Females across the world are hardly seen walking around without carrying anything at all. By that I mean, just their self. No grocery bags, handbags, infants, kids, etc. it would be like sighting Hailey’s comet. Of course, much has been said about the lack of pocketses!
The fashion industry has given us handbags of various shapes and sizes. Some of them are tiny enough to carry your nail filer while some are large enough to be let out on Airbnb. Apart from being a multibillion-dollar industry(The global handbag market is projected to grow from USD 49.63 billion in 2021 to USD 78.46 billion in 2028 at a CAGR of 6.7% in the 2021-2028 period) handbags are just an accessory meant to cover up patriarchy.
Handbags are highly unergonomic for the human body. The straps are worn on a single shoulder or elbow or forearm, weight is not evenly distributed and it’s highly inconvenient when one travels in public transport. Granted that it acts as a shield, but the same bag becomes dangerous if it is targeted by thieves or bag snatchers. Despite the flaws of handbags in general, we have women eyeing Micheal Korrs, Hidesign, Chanel and whatnot. It is like stilettos, with zero functionality but high desirability. Not sure if carrying handbags contributes to a higher incidence of cervical spondylitis. But the handbags certainly do not bode well for women. A case in point - Physiotherapist Lyz Evans is the director of a clinic in Bondi Junction that focuses on women's health. She says that handbags are one of the things that put women at more of a disadvantage, in terms of their physical health, than men.
Now, this brings me to backpacks, a bit more functional bag that is supposed to be ergonomic etc. Unfortunately, they don’t really make it for women, it is for the default male body. No matter how well you adjust the straps, they just don’t fit as it does on a man. We have curves, bags don’t accommodate them. We have smaller shoulders, and the straps slip. Perhaps school backpacks might be an answer. Apart from laptops, women tend to keep a lot of emergency stuff - period pads/tampons, a purse to carry change, keys, hygiene stuff etc. the bags that are advertised are still following the template of their predecessors. They are just the same, with compartments or without compartments, copied without any consideration of the requirement or anatomy.
Of the many things I tried to incorporate in my life to ditch the handbag, I introduced pockets into some of my clothing. I carry a northeast tribal sling bag that has a proper shoulder strap. It fits snugly into my small shoulders. The length is just right and it’s a breeze to carry. No logo nothing.
I’ve been using it for almost 10 years now and have never found it inconvenient. Perhaps that is how the bag is supposed to function. No aches, easy to carry and versatile.
Ref: https://www.practicalpainmanagement.com/meeting-summary/women-have-more-neck-pain-men
https://www.fortunebusinessinsights.com/handbag-market-103860
https://www.abc.net.au/everyday/what-happens-to-your-body-when-handbag-is-too-heavy/11764754