# 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:** 2
**Author:** ![Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e8c25b/32.png) [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Really_Not_All_That_Bright)\ **Post date:** [December 8, 2011, 2:39pm 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-25/605482/21 "2011-12-08T14:39:42Z")
> [@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. > [@Oakminster](#): > > Depends on where you live, I guess. In the rural South, it’s a pretty basic skill that could come in handy. **Oak** hasn’t been attacked by a bear all year, which just goes to show how important firearms training is. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![gotpasswords](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/c57346/32.png) [@gotpasswords](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gotpasswords)\ **Post date:** [December 8, 2011, 2:39pm 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-25/605482/22 "2011-12-08T14:39:50Z")
Having membership in AAA is a nice fall-back, but given how long it may take for the service truck to get to you, knowing how to change a flat is essential. Would you rather sit on the roadside for a couple of hours, or just change the tire in about 10-15 minutes and be on your way? Knowing enough about cars not to be bamboozled at the garage is also important. You don’t need to know how to rebuild an engine, but know enough that if they say your muffler bearings are worn out and dangerous, that you need to go to another shop. ---
**Author:** ![Der\_Trihs](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/der_trihs/32/233_2.png) [@Der\_Trihs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Der_Trihs)\ **Post date:** [December 8, 2011, 2:40pm 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-25/605482/23 "2011-12-08T14:40:36Z")
> [@Sudden\_Kestrel](#): > > I’m not sure why a woman would need to know anything different than a man would need to know At the very least, there’s a fair amount of female specific biological/medical/reproductive knowledge. Although you should know those things well before 25, I’d think. ---
**Author:** ![billfish678](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/7bcc69/32.png) [@billfish678](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/billfish678)\ **Post date:** [December 8, 2011, 2:50pm 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-25/605482/24 "2011-12-08T14:50:54Z")
> [@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. Yes and no IMO. You need to know if you know how to use a gun or you don’t, and if you don’t, well don’t frack around with one and don’t hang around with someone who is (because they might be being stupid and you wouldn’t know). There’s a Dick Chenney two fer joke in here somewhere. For the OP. A random sex related one. Some men like women that are hard to get. Many don’t. If you like being chased, play hard to get. But guess what kind of guys will chase you? The men that like the chase. Once they have got you, they are going to move onto the next target. If you want an actual relationship that might turn into a long one or THE one, IMO playing hard to get is probably a bad move. Playing hard to get is going to attract the wrong kind AND you could well miss out on that great shy guy that ain’t borderline stalker material. Oh, an overheating car engine or oil pressure warning light? PULL OVER RIGHT FRACKING NOW and then call someone who actually knows about cars for advice (and probably a tow truck), unless you have a few grand for a new engine. Let me repeat that. RIGHT NOW, not a few blocks from now to make it to the house (barring safety issues like being chased by zombies or something). ---
**Author:** ![you\_with\_the\_face](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/ecccb3/32.png) [@you\_with\_the\_face](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/you_with_the_face)\ **Post date:** [December 8, 2011, 2:52pm 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-25/605482/25 "2011-12-08T14:52:45Z")
> [@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.” Along those same lines, a woman who doesn’t want to get pregnant should know, by the age of 25, what days are absolutely no-nos for unprotected sex. ---
**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, 2:52pm 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-25/605482/26 "2011-12-08T14:52:46Z")
> [@gallows\_fodder](#): > > 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. Maybe knowing how to insert a tampon and how long it’s OK to leave it in. Even if you prefer pads, there are times when tampons are better, and when you might be stuck with that as your only option. ---
**Author:** ![Sateryn76](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a88e4f/32.png) [@Sateryn76](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sateryn76)\ **Post date:** [December 8, 2011, 2:53pm 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-25/605482/27 "2011-12-08T14:53:25Z")
Again, this should apply to both genders, but unfortunately often doesn’t - Birth control, your cycle, all forms, the effects of hormonal birth control, the use of a condom, etc. ---
