Real Women Need Real Pockets

Autumn Simpson
Sep 8, 2018 · 4 min read

There has been an increasingly problematic disparity in the attire of our society that needs to be addressed: pockets.

Any men reading this will probably have no idea why such a topic should be of importance to the rest of us, and that is because they are blessed with abundant pockets. Women, on the other hand, are deprived such commodities of convenience. But it is time that we address this discrepancy in men’s and women’s clothing.

Not All Pockets Are Created Equal

It’s a simple fact. Some pockets are better than others.

Have you ever seen a man reach his hand so deep into his pocket that his arm disappeared halfway to his elbow? Did that sight infuriate you as you thought of the matchbox-sized pouch attached to your clothing that designers have the gall to call a pocket? It should!

A typical pair of men’s pants includes four pockets: two front pockets reaching about midway down the thigh, and two back pockets that more than cover the behind region. That’s not to mention the possible shirt pocket, 2–4 jacket or coat pockets, and any additional pants pockets their outfit might include (if they’re wearing cargo-pants, for example).

Let’s compare a woman’s wardrobe.

A pair of women’s pants is likely to a) not have any pockets at all, b) have a sewn-on pocket lining to imply to the outside world that there is a pocket where there is in fact no pocket whatsoever, or c) have a pocket so small it will barely fit a credit card, let alone a whole wallet. Women’s cell phones don’t slide into their pockets and disappear — they often stick out so far that they slide out as soon as you try to sit down. (I once owned a pair of cargo pants without a single pocket large enough to fit my phone. Ridiculous).

Then there’s the issue of women’s shirts and jackets. Besides hoodies and winter coats, women rarely have pockets on any article of clothing other than their pants. Consider a woman dressed in business attire for work: slacks, a button-up shirt, and a blazer. It’s a similar outfit to a man’s, but where his might easily include eight or nine pockets, hers might very well have none.

Why do you think women are so excited to find a dress with pockets? To discover a commodity we so often lack hiding in the most unexpected place is a thrill — and we never let those dress pockets go to waste.

Purses Don’t Cut It

The most common response from men in pocket inequality discussions is that, “women have purses, so they don’t need pockets.” That might be the single worst argument ever. It’s the equivalent of saying that a baby doesn’t need to learn how to do anything, because other people take care of it. Wrong. People take care of the baby because it doesn’t yet know how to do anything, and women use purses because they don’t have consistent and quality pockets. The cause and effect is switched.

Furthermore, a purse is not a proper substitute for a pocket. Large purses are bulky and become cluttered easily, while small purses never seem to be able to hold your wallet, phone, and keys simultaneously. Additionally, bigger bags are heavy on your shoulder, while dainty clutches bang around on your wrist the whole time.

Even purses that are a good size are still cumbersome. They want to slide off your shoulder, or they get in your way when you lean over or sit down; keeping them on can be uncomfortable, but if you take them off then you have to remember to grab them again every time you stand up.

Pockets don’t present those same problems. Your things are there, on your person, convenient and ready for when you need them. That is, unless your pockets are too small to hold your items.

Don’t Be a Part of the Problem

Be a part of the solution.

As cute as that pair of jeans may be, check first: can you fit your whole hand inside any of the pockets? No? Keep shopping. When you find those comfy sweatpants, take a look: did the designer have the decency to include anything even resembling a pocket? No? Put it back on the shelf.

By no means does every article of clothing you buy from this point forward need to have man-sized pockets that can hold everything you own. But you can be conscious about what you pay for. Chances are, there’s something out there similar to what you’re wanting to purchase, but with a bit more storage space.

If we don’t put our money where our mouth is, how will anything change? This may be a small issue, but if you care about it, act on it. Let designers know that you won’t pay for something that doesn’t meet all of your needs — including pockets.

What About the Clothing You Already Own?

Get creative, and get smart. Pair a pocketed sweater with those pocket-less pants you love. Grab your cargo pants when you know you’ve got a lot of stuff to bring, but you want to leave the purse behind.

Better yet, take your clothes and make them better. Sew in pockets wherever you can — and don’t skimp on size, either; add in those dream pockets you’ve always wanted, the kind that half your forearm can disappear into.

Stop accepting the pocket disparity. Real women need real pockets.


Originally published at autumn-r-s.weebly.com.

Autumn Simpson

Written by

I am a freelance content writer who believes that every piece of literature has a story to tell. Check out my blog at autumn-r-s.weebly.com to see more!

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