Things Most Women Do

I'm kind of prickly a lot lately, and I realized today when I was walking that I need to take a look at that. 

Had a mani/pedi? I've had a mani once or twice, no pedis. I'm afraid of getting an infection, so I don't get them. I like my nails bare and natural. 

Worn false eyelashes, eye shadow, or liner? I hate liner because I can't do it correctly, and I've never worn false eyelashes. I do like eye shadow and used to wear it a lot, but don't currently. I like wearing makeup but like to keep it looking natural, like me only better. Not a "made up" look. 

Worn lipstick? I used to only wear lip balm because my lips are so dry and lipsticks are too drying. Until about 3 years go I discovered a line called, "Lipstick Queen" that is the first lipstick that I could wear because it's made to be moisturizing to your lips. I love it! I've been wearing these lipsticks ever since. I now have 4-5 of them. So, yes. They are as good as lip balm as far as moisture goes, but look like lipstick. My favorite on is "Frog Prince". 

Owned Yoga Pants or a Fit Bit? Yes I own Yoga Pants and even wear them outside. I need to for physical therapy-I'm certainly not going to wear jeans there and yoga pants work great for that. I don't own a fit bit-yet. Just bought them last year. 

Used a hair dryer or colored my hair. I threw my hair dryer away when my hair turned curly once I hit menopause-it's healthier for my hair not to blow dry it every day, so yes I did own one, but I air dry it now. I've been coloring my hair at home for the past few years since it started going gray. I'm almost 56, but I feel 35. I'm not ready to go gray. Not even close. 

Carried a purse-yes, I've been carrying a purse since I was a young teen. It's part of me and it's where I keep everything. My sister doesn't-she's not very feminine (was always a tom boy) and keeps everything in her pockets. But she's also constantly losing things. To me a purse just makes sense. I know where all of my important things are that I need day to day like my driver's license, and all of the cards I carry-those types of things. 

Worn spike heels or higher than a few inches-hell no! I don't see the purpose of women torturing their feet to fit some ideal. But, to each their own. I don't love shoes. Some women do. My favorite shoes are Danskos. They are extremely comfortable and give me an extra 2 inches of height plus comfort. At 5 foot 3 inches I like that extra height, but I'm not torturing my feet to get it. 

Had a spray tan-Never. Nor have I ever been in a tanning bed. I'm much too focused on my health. I have another sister who is the opposite. I see what tanning has done to her skin. She is younger than me by 18 months, but in her face she looks 10 years older. She's already had 2-3 pre skin cancer cells removed. I embrace my whiteness which is ironic because she used to tease me about it when we were teens, calling me "Casper the Ghost". My legs practically glow in the summer. 

Played helpless when confronted with a bug in the house-I've never "played" anything. I'm too honest. I get that from my Dad. As far as bugs are concerned I don't mind them-not even spiders. They're just bugs. Most of the time I either leave them alone, or scoop them up in a tissue and put them outside. I don't like killing them. They have lives too. 
Now snakes-they are another story. Luckily (knock wood) we've never had a snake in this house or yard. I have a true phobia about snakes. Comes from a childhood experience. 

Worn thong underwear? Nope, I don't like that feeling of fabric up the crack of my butt-yuck! Like a wedgie I mean. I don't understand how wearing a thong can be comfortable. 

Worn shapewear? No way! Who wants to be squeezed like a sausage in a casing to fit into clothing? Not for me!

Wanted or had children? Yes! Since I was the eldest of 4 I've changed diapers a lot, my little sis and I are 9 years apart. I wanted 4 children of my own, but because of medical issues I was only able to have one. I consider him a huge blessing and am so happy to have him. He's 26 now. And he hates kids. He says I might as well get used to the fact that I'll never have grandkids, but only have grandcats. I don't mind. It's better that he knows this about himself now. 

Spent more than 5 minutes deciding what to wear-Yes, especially if it's a special occasion. Usually only then. Most days I'm very quick. 

Debbie in MD.

I don't really know what 'most women do'.  I can tell you things that I do that tend to be more common for men (largely due to societal expectations). 

- I SCUBA dive
- I drink Scotch
- I lift heavy
- there's nothing I won't eat, at least once
- I lack modesty
- I speak up
- I play video games (sometimes obsessively)
- I live and breathe math
- I dress for comfort
- I detest small-talk

I also wear yoga pants and a Fitbit and I get pedicures (not manicures; they only last for a few minutes).

If you have nothing in common with your same-gendered peers, I suggest you cast your net a bit wider. Rather than looking at women around you and wondering why you don't enjoy the things that they do, why not just do what you enjoy and find other women who are doing the same thing? Does that make sense? While I tend to gravitate to activities that are male-dominated, I never fail to find other women doing those things too. The ratios may be smaller, but I rarely find myself the lone woman on the weight-room floor or the dive boat deck.

One thing I don't do that most women, including you, seem to do, is judge myself against others. 

What I find crazy about this thread are the number of women who feel like they need to justify or apologize for choosing to engage in the activities being discussed here.