**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, 2:54pm 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-25/605482/28 "2011-12-08T14:54:40Z")
> [@tdn](#): > > 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. To be fair, in this case the perception was caused by the fact that a US American described “knowing how to safely use a gun” as something a person under 25 should know how to do. It wasn’t a non-US American posting that. ---
**Author:** ![Moonlitherial](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/4bbf92/32.png) [@Moonlitherial](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Moonlitherial)\ **Post date:** [December 8, 2011, 3:00pm 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-25/605482/29 "2011-12-08T15:00:07Z")
Know enough to research your rights and responsibilities before entering into a contract - that could be a lease agreement, an employment contract etc. The basic skill is forethought I guess but it’s hard to teach. ---
**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, 3:29pm 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-25/605482/30 "2011-12-08T15:29:37Z")
> [@Ferret\_Herder](#): > > Maybe knowing how to insert a tampon and how long it’s OK to leave it in. Even if you prefer pads, there are times when tampons are better, and when you might be stuck with that as your only option. I’m 44. I’ll assure you that isn’t necessary. (I cramp terribly wearing tampons). The only other female specific medical sort of thing would be “you should have a pretty good idea what normal feels like for your breasts.” ---
**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, 3:34pm 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-25/605482/31 "2011-12-08T15:34:29Z")
> [@](#): > > Along those same lines, a woman who doesn’t want to get pregnant should know, by the age of 25, what days are absolutely no-nos for unprotected sex. Maybe it’s just me, but every person should be capable of taking responsibility for their reproductive health, well before 25 yrs of age, in my opinion. But, to my initial list, I would like to add; Capable of having a conversation about something that makes you uncomfortable. ---
**Author:** ![ZipperJJ](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zipperjj/32/211_2.png) [@ZipperJJ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ZipperJJ)\ **Post date:** [December 8, 2011, 3:34pm 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-25/605482/32 "2011-12-08T15:34:40Z")
> [@Ferret\_Herder](#): > > Maybe knowing how to insert a tampon and how long it’s OK to leave it in. Even if you prefer pads, there are times when tampons are better, and when you might be stuck with that as your only option. You should also know that while the tampon package says “flushable” and you might be flushing them at home without recourse or something, NEVER flush your tampon at someone else’s house. Just…do not do it!!! Wrap it up in a whole roll of toilet paper before you throw it away if you must (please do wrap it thoroughly) but DO NOT FLUSH YOUR TAMPONS. ---
**Author:** ![you\_with\_the\_face](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/ecccb3/32.png) [@you\_with\_the\_face](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/you_with_the_face)\ **Post date:** [December 8, 2011, 3:57pm 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-25/605482/33 "2011-12-08T15:57:34Z")
> [@elbows](#): > > Maybe it’s just me, but every person should be capable of taking responsibility for their reproductive health, well before 25 yrs of age, in my opinion. Of course. But the fact remains that generally speaking, males are fertile all the time, while women are fertile usually only 3 days out of the month. I think by the time a woman is 25, she should have a good idea when her 3 days are. Unless she has PCOS or something like that. ---
**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:** [December 8, 2011, 4:11pm 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-25/605482/34 "2011-12-08T16:11:39Z")
> [@you\_with\_the\_face](#): > > Of course. But the fact remains that generally speaking, males are fertile all the time, while women are fertile usually only 3 days out of the month. I think by the time a woman is 25, she should have a good idea when her 3 days are. Unless she has PCOS or something like that. I dunno about that. I went on the pill when I was 14 and didn’t go off until I was trying to get pregnant at age 29. For all that time in between, that knowledge was completely irrelevant. ---
**Author:** ![you\_with\_the\_face](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/ecccb3/32.png) [@you\_with\_the\_face](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/you_with_the_face)\ **Post date:** [December 8, 2011, 4:19pm 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-25/605482/35 "2011-12-08T16:19:15Z")
> [@Sattua](#): > > I dunno about that. I went on the pill when I was 14 and didn’t go off until I was trying to get pregnant at age 29. For all that time in between, that knowledge was completely irrelevant. No, it was not irrelevant. You simply were infertile during that time, and therefore didn’t have any fertility to keep track of. Obviously I’m talking about women with all working parts still intact, with exogenous hormones unaffected by external influences like the Pill. ---
