owned businesses in the U.S, generating 3.6 trillion dollars in annual revenues.
Women do have a greater affinity for what we think of as shopping — walking at a relaxed pace through stores, examining merchandise, comparing products and prices, interacting with sales staff, asking questions, trying things on, reading labels and ultimately, making purchases. Even when shopping for mundane everyday necessities, even when the shopping experience brings no particular pleasure, women tend to do it in a thoughtful, agreeable manner. Women take pride in their ability to shop prudently and well.
Men make impulse purchases; they don’t clip coupons, and they don’t work from lists. When men shop, it’s usually for themselves, when women shop it’s for themselves and their families.Women consider technology a tool and aren’t afraid to use the internet to seek the information and finalize purchases.
So, I’m trying to learn! I often go shopping with my spouse. Occasionally, you’ll see me standing behind her, leaning against a clothes rack with my arms crossed; but, I’m not patiently awaiting the next move – I’m just tired. I enjoy seeing her pleasure when she selects items to purchase. At times she’ll insist I buy a new shirt, etc. and I’ll mumble and try one…two…whatever, then we’ll proceed to do groceries. Maybe I will look at the electronics, find printer supplies, replenish some liquid refreshments…or… and the next time she asks me do I want to go shopping with her, the answers always, when, and where??
Living as an retired expat in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico, adds different elements to just shopping…adventure, happening, experience.
Even though we have large supermarkets, malls, SAM’s Costco, etc. it still takes a visit to each and every one in order to do a complete job. This never takes less than 4-5 hours. And naturally you will meet people you know, catching up on local social life, and always lunch at some out of the way bistro or sidewalk café with a large refresca, ice-tea, a cold cerveza, or glass of wine _happening.
Or do you do the annual bus trip to Guadalajara/Tonala to visit the weekly teinda or go furniture, artifact, dishware shopping with 25 to 35 shoppers_ a two day trip that can occur 2-4 times season _adventure/experience?
Did all this come with retirement, did I just get smarter, or maybe I just opened my eyes wider to a experience that has always been there?
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