# Effeminate to carry a canvas grocery bag on the shoulder--or, why was I whistled at?

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/effeminate-to-carry-a-canvas-grocery-bag-on-the-shoulder-or-why-was-i-whistled-at/139994>\
**Category:** In My Humble Opinion\
**Created:** [December 2, 2002, 5:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/effeminate-to-carry-a-canvas-grocery-bag-on-the-shoulder-or-why-was-i-whistled-at/139994 "2002-12-02T17:41:47Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 4\
**Page:** 3

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**Author:** ![Chefguy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chefguy/32/138_2.png) [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)\
**Post date:** [February 21, 2011, 3:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/effeminate-to-carry-a-canvas-grocery-bag-on-the-shoulder-or-why-was-i-whistled-at/139994/41 "2011-02-21T15:58:13Z")

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The grocery store is only two blocks away, but try carrying a bag containing a gallon of milk and other items that far when your joints are arthritic. I sling it over my shoulder and people who think it’s effeminate can kiss my ass.

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**Author:** ![Larry\_Mudd](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/f14d63/32.png) [@Larry\_Mudd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Larry_Mudd)\
**Post date:** [February 21, 2011, 4:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/effeminate-to-carry-a-canvas-grocery-bag-on-the-shoulder-or-why-was-i-whistled-at/139994/42 "2011-02-21T16:18:01Z")

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> [@Spectre\_of\_Pithecanthropus](#):
>
> In the nine years since I asked this question it’s become entirely moot. The bags are now too cheaply made to have shoulder straps. And the canvas they were made from has been giving way to plastic.

Soon they may give way entirely to the lightweight, disposable bags they are meant to replace, which (in addition to being [better for the environment](http://www.telegraph.co.uk/earth/environment/8336693/Plastic-bags-less-damaging-to-environment.html) anyway) are more hygienic.

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**Author:** ![Jenaroph](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/e8c25b/32.png) [@Jenaroph](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jenaroph)\
**Post date:** [February 21, 2011, 4:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/effeminate-to-carry-a-canvas-grocery-bag-on-the-shoulder-or-why-was-i-whistled-at/139994/43 "2011-02-21T16:28:16Z")

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> [@constanze](#):
>
> Well, then why start caring about it now?

He didn’t start caring about it now. He started caring about it 9 years ago.

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**Author:** ![Spectre\_of\_Pithecanthropus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spectre_of_pithecanthropus/32/12343_2.png) [@Spectre\_of\_Pithecanthropus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spectre_of_Pithecanthropus)\
**Post date:** [February 21, 2011, 6:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/effeminate-to-carry-a-canvas-grocery-bag-on-the-shoulder-or-why-was-i-whistled-at/139994/44 "2011-02-21T18:40:27Z")

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> [@constanze](#):
>
> Well, then why start caring about it now? Those people who make a deal about it are idiots whose opinions aren’t worth caring about, in my opinion.

You’re reading too much into it. Then and now, I was just curious about the behavioral “norm”–if any–as a cultural phenomenon. I wasn’t about to change my habits as a result of this thread, or of anything else.

[Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/effeminate-to-carry-a-canvas-grocery-bag-on-the-shoulder-or-why-was-i-whistled-at/139994.md?page=2)