Reasons for Women carrying handbags are as diverse as the handbags themselves.  Generally women and handbags are inseparable. Carrying handbags is part of life for women and that explains why it is increasingly becoming a prominent practice. Not only does it beautify a woman, it also contains some of her private items. But of late many women are using them especially during occasions to carry food and other stolen items home. This, I must say, is disgraceful.

Women in Cameroon say handbags compliment their outfits thus constitute part of their dressing. Others describe a woman who does not carry a handbag as someone putting on one shoe. Others say they use their handbag to carry little and sometimes “secret” items.

”Women generally have a complicated system, which is why they tend to carry handbags wherever they go. Their bags usually contain things like purse, powder and dresses (when they want to snick to a party and also to make the bag have a good shape). Also they put make-up in their bags which they use to brighten their face whenever they realise that it has lost brightness”, says Maryline. Women, according to Josephine, carry handbags especially when traveling to put in some of their personal things like toiletries.  That as a mother, she also carry some of her children’s personal effects like drugs, diapers. 

Victoria says though Women carry handbags for different reasons nearly all the women carry handbags to hide their “secret” items.  Hear her “handbags are where women hide their secret things.  Even my husband has no right to search my handbag because he knows that it is where my “secret” items are kept”. 

“Handbags are part of my dressing”, says Emelda. Intimating that she feels fine and admired by people whenever she dress and carry a handbag that matches her dress. On this score she says most women have specific handbags for specific dresses and for specific occasions. “You know women’s dresses do not have pockets like those of men and we can only put our l