# Question for the Ladies: Symbols, Icons, and Popular "Stuff"? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [May 14, 2018, 5:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-for-the-ladies-symbols-icons-and-popular-stuff/814148 "2018-05-14T17:34:27Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Urbanredneck](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/ea5d25/32.png) [@Urbanredneck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Urbanredneck)\ **Post date:** [May 14, 2018, 5:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-for-the-ladies-symbols-icons-and-popular-stuff/814148/1 "2018-05-14T17:34:27Z")
At a typical men’s event like a retreat they will have lots of guy “stuff” like motorcycles, guns, BBQ, sports, and military. Sometimes race cars or big vehicles like Humvees or 4 wheel drives. Camo is a popular pattern. Special speakers tend to be sports or military persons. I remember one mens event where they had a trivia game and all of the questions centered around local college and pro sports. Food served tends to be grilled or barbecue meat. At one event it was held outdoors and partly around campfires. They passed out cigars. Granted my experience comes from mens retreats thru church or community. So I wonder, what are typical womens “stuff” or activities or themes at womens events like conferences or retreats? My wife couldnt name anything specific but sometimes they do crafts or scrapbooking. One group of ladies holds bunco night. Another popular one is wine and painting nights. Usually the topic is empowerment and pink is popular. So I wonder, at a mens event you walk in and you often see something sports, military, or motor related. If you walked into a womens event like a conference or retreat, what would you most likely see? What area of life are most of the speakers? What food is usually served? What are popular themes and activities? Ex. Do they do alot of crafts? ---
**Author:** ![WordMan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/e8c25b/32.png) [@WordMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WordMan)\ **Post date:** [May 14, 2018, 6:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-for-the-ladies-symbols-icons-and-popular-stuff/814148/2 "2018-05-14T18:27:15Z")
Recently? I think you’ll find that most Women’s Events have to do with how to run for office, coordinate forces with other disenfranchised groups like LGBT and folks of color, and toss out the misogynist idiots who hoarded power all these years. 😉 As a serious answer, I really don’t know if one can describe only ONE type of “Woman’s Event” - and there would only be crafts if it was a craft-focused women’s event. ---
**Author:** ![Ulfreida](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ulfreida/32/8014_2.png) [@Ulfreida](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ulfreida)\ **Post date:** [May 14, 2018, 6:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-for-the-ladies-symbols-icons-and-popular-stuff/814148/3 "2018-05-14T18:28:52Z")
We talk about our feelings. ---
**Author:** ![Sattua](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sattua/32/11906_2.png) [@Sattua](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sattua)\ **Post date:** [May 14, 2018, 6:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-for-the-ladies-symbols-icons-and-popular-stuff/814148/4 "2018-05-14T18:43:15Z")
Menstrual cups. ---
**Author:** ![Channing\_Idaho\_Banks](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/channing_idaho_banks/32/250_2.png) [@Channing\_Idaho\_Banks](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Channing_Idaho_Banks)\ **Post date:** [May 14, 2018, 8:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-for-the-ladies-symbols-icons-and-popular-stuff/814148/5 "2018-05-14T20:34:48Z")
Pink camo attire. ---
**Author:** ![TheFaerie](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/c57346/32.png) [@TheFaerie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TheFaerie)\ **Post date:** [May 14, 2018, 8:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-for-the-ladies-symbols-icons-and-popular-stuff/814148/6 "2018-05-14T20:41:46Z")
We talk about men. 🙂 But seriously, at the women-only spiritual retreat I attend most often we have workshops on self-empowerment and sexuality; connecting with divinity; herbcraft; handcrafts; energy-raising through yoga, dance, singing and/or chanting; and there is always a concert and a guest speaker. In the evenings we do what most everyone does at a campout - sit around the fire, drink and shoot the shit. ---
**Author:** ![AlsoNamedBort](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alsonamedbort/32/3213_2.png) [@AlsoNamedBort](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AlsoNamedBort)\ **Post date:** [May 14, 2018, 9:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-for-the-ladies-symbols-icons-and-popular-stuff/814148/7 "2018-05-14T21:10:07Z")
Am I the only guy that’s never been to a “men’s retreat”? I don’t even know what the OP is referring to. ---
**Author:** ![Sunny\_Daze](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sunny_daze/32/438_2.png) [@Sunny\_Daze](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sunny_Daze)\ **Post date:** [May 14, 2018, 10:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-for-the-ladies-symbols-icons-and-popular-stuff/814148/8 "2018-05-14T22:04:47Z")
I don’t know of any women’s retreats either. I’d be more likely to choose a retreat that was focused on something I was interested in, rather than organized by gender; photography, or writing, for example. ---
**Author:** ![jaycat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jaycat/32/3015_2.png) [@jaycat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jaycat)\ **Post date:** [May 14, 2018, 10:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-for-the-ladies-symbols-icons-and-popular-stuff/814148/9 "2018-05-14T22:11:46Z")
> [@AlsoNamedBort](#): > > Am I the only guy that’s never been to a “men’s retreat”? I don’t even know what the OP is referring to. I don’t retreat. I advance. ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [May 14, 2018, 10:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-for-the-ladies-symbols-icons-and-popular-stuff/814148/10 "2018-05-14T22:14:59Z")
I can imagine what the OP describes being at mens’ events in general, but not at a retreat. Those, in my experience, are usually much more aescetic. ---
**Author:** ![Urbanredneck](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/ea5d25/32.png) [@Urbanredneck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Urbanredneck)\ **Post date:** [May 14, 2018, 10:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-for-the-ladies-symbols-icons-and-popular-stuff/814148/11 "2018-05-14T22:25:31Z")
> [@AlsoNamedBort](#): > > Am I the only guy that’s never been to a “men’s retreat”? I don’t even know what the OP is referring to. Havent you ever been to any type of men’s only meeting or group? ---
