# What are 10 things a woman should know how to do, or know about, by the time she is 25? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [December 8, 2011, 6:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-10-things-a-woman-should-know-how-to-do-or-know-about-by-the-time-she-is-25/605482 "2011-12-08T06:40:46Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![astro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/9dc877/32.png) [@astro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/astro)\ **Post date:** [December 8, 2011, 6:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-10-things-a-woman-should-know-how-to-do-or-know-about-by-the-time-she-is-25/605482/1 "2011-12-08T06:40:46Z")
I’m tapping into the deep well of female doper wisdom in looking to construct a meaningful and useful list of ten things an adult woman should know by the time she is 25. These can be things you should know about, or things you should know how to do. They don’t have to be epic things, in fact they can little and somewhat mundane things, but they should be things which are useful and meaningful to a person’s quality of life, or their ability to get along in the world as an adult. You don’t have to list 10 things. You can only list one if you choose. I’m looking to build a list so list whatever number of suggestions you have. Any contributions appreciated! ---
**Author:** ![Maiira](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f04885/32.png) [@Maiira](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Maiira)\ **Post date:** [December 8, 2011, 6:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-10-things-a-woman-should-know-how-to-do-or-know-about-by-the-time-she-is-25/605482/2 "2011-12-08T06:59:05Z")
Basic relationship warning flags that signal a potential (or actual) abuser. Planned Parenthood has a nice list [here](http://www.plannedparenthood.org/health-topics/relationships/safe-your-relationship-19917.htm). Though I guess that applies to everyone, not just women. ---
**Author:** ![Oakminster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/77aa72/32.png) [@Oakminster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Oakminster)\ **Post date:** [December 8, 2011, 7:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-10-things-a-woman-should-know-how-to-do-or-know-about-by-the-time-she-is-25/605482/3 "2011-12-08T07:01:07Z")
I’m not female, and these are in no particular order: Give a blowjob Cook a meal Change a tire Safely use a gun Change the air conditioner filter Locate the circuit breaker panel in her home, flip breaker to turn off power to specific circuit Use a hammer/screwdriver as needed Start a lawnmower Jumpstart a car Drive a stickshift ---
**Author:** ![Sudden\_Kestrel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ecd19e/32.png) [@Sudden\_Kestrel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sudden_Kestrel)\ **Post date:** [December 8, 2011, 11:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-10-things-a-woman-should-know-how-to-do-or-know-about-by-the-time-she-is-25/605482/4 "2011-12-08T11:19:22Z")
I’m not sure why a woman would need to know anything different than a man would need to know (except that for the man the blowjob would be optional :rolleyes:). ---
**Author:** ![jjimm](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ba8739/32.png) [@jjimm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jjimm)\ **Post date:** [December 8, 2011, 11:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-10-things-a-woman-should-know-how-to-do-or-know-about-by-the-time-she-is-25/605482/5 "2011-12-08T11:34:36Z")
[ul][\*]Get ready to go out in less than two hours[/ul]😉 ---
**Author:** ![SecondJudith](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b5ac83/32.png) [@SecondJudith](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SecondJudith)\ **Post date:** [December 8, 2011, 12:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-10-things-a-woman-should-know-how-to-do-or-know-about-by-the-time-she-is-25/605482/6 "2011-12-08T12:30:39Z")
> [@Sudden\_Kestrel](#): > > I’m not sure why a woman would need to know anything different than a man would need to know (except that for the man the blowjob would be optional :rolleyes:). Ditto this, and including oral sex. (Not that I think people “should” be familiar with particular sexual expressions by a certain age, but that oral sex isn’t particularly gendered for me.) ---
**Author:** ![JRDelirious](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jrdelirious/32/9531_2.png) [@JRDelirious](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JRDelirious)\ **Post date:** [December 8, 2011, 12:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-10-things-a-woman-should-know-how-to-do-or-know-about-by-the-time-she-is-25/605482/7 "2011-12-08T12:49:59Z")
> [@Sudden\_Kestrel](#): > > I’m not sure why a woman would need to know anything different than a man would need to know . Thirded. Anything that is specifically “manly” or “womanly” should not be mandatory for basic getting along in the modern adult world; things that are just expected of the genders by mere social convention fall into the “nice to know” but nonessential category. ---