**Author:** ![billfish678](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/7bcc69/32.png) [@billfish678](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/billfish678)\ **Post date:** [December 8, 2011, 4:23pm 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-25/605482/36 "2011-12-08T16:23:22Z")
> [@you\_with\_the\_face](#): > > Of course. But the fact remains that generally speaking, males are fertile all the time, while women are fertile usually only 3 days out of the month. I think by the time a woman is 25, she should have a good idea when her 3 days are. Unless she has PCOS or something like that. I don’t recall the exact stats but I seem to recall that the “lets not fuck on these particular days” method isn’t exactly a sucess story in terms of preventing pregancy. As my high school biology teacher said “you never know when there’s one stuck in the chamber”. Now maybe that info in conjunction with some other form of birth control makes for a decent rate of protection… ---
**Author:** ![Thudlow\_Boink](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thudlow_boink/32/320_2.png) [@Thudlow\_Boink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Thudlow_Boink)\ **Post date:** [December 8, 2011, 4:25pm 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-25/605482/37 "2011-12-08T16:25:09Z")
> [@Sudden\_Kestrel](#): > > I’m not sure why a woman would need to know anything different than a man would need to know I was pretty sure this was going to be one of the first responses. And for the most part I agree. But I guess there are some basic “women’s health” things that all women need to know but men don’t necessarily have to worry about (like things related to pregnancy and/or its prevention). And there may well be things that both sexes need to know, but which men might be more likely to pick up naturally or to _know_ that they need to know. ---
**Author:** ![Ellen\_Cherry](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ellen_cherry/32/3600_2.png) [@Ellen\_Cherry](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ellen_Cherry)\ **Post date:** [December 8, 2011, 4:27pm 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-25/605482/38 "2011-12-08T16:27:28Z")
- How to listen - Selflessness ---
**Author:** ![you\_with\_the\_face](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/ecccb3/32.png) [@you\_with\_the\_face](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/you_with_the_face)\ **Post date:** [December 8, 2011, 4:42pm 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-25/605482/39 "2011-12-08T16:42:52Z")
> [@billfish678](#): > > As my high school biology teacher said “you never know when there’s one stuck in the chamber”. This is oversimplication, though. Not fact. Yes, if you wish not to risk absolutely any chance of getting pregnant during the month, you’ll always abstain from sexual activity that could permit sperm to connect with an egg. But the reality is that your risk of getting pregnant is not the same throughout the month. Just like your risk of starting your period is not the same throughout every day of the month. Most women can only get pregnant at the mid-point of their cycle, which is around the time when ovulation takes place. There are indicators to look out for that indicate ovulation, just as there are indicators to look for that indicate when your period is about to start. Even if can’t pick up on these indicators, by the time a woman is 25, she should have a good idea with the mid-point of her cycle is. That is, unless her cycle is very irregular due to PCOS or perimenopause. What I’m saying should by no means be taken as me advocating the rhythm method. All I’m saying is a grown-ass woman should at least know to lay off high risk behaviors (like unprotected sex) whenever she feels [Mittelschmerz](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mittelschmerz) pain and it’s roughly been 2 weeks after her last period. ---
**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, 5:13pm 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-25/605482/40 "2011-12-08T17:13:43Z")
> [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](#): > > **Oak** hasn’t been attacked by a bear all year, which just goes to show how important firearms training is. 😃 We happen to live out in the county. I’m not particularly concerned with wildlife, although there was a bear sighted in the area not so long ago. It is the human animals that concern me. After about 11 pm, there are only two Deputy Sheriffs on patrol in the entire county until about 6 AM. If I’m not home, The Druidess is alone and vulnerable. It could take 30 minutes or longer for a Deputy to get here if there was a break in or other safety issue. I want her to be able to defend herself should the need arise. At least with a gun, my wife has a fighting chance. [Previous 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=1) [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=3)