I didn't start getting regular manicures and pedicures until I was in my 30's. And guess what? I don't know what took me so long. I didn't start getting my hair done regularly until i was in my 30's, and you know what? Also wish I'd have done that sooner.  Maybe I need more help now than I did in my youth, but I now invest more time and money in my appearance than I did when I was younger. I like the way I feel when I wear clothing that fits well and my hair and makeup are on point. I don't need to justify that any more than I need to justify the fact that I went to Target in yoga pants and a ball cap this morning.

And, for what it's worth, I don't think you need to justify your lack of interest in any of the things you mentioned.

This is such a weird thread. I guess you wanted pats on the back for being so alternative and "non-compliant?"

Which begs the question, "non-compliant?" It seems like your idea of gender is very rigid if you think failing to get your nails done or wear thongs makes you a "non-compliant female." I think what you really wanted was kudos for being so much smarter and cooler than the dumb women who like makeup 

"hate bugs, I'm not playing helpless. That's kind of condescending."

So your additional posts help me understand what you're talking about a little better. My thoughts are that everything you mentioned in the OP except for having children is very surface and superficial, and maybe you need to delve a little deeper or as another Pea said, broaden your social network. 

-had a manicure or pedicure
- never
-worn false eyelashes, eye shadow or liner
- never had false eyelashes, but wore an awful lot of eyeliner and eyeshadow as a teenager in the 80's
-worn lipstick
- used to wear lipstick in my 20's but not any more
-owned yoga pants or fitbit
- yes I have a Fitbit, never worn yoga pants but do wear similar exercise pants
-used a hair dryer or colored my hair
- I have coloured my hair for the last 30+years. Used a hair dryer since I stopped getting perms in the 90's
-carried a purse
- every day
-changed a diaper
- yes lots
-worn spike heels or higher than a few inches
- no I've never worn spiky heels or higher than a few inches
-had a spray tan
- never (but I use a fake tanning cream and have used a solarium back in the 80's)
-played helpless when confronted with a bug in the house
- never
-worn thong underware
- yes in my 20's
-worn "shapewear"
- I bought some to wear to my daughter's debuntante ball - that's the only time I've worn it.
-wanted or had children
- yes and yes
-spent more than five minutes deciding what to wear - yes definitely, especially carrying extra weight, it takes me longer to work out what to wear




I'm curious to know where you put your "stuff" if you don't carry a handbag - where do you put your wallet,  mobile phone and keys?

I do most of the things on the opening list. What is called shapewear could be girdles from days gone by. Let me add some more superficial lady things:
I used to wear hats and gloves to church and loved it.
Always wore hose and a girdle
Dresses are more fun to me than pants, but when I wear pants they are more than likely yoga pants.
I shave under my arms and my legs
I get my eyebrows waxed every six weeks
I get a massage as often as I can
I drink using a straw ALWAYs, never ut of cans, it has to be fountain drinks or stuff poured over ice
I sew, quilt, knit, crochet and embroidery when sitting
I decorate my planner

I am sure there are more, but don't want to go on and on.

OH and the biggie - I LOVE coming here and places like here

With the exception of carrying a person and probably having children, I don't think those are necessarily things that "most women" do at all.

I've done most of these at one point or another, but don't choose to do many of them right now. Although I have never worn high heels, thong underwear, or false eyelashes. And I've never had a mani/pedi or a spray tan.

I currently don't need to change diapers, but I have changed countless ones in my life, between my youngest sibling, dozens of kids I cared for over the years, and then my own kids.

The rest I don't do much these days at all. If it's a special event, then yes, I do take more than 5 minutes to choose an outfit, and yes, I may even break out the shapewear and a very small amount of make-up. Pretty much nothing convinces me to touch a hairdryer these days. I don't even know where ours is right now. no one in the family uses it. And I don't bother with a purse.

I could deal with bugs in the house, but typically I just call DS #1 because he really likes bringing them outside.

But I wear a fitbit everyday.

As an adult over the age of 21 why do you need friends to not only share your gender, but also age in which to share time with?

I have a very dear friend who is 22, and I just got to see her last week and share lunch and conversation about our common interests. I also have a very close friend who just turned 50. I'm 39.

I just  watched  last week's Big Bang Theory last night so I feel like I'm playing "Never have I ever" with my responses, ha ha!


-had a manicure or pedicure
- I've had a manicure twice but never a pedicure.
-worn false eyelashes, eye shadow or liner
- I wear eye shadow and eyeliner all the time but never false eyelashes.
-worn lipstick
- I have worn lipstick in the past but prefer tinted lip gloss so wear that now instead.
-owned yoga pants or fit bit
- I own and wear yoga pants but don't own a Fitbit (though my DD does).
-had a spray tan
- Have never ever done this.
-worn thong underwear
- Did it maybe a few times in my early 20s but never again since and certainly never in the future! DD wears them I don't know she does it!

I do/have done all of these often or many many times:
-used a hair dryer or colored my hair
- 
-carried a purse

-changed a diaper

-worn spike heels or higher than a few inches

-played helpless when confronted with a bug in the house

-worn "shapewear"

-wanted or had children

-spent more than five minutes deciding what to wear