**Author:** ![heathen\_earthling](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/13edae/32.png) [@heathen\_earthling](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/heathen_earthling)\ **Post date:** [December 8, 2011, 12:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-10-things-a-woman-should-know-how-to-do-or-know-about-by-the-time-she-is-25/605482/8 "2011-12-08T12:54:47Z")
These things always strike me as kind of classist. If you’re nowhere near being able to afford your own house or vehicle, what good is it to know much about the maintenance of them? Some people need to know how to drive a stickshift, other people just need to know when the bus is coming. ---
**Author:** ![don\_t\_ask](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e68b1a/32.png) [@don\_t\_ask](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/don_t_ask)\ **Post date:** [December 8, 2011, 12:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-10-things-a-woman-should-know-how-to-do-or-know-about-by-the-time-she-is-25/605482/9 "2011-12-08T12:56:12Z")
I intended making a reasoned response to the OP but the first list I see mentions firearms and I remember this is a US board. Anywhere else on earth you would go hundreds or thousands of posts before anyone mentioned guns. ---
**Author:** ![Acid\_Lamp](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/d6d6ee/32.png) [@Acid\_Lamp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Acid_Lamp)\ **Post date:** [December 8, 2011, 1:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-10-things-a-woman-should-know-how-to-do-or-know-about-by-the-time-she-is-25/605482/10 "2011-12-08T13:02:38Z")
Hmm. I’m male and many of these certainly would transfer over. Give and receive oral sex Jumpstart a car and change a tire Understand how to apply a fashionable or complimentary face of makeup, even if she chooses not to wear it regularly. Likewise, be able to select proper attire for different social situations that is flattering and appropriate. Understand the functions of her reproductive system in its entirety Understand how to politely and firmly decline attention from a suitor Know her limit in regards to alcohol Know how perform a breast self examination Understand how to play at least one genre of video games ---
**Author:** ![Lord\_Mondegreen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/91b2a8/32.png) [@Lord\_Mondegreen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lord_Mondegreen)\ **Post date:** [December 8, 2011, 1:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-10-things-a-woman-should-know-how-to-do-or-know-about-by-the-time-she-is-25/605482/11 "2011-12-08T13:03:52Z")
I’m a man too: > [@Oakminster](#): > > I’m not female, and these are in no particular order: > > Give a blowjob No comment. > [@](#): > > Cook a meal Given my wife’s working hours, that’s my job. > [@](#): > > Change a tire Good idea, but given proper membership in a motoring organization, not necessary. (Also given that my wife has my phone number, not likely to be necessary.) > [@](#): > > Safely use a gun Absolutely unlikely to arise as an issue in our city. > [@](#): > > Change the air conditioner filter Our cooling system does not require this skill. > [@](#): > > Locate the circuit breaker panel in her home, flip breaker to turn off power to specific circuit I normally do this. If I were away my wife could probably sort it out, but if not, she has plenty of siblings who could talk her through it. > [@](#): > > Use a hammer/screwdriver as needed She can probably do this better than I can. > [@](#): > > Start a lawnmower We get a man in. > [@](#): > > Jumpstart a car Both our cars are automatics. > [@](#): > > Drive a stickshift My wife can do this, but if we only own automatics, why is this a required skill? ---
**Author:** ![jjimm](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ba8739/32.png) [@jjimm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jjimm)\ **Post date:** [December 8, 2011, 1:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-10-things-a-woman-should-know-how-to-do-or-know-about-by-the-time-she-is-25/605482/12 "2011-12-08T13:12:22Z")
> [@don\_t\_ask](#): > > I intended making a reasoned response to the OP but the first list I see mentions firearms and I remember this is a US board. Anywhere else on earth you would go hundreds or thousands of posts before anyone mentioned guns. Yeah, stands out like a sore neon thumb to me, too. Horses for courses I guess. ---
**Author:** ![Dangerosa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/22d042/32.png) [@Dangerosa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dangerosa)\ **Post date:** [December 8, 2011, 1:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-10-things-a-woman-should-know-how-to-do-or-know-about-by-the-time-she-is-25/605482/13 "2011-12-08T13:30:17Z")
The only skill I can think of that is fairly universal (at least in the Western world) and gender specific is that by 25 you should have figured out either a system or the signs for “today would be a bad day to wear light colored pants.” ---
