Shopping Styles of Males and Females, Essay Example

There is a difference in shopping styles of males and females. According to Elayne Boosler “When women are depressed, they go shopping. Men invade another country. It’s a whole different way of thinking.” So it is quite obvious to understand that why women spend so much time shopping, while men just get and go their stuff from the shop. The contrast in the shopping spree lies in their genes, say researchers. Male and female shopping styles lie in the genes—and evolution is the pertinent proof of such a phenomenon.

From an evolutionary perspective, the contrast in the behavior of male and female emerges from the different foraging strategies for hunting and gathering food throughout human evolution. It is seen that the women were endowed with the instinct of gathering plant foods while men were adorned with the skills for hunting meat. In consumer environment, sex-specific strategies show that the women are more interested in shopping as compared to men. According to Kruger’s new study, he believes that the evolved foraging psychology underlies sex differences in shopping experiences and behaviors.

The shopping style of males and females depends on the evolutionary psychology- this is why women enjoy spending a day picking stuff through racks of goods with friends, hopping in shops and malls to find the best deals while most of the men are impatient and want to go out of the mall fast enough. The behavior of males and females during the period of evolution to the current foray in modern consumerism is similar. Just as primitive women explored the forests and picked and gathered food, similarly in the modern markets they pick and choose with great intricacy each and every item of choice. While men do not feel that they have the luxury or the privilege to spend their time in the shopping malls and look for the best deals to buy their stuff. Instead they would consider spending the time in watching sports or doing their daily chores.

Women of today are very particular and conscious as compared to men in buying goods on sale and being particularly knowledgeable about the product they are buying. Men, on the other hand are fast and impatient. They go to a shop with a particular item in mind, and are driven solely by the intent of buying the product. Unlike women, who would compare the goods and look for offers or deals- men just buy and leaves the shop. Of course there are exceptions but this is the most observed and common behavior prevailing through the ages. Men, of course are also confused and feel it strange to understand this typical behavior of spending hours and hours in shopping malls and are puzzled by the way women shop their days out.

While women on the other hand have a hard time understanding the aversion of a man to go shopping and hop in and out of shops to get the best deals. Also they are perplexed as to how men are able to shop within such a limited frame of time. From the perspective of a woman the common stereotypes of men during shopping are:

Men are impatient and fragile – he just shops for the sole requirement of necessity. His motivation is driven by the spruce of ‘need’ and he is reluctant to think or do beyond that. He does not really care whether he gets a good deal, or he gets the best price or in that case look for other alternatives of his requirement. When a female shops with a male – all that male wants to do is purchase and leave, while the female counterpart is still looking. Either she has to motivate him by giving something to do: wireless connection, television or magazines. If such items of motivations are not given be sure that he most likely will get upset and just want to leave. Or he will antsy and insist they leave.

He whines and taps his foot in impatience. He also watches his watch and gives signals that he is too tired to spend hours shopping.  Men are also very impulsive while shopping. Often they buy for the sake of purchase instead of checking on the price or discounts. He shrugs and reveals that discounts and deals are just eye washers- and ding hours for such with the tiny scanty savings or deals.

The Hunt vs. the Kill: The contrast between male and female shoppers can also be defined as one likes to kill while the latter wants to hunt. Women are more concerned with the discounts, deals, advertisements, benefits- and it is their justification to buy. Men, on the other hand buy the product because it is required to buy it. Thus, men buy products while women buy pictures.  Men do not see the showroom but affixes his attention to the shirt that he needs to buy. While women noticed everything in the showroom and even created the necessity of buying a set of ties as they are on sale, irrespective of any requirement whatsoever.

Men are often perplexed when they see the glorious smile of achievement in the faces of their female counterparts after shopping. They portray the personified image of a queen who had just conquered another country. The contemplation and self contentment that a woman receives after buying goods that are either half- priced for just the single day, special discounts or spectacular coupons- makes them feel like a queen, nonetheless. This sense of achievement elates and glorifies their existence- just like a gush of fresh oxygen reaches their body to rejuvenate them. Men on the other hand consider these discount and ‘one day sale’ as mere eye- washers- only to fool and cajole the women gentry. However, in spite of their repeated warnings and   suggestions women seem to have a ‘no no’ on the tips given by men.

Moreover, it is often seen that women spend much more money in shopping as compared to men. It is because of their shopping styles. Men buy because of their genuine requirement and women buy goods because things are on sale. To ensure that she gives maximum discounts, all she indulges in is accumulation of unwanted stuff which are not that required or essential.

Thus, both men and women are predisposed with a peculiar shopping attitude. Women, I feel are the best targets in increasing the product sale of any company as they are easy to be lured- causing a marked increase in profits and sales of companies.

Reference

Kruger, D “Journal of Social, Evolutionary & Cultural Psychology”, 2009