Stereotypes that drive me crazy....

[stinkbug]

These things really bug me. Lately I've been watching HGTV, and a lot of other shows that always have women who *demand/need/require* HUGE closets for all their clothes. Even saying that the closet is "theirs" and dh/so can put his clothes somewhere else. Does anyone really have that many clothes/shoes??? I've lived in several older homes (1912, 1936) that had extremely modest closet space, and always managed. Now, we do have a large master closet, but I only have about 6' of double hung space. Dh uses more space, but he has work/professional clothes, plus casual clothes. He also uses an upstairs closet for hunting/recreation clothes. Our closet space is about 1/2 used.
And....all they hype about women all LOVE diamonds. If you really love her, you will buy her $$$ jewelry to prove it. Ugh....I hate those commercials. I'm perfectly happy with my plain gold wedding band, thank you. I just hate how they insist that these are things all women want/need!
Perhaps I am far too practical....

[Jamauk]

If I had all of those clothes, it means I'd have to *wash* all of those clothes....NO THANK YOU!!!

However, I do love diamonds.......but I won't let DH buy me any. I have my engagement ring, which is very plain, but elegant and I LOVE it, I find myself gazing at it regularly. He wants to buy me diamond earings and one of these days I suppose he will. Right now, though I don't wear much jewelry other than a watch....it just gets caught up on stuff or my kids try to rip it off and eat it....

[fernykins]

Well I wouldn't have all those clothes or shoes.......... unless your job requires it......... As far as diamonds. I'd rather havecolored stones...... saphires and such......... I have some of thoses already so I don't need more
Fern

[Kitten20]

I do have a fair amount of clothes, but that is just because I don't ever get around to purging. All of the clothes are 5+ years old, and most are from when I was still living at home. My grandma likes to buy me clothes, so I feel bad when it comes time to give them away and end up keeping them!

As far as diamonds, not for me. My ex and I could not afford an engagement ring and I had a modest "anniversary band"-style wedding ring, which is pretty much the only piece of jewelry I have ever worn, aside from earrings occasionally. Just not a jewelry (let alone diamond) person.

[monkeywrangler71]

This is why I don't watch "reality" tv, everyone is a one dimensional caricature of some stereotype or another.

I have a walk in closet, which I like because I can see what's in it, but I only use half of one side and that is ALL my clothes, I hang everything and don't have a dresser. My husband has at least twice as much clothing as I do, because he needs business and casual clothes. I have a silver necklace that I never take off, and my engagement/wedding rings, I don't want any more jewellery.

[nuisance26]

~I have to agree. I detest the way women are portrayed by producers and advertisers *in general*. The worst damage, IMO, is that my DH is easily led by the media and really believes this stuff. Hence why he keeps getting me diamonds. I really wanted an emerald cut pink gem(?don't know the name?) as an engagement ring but the media's voice was louder than mine. It's always louder than mine. If I say I'd love a few yards of fabric I'm sure to get some new electronic gadget. As far as the closet goes, I have very few clothes but would honestly LOVE to have a large closet! I like everything spaced out, easy to see and highly organized. I'm so glad I don't have cable otherwise I'd spend way too much time dreaming about homes I can never have.~

[Marie78]

I find it funny too, most times I think, I would love a closet like that, but for storage too, not just clothing! I have a double closet for just me and I only use less than 1/2 because I have a dresser in it that wouldn't fit in the bedroom and a hanging shoe rack. I sometimes complain that I am running out of room, because I don't actually have the size of a normal closet even.

When I find myself thinking this, I just go through the closet and purge the things I no longer wear or fold up sweaters and put them on top of the dresser that's in the closet. We don't want to lose our dressers, since that's where we store our undies, pj's, jeans, and short sleeved shirts. My fiance is in the same situation, he has the same size closet with his dresser taking up 1/2 of his too. You have to love/not love apt. living.

[Dancing Lotus]

Well, I don't have that many clothes but I had a giant closet in my last house. I wanted the room to organize and to store extra things that I didn't want other to get to.

I don't think its fair to blame reality TV for showing all woman as haveing vast amounts of clothes. The people they have on those shows are the people who want to be on the show.If you would like to show the public something else then the next time you are buying a house call HGTV to come show the world how frugal or non- materialist people do it. I for one would love to see that but those type of people tend to be type that aren't interested. KWIM?

[halloweenfreak]

i guess im a walking sterotype. i am a minimalist at nothing. if i find a shirt/pants/shoes/jewelry i like and i think it looks good, i buy it in every color.

[Squirt]

It's the stereotype that *things* make women happy which concerns me. Especially baubles, or a place to put them. I suppose the ads and the hype imply that if a woman does not get these things, she will be angry or it's proof that a man does not love her. Even worse, having/not having these things are a sign of her own worth as a person.

That being said, I want a walk-in closet. What can I say? I like being able to put things away!

[baxjul]

Our master bedroom has two huge closets. Mine is full of books with some clothes, and his is full of clothes!!!!! He has way more clothes than me.

[nancycg56]

We have 2 walk-in closets in our bedroom ~ mine is filled with a few clothes and extra furniture ~ DH's has all his records, etc., from all his years in the military plus suitcases, plus whatever else gets tossed in there and his suits, business casual, and knock around clothes

I have a tiny engagement ring and a beautiful anniversary diamond ring that DH gave on our 25th. I also have emerald earrings that DH got when he was in Columbia (cheap emeralds there ) I have some jewelry from when we lived in Hawaii and that's about it.

I don't really pay attention to the hype ~ I like what I like. Frankly, I get some good ideas from HGTV and the fun is trying to figure it out on a beer budget

[cab54]

I take up 1/4 to 1/3 of our closet. The rest is dh's. He keeps clothes in there in about 4 sizes, while I box up and store anything I hope to get into someday.

[changed4life]

There will always be women who need to have baubles and big homes to feel important. So long as you know that for yourself it's not what you need, you've got the right mindset.

As far as tons of closet space and tons of clothes, I can do without both; although I do have a small walk-in. In fact, I can't wait until I downsize and get rid of unwanted stuff. I just want to have several pairs of jeans/slacks, a few sweaters, a few blouses, a few blazers, things to mix and match and just a few favorite handbags and shoes. I feel overwhelmed when I have too much to care for!

[annymoll]

I do not have huge closets. Our home is very old, and at that time, a closet was taxed as though it were a room The closets are very narrow, and still have the original hooks to hang clothes on. We put wardrobes in each of the rooms, except the master. We took a small room off of it, a nursery, and use it as a closet.
I love diamonds, and have one. It is a massive, gaudy bauble I wear on my left ring finger.For , as my kiddo's sing-they helped Dad pick it out-"the everyday housewife who gave up the good life for me"(Glen Campbell)Silly, funny, precious family.