**Author:** ![Acid\_Lamp](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/d6d6ee/32.png) [@Acid\_Lamp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Acid_Lamp)\ **Post date:** [December 8, 2011, 1:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-10-things-a-woman-should-know-how-to-do-or-know-about-by-the-time-she-is-25/605482/14 "2011-12-08T13:31:42Z")
> [@jjimm](#): > > Yeah, stands out like a sore neon thumb to me, too. Horses for courses I guess. That isn’t normal even by US standards. I’m a firearm owner, but I do not believe that the safe operation of such is a basic skill that everyone needs to know. ---
**Author:** ![elbows](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/b3f665/32.png) [@elbows](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elbows)\ **Post date:** [December 8, 2011, 1:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-10-things-a-woman-should-know-how-to-do-or-know-about-by-the-time-she-is-25/605482/15 "2011-12-08T13:42:28Z")
Let’s see, by 25, any person should; Be able to control their temper. Have stopped blaming their parents for shit. Can own their part in relationship conflict and failure. Does what they say they’ll do. Can manage their calendars, bills, appointments, arrive on time. Can manage their consumption of alcohol, etc. Can refrain from cursing, or saying ‘Yous guys, y’know, like’ and other language ticks. Can save up for some big purchase, rather than use credit. Can comfortably spend time alone. ---
**Author:** ![Oakminster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/77aa72/32.png) [@Oakminster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Oakminster)\ **Post date:** [December 8, 2011, 1:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-10-things-a-woman-should-know-how-to-do-or-know-about-by-the-time-she-is-25/605482/16 "2011-12-08T13:58:05Z")
> [@Acid\_Lamp](#): > > That isn’t normal even by US standards. I’m a firearm owner, but I do not believe that the safe operation of such is a basic skill that everyone needs to know. Depends on where you live, I guess. In the rural South, it’s a pretty basic skill that could come in handy. ---
**Author:** ![bufftabby](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/77aa72/32.png) [@bufftabby](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bufftabby)\ **Post date:** [December 8, 2011, 2:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-10-things-a-woman-should-know-how-to-do-or-know-about-by-the-time-she-is-25/605482/17 "2011-12-08T14:01:14Z")
> [@Sudden\_Kestrel](#): > > I’m not sure why a woman would need to know anything different than a man would need to know (except that for the man the blowjob would be optional :rolleyes:). Pretty sure any sex act is optional for any person, regardless of gender. ---
**Author:** ![Ferret\_Herder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/e47774/32.png) [@Ferret\_Herder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ferret_Herder)\ **Post date:** [December 8, 2011, 2:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-10-things-a-woman-should-know-how-to-do-or-know-about-by-the-time-she-is-25/605482/18 "2011-12-08T14:05:50Z")
Agreed, I think most necessary skills don’t have gender-specificity. As for me, I didn’t own an air conditioner or a gun by age 25 (and have never personally owned a real gun) though I did learn safety with my Daisy air rifle, which I asked for as a kid - and had just barely bought my first car by then. It was an automatic, because I grew up with automatics in the family. My parents were both farm kids and grew up driving stick vehicles, but completely switched to automatic transmissions as adults. I guess it’d be a nice skill to know but I haven’t had any use for it yet. ---
**Author:** ![tdn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/94ad74/32.png) [@tdn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tdn)\ **Post date:** [December 8, 2011, 2:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-10-things-a-woman-should-know-how-to-do-or-know-about-by-the-time-she-is-25/605482/19 "2011-12-08T14:32:46Z")
> [@jjimm](#): > > Yeah, stands out like a sore neon thumb to me, too. Horses for courses I guess. The foreign perception that all USAans are packing heat is curious to me. I’ve lived in this country for 50 years and have only fired – or held – a gun once. And that was a very odd circumstance. We’re not all Yosemite Sam, you know. ---
**Author:** ![gallows\_fodder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/8c91f0/32.png) [@gallows\_fodder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gallows_fodder)\ **Post date:** [December 8, 2011, 2:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-10-things-a-woman-should-know-how-to-do-or-know-about-by-the-time-she-is-25/605482/20 "2011-12-08T14:33:39Z")
> [@Dangerosa](#): > > The only skill I can think of that is fairly universal (at least in the Western world) and gender specific is that by 25 you should have figured out either a system or the signs for “today would be a bad day to wear light colored pants.” I agree. The signs can be subtle and can take years to figure out, but by 25 a woman should have this down. I can’t think of anything else that’s gender specific. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-10-things-a-woman-should-know-how-to-do-or-know-about-by-the-time-she-is-25/605482.md?page=2)