**Author:** ![AlsoNamedBort](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alsonamedbort/32/3213_2.png) [@AlsoNamedBort](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AlsoNamedBort)\ **Post date:** [May 14, 2018, 10:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-for-the-ladies-symbols-icons-and-popular-stuff/814148/12 "2018-05-14T22:40:18Z")
> [@Urbanredneck](#): > > Havent you ever been to any type of men’s only meeting or group? No, because I’m not [Al Bundy.](http://marriedwithchildren.wikia.com/wiki/NO_MA%27AM) ---
**Author:** ![snfaulkner](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/snfaulkner/32/433_2.png) [@snfaulkner](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/snfaulkner)\ **Post date:** [May 14, 2018, 10:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-for-the-ladies-symbols-icons-and-popular-stuff/814148/13 "2018-05-14T22:48:15Z")
> [@Urbanredneck](#): > > Havent you ever been to any type of men’s only meeting or group? If I have, it’s because I was there for some other reason and only men showed up for it. I’ve never been to a men only thing \*because \*of the men only thing. ---
**Author:** ![Snowboarder\_Bo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/snowboarder_bo/32/229_2.png) [@Snowboarder\_Bo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snowboarder_Bo)\ **Post date:** [May 14, 2018, 10:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-for-the-ladies-symbols-icons-and-popular-stuff/814148/14 "2018-05-14T22:50:57Z")
> [@Urbanredneck](#): > > Havent you ever been to any type of men’s only meeting or group? No. Why would I want to deliberately hang out with a bunch of men with no women? ---
**Author:** ![Hilarity\_N.Suze](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hilarity_n.suze/32/6223_2.png) [@Hilarity\_N.Suze](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hilarity_N.Suze)\ **Post date:** [May 14, 2018, 11:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-for-the-ladies-symbols-icons-and-popular-stuff/814148/15 "2018-05-14T23:51:16Z")
BBQ, guns, and motorcycles? Can I ask what church this is that has such a retreat? ---
**Author:** ![F.U.Shakespeare](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/aca169/32.png) [@F.U.Shakespeare](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/F.U.Shakespeare)\ **Post date:** [May 14, 2018, 11:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-for-the-ladies-symbols-icons-and-popular-stuff/814148/16 "2018-05-14T23:58:28Z")
> [@Hilarity\_N.Suze](#): > > BBQ, guns, and motorcycles? Can I ask what church this is that has such a retreat? First Church of Christ, One Percenter, aka Holy Rollers. Google Menken’s quote on “Christian businessman”. ---
**Author:** ![Kent\_Clark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kent_clark/32/105_2.png) [@Kent\_Clark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kent_Clark)\ **Post date:** [May 15, 2018, 12:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-for-the-ladies-symbols-icons-and-popular-stuff/814148/17 "2018-05-15T00:43:43Z")
> [@Urbanredneck](#): > > Havent you ever been to any type of men’s only meeting or group? Not since I was a senior in a Catholic high school and our annual religious retreats were separated by gender. And since we were at a monastery, the decor was unadorned. I suppose I could also count that Boy Scouts camping trip I chaperoned, but that was in the woods. Again, unadorned, although there were camp fires.:dubious: ---
**Author:** ![Northern\_Piper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/northern_piper/32/5304_2.png) [@Northern\_Piper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Northern_Piper)\ **Post date:** [May 15, 2018, 12:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-for-the-ladies-symbols-icons-and-popular-stuff/814148/18 "2018-05-15T00:56:03Z")
> [@Urbanredneck](#): > > At a typical men’s event like a retreat they will have lots of guy “stuff” like motorcycles, guns, BBQ, sports, and military. Sometimes race cars or big vehicles like Humvees or 4 wheel drives. Camo is a popular pattern. Special speakers tend to be sports or military persons. I remember one mens event where they had a trivia game and all of the questions centered around local college and pro sports. Food served tends to be grilled or barbecue meat. At one event it was held outdoors and partly around campfires. They passed out cigars. > > Granted my experience comes from mens retreats thru church or community. > > So I wonder, what are typical womens “stuff” or activities or themes at womens events like conferences or retreats? My wife couldnt name anything specific but sometimes they do crafts or scrapbooking. One group of ladies holds bunco night. Another popular one is wine and painting nights. Usually the topic is empowerment and pink is popular. > > So I wonder, at a mens event you walk in and you often see something sports, military, or motor related. I have never in my life been at an event like this. If I went to such a thing and it was cammo, guns and military I would leave. ---
**Author:** ![jtur88](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/e9c0ed/32.png) [@jtur88](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jtur88)\ **Post date:** [May 15, 2018, 2:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-for-the-ladies-symbols-icons-and-popular-stuff/814148/19 "2018-05-15T02:16:58Z")
Women don’t have to find “retreats” or special occasions to chat casually with strangers. They’re allowed to do that in public rest-rooms. ---
**Author:** ![suranyi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e36b37/32.png) [@suranyi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/suranyi)\ **Post date:** [May 15, 2018, 2:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-for-the-ladies-symbols-icons-and-popular-stuff/814148/20 "2018-05-15T02:35:18Z")
I recently went to a retreat that wasn’t exclusively female, but it was 90% women. So I can say what that was about: How to get back into the workforce after taking extended time off. Most of the people there, mainly women, were there because they had taken years off to take care of children. One of the star speakers was a lady who used to be a COBOL programmer, took 20 years off to raise kids, then learned iOS in her spare time and then eventually got a job as a programmer again. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-for-the-ladies-symbols-icons-and-popular-stuff/814148.md?page=2)