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As a teen girl, I used to hate the activity called shopping, well shopping for me then meant accompanying my mum to the market which I found exciting at first, but the constant bargaining and walking to all nooks a and corner of the market to get the best deal which most times seems to take the whole day, stressing my legs, made me hate the idea of shopping.

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Well, I still don't like spending the whole day at the market shopping, but living in a country like mine, online shopping will not do justice to getting your desired product all the time which leaves me with no other choice than to do the actual physical shopping.

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I think the notion that women inherently love shopping more than men is a stereotype that has gone on for far too long to be looked at otherwise, there are likely multiple factors that contribute to why some women enjoy shopping more than some men. However, these factors stem from social and cultural influences rather than innate gender differences.

I remember my mum always scolding me anytime I felt reluctant to go to the market, saying, I'm a girl and it is my duty as a girl to learn how to get items from the market as that is one of the qualities of a good wife which all African mothers aspires their girl child to be one day, one major reason is that shopping has traditionally been portrayed as a feminine activity in many cultures, just like my mum did to me, I'm sure a lot of other African girls were brought up the same way, a good girl is expected to tag along with her mother to the market, and that reinforce the connection between femininity and shopping. Our media houses didn't help either, it is more common to see a female actress used in shopping roles, in movies, TV shows, and commercials. For example, many commercials aimed at women focus on fashion and beauty products for sale. This can socialize girls and women to derive enjoyment from shopping as a recreational activity.
However, this does not mean all women are inherently shopping lovers, While some women do enjoy shopping as a leisure activity, many also view it as a chore rather than a pleasant activity. I'm sure if a group of women were asked, around 2 in 3 women say they don’t like spending more than 10 minutes shopping. Men, on the other hand, often view shopping as more of a focused errand to purchase needed items. This dispels the notion that all women have an innate shopping gene of sorts.

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Also from the fashion aspect, as a fashion designer, another major factor is differences in male and female fashion culture. For many women, shopping is a way to partake in fashion trends, the women's fashion world offers more variety, changes more rapidly, and places more importance on being on the latest fashion trend. This makes shopping an ongoing activity to keep up with the latest styles. However, for many men, fashion tends to be more static and uniform. A man's core wardrobe may stay relatively consistent for years before needing replacement. So shopping ends up being a less frequent and less involved activity.

Shopping is also often a social experience for many women. I know for one that I love going shopping when it means going with my friends because it is more like a get-together fun activity, we make sure to choose malls and shopping locations which should be a lively location, like a trade fair, for us to bond, catch up on each other's lives while we get new stuff for ourselves acting like each other's mother, giving a go-ahead for the good stuffs and condemning the pricey or not so quality stuff. The social aspect turns shopping into a recreational activity for us girls, while For men, shopping tends to be a solo endeavor, so lacks the social enjoyment aspect. Women also use shopping to bond with mothers, daughters, and other female family members.

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Additionally, women tend to be the ones in charge of household and family responsibilities related to gift purchasing and provisioning for family members. Mothers and wives often shop for others more than themselves, purchasing clothes, supplies, and gifts for spouses, children, and extended family. Even when not shopping solely for themselves, women may still derive enjoyment from picking out nice items for loved ones. Sometimes we go with the aim to get something for ourselves but still end up getting it for others, this has happened to me so many times than I can count.

At the end of the day, one's interests and hobbies are shaped by both socialization and individual personality/upbringing. While female fashion and shopping culture can nurture a greater enjoyment of shopping in women, it does not mean all women inherently love shopping more than men do. It simply reflects differences in gender norms and expectations. But as societal attitudes shift, so do stereotypes about shopping preferences. The notion that all women love shopping is an outdated assumption that does not reflect the exact reality. Both men and women shop for different reasons, both personal and practical. Shopping tendencies ultimately reflect one's individual needs and interests, not any innate gender difference.

Thank you for reading.❤❤

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