# Why do young women put on a cushion on their lap? **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [June 29, 2010, 11:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-young-women-put-on-a-cushion-on-their-lap/544917 "2010-06-29T11:47:49Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 12\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![Cat\_Fight](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/90ced4/32.png) [@Cat\_Fight](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cat_Fight)\ **Post date:** [June 29, 2010, 10:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-young-women-put-on-a-cushion-on-their-lap/544917/41 "2010-06-29T22:27:47Z")
While I’m on board with the idea of it being self consciousness (knowing that there are outfits that look fine while standing, not great for sitting, including cropped tops and short skirts), I’ve definitely done it for the simple warmth when there was no throw blanket around. Also they’re for practicing kissing. ---
**Author:** ![zagloba](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/977dab/32.png) [@zagloba](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/zagloba)\ **Post date:** [June 30, 2010, 12:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-young-women-put-on-a-cushion-on-their-lap/544917/42 "2010-06-30T00:07:21Z")
> [@KinkiNipponTourist](#): > > I was going to call bullshit, but then remembered sitting across from this guy over drinks, then absentmindedly (?) picking up the pepper mill sitting there, and suddenly yeah, we both stopped talking to look at the pepper mill. You know, in an emergency a pepper mill is a great stand in for the [Shake Weight](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y-z85Pku9uE) ---
**Author:** ![NineToTheSky](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/b5a626/32.png) [@NineToTheSky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NineToTheSky)\ **Post date:** [June 30, 2010, 7:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-young-women-put-on-a-cushion-on-their-lap/544917/43 "2010-06-30T07:43:10Z")
> [@kapri](#): > > I used to do that a lot because I felt fat (I really wasn’t) and thought it hid my hideous thighs that spread when I sat down. Also, I don’t like the feel of a pillow, or what the OP called a cushion (the British way of saying “pillow”) between my back and the back of the seat unless it is arranged just so. You live and learn: I wasn’t aware that it’s called a pillow in the USA. What do you call what you put your head on in bed then? And does cushion (as a noun) mean anything in the USA? ---
**Author:** ![EvilTOJ](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/ee59a6/32.png) [@EvilTOJ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EvilTOJ)\ **Post date:** [June 30, 2010, 8:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-young-women-put-on-a-cushion-on-their-lap/544917/44 "2010-06-30T08:20:00Z")
A cushion is just a small pillow, usually decorative on a couch or bed. The term is pretty interchangeable with pillow. So, these girls wear something revealing, only to cover themselves up later with something because their clothes are revealing? Interesting. ---
**Author:** ![Colophon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f05b48/32.png) [@Colophon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colophon)\ **Post date:** [June 30, 2010, 11:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-young-women-put-on-a-cushion-on-their-lap/544917/45 "2010-06-30T11:09:50Z")
I always assumed it was to prevent upskirt flashing. I’ve noticed women sitting on the Tube (where the rowas of seats face each other across the central aisle) tend to hold their handbags on their laps in a similar way. ---
**Author:** ![Joey\_P](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/919ad9/32.png) [@Joey\_P](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Joey_P)\ **Post date:** [June 30, 2010, 11:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-young-women-put-on-a-cushion-on-their-lap/544917/46 "2010-06-30T11:46:10Z")
> [@Johnny\_L.A](#): > > [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Lp0-8Ibkczc](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Lp0-8Ibkczc) BBC version of Friends? ---
**Author:** ![auRa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/c4cdca/32.png) [@auRa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/auRa)\ **Post date:** [June 30, 2010, 1:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-young-women-put-on-a-cushion-on-their-lap/544917/47 "2010-06-30T13:25:58Z")
> [@Joey\_P](#): > > BBC version of Friends? Vastly superior, though. ---
**Author:** ![rhubarbarin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/eb9ed0/32.png) [@rhubarbarin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rhubarbarin)\ **Post date:** [June 30, 2010, 4:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-young-women-put-on-a-cushion-on-their-lap/544917/48 "2010-06-30T16:19:56Z")
> [@Colophon](#): > > I always assumed it was to prevent upskirt flashing. I’ve noticed women sitting on the Tube (where the rowas of seats face each other across the central aisle) tend to hold their handbags on their laps in a similar way. But where else could you put your purse on public transportation? On the seat beside you makes your bag vulnerable to being stolen or forgotten, ditto to the floor and it’s filthier, and it’s uncomfortable to keep it over your shoulder/under your arm while you’re sitting (unless it had a long strap). ---
**Author:** ![Lamia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/8e7dd6/32.png) [@Lamia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lamia)\ **Post date:** [July 1, 2010, 1:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-young-women-put-on-a-cushion-on-their-lap/544917/49 "2010-07-01T01:17:06Z")
> [@MeanOldLady](#): > > So…fa? But seriously, I see. I’ve never seen anyone do this, in case it isn’t obvious. I mean, I’m sure I’ve seen someone put a cushion on their lap at some point in my entire life, but it has never been worth noting, and I can’t seem to think of any gender or age correlation. Carry on. I’m with you, **MeanOldLady**. I have never heard of this supposed phenomenon before, and I can’t say I’ve ever noticed someone of any age or sex holding a cushion on their lap for no obvious reason. The only young woman I ever knew who was in the habit of putting a cushion in her lap was one of my sisters, who’d use one to prop up her book when she was reading on the couch. ---
**Author:** ![Ephemera](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/8baadc/32.png) [@Ephemera](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ephemera)\ **Post date:** [July 1, 2010, 1:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-young-women-put-on-a-cushion-on-their-lap/544917/50 "2010-07-01T01:28:38Z")
I do it at my friend’s place. She has a cushion that is usually on the chair I typically sit in, and I hold it in my lap instead of throwing it on the floor. It also makes it more comfortable when I have my hands resting on it. I’m a guy and, at 28, not that young. ---
**Author:** ![Ludovic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7ab992/32.png) [@Ludovic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ludovic)\ **Post date:** [July 1, 2010, 1:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-young-women-put-on-a-cushion-on-their-lap/544917/51 "2010-07-01T01:32:55Z")
Sometimes I do that when I’m sitting on a small couch with other people on it. The cushion that was previously taking up room is now on my lap, plus, I can rest my arms on it so they are farther away from the other people comfortably. But I’m a 37 yr old guy. ---
**Author:** ![NinjaChick](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/71c47a/32.png) [@NinjaChick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NinjaChick)\ **Post date:** [July 2, 2010, 4:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-young-women-put-on-a-cushion-on-their-lap/544917/52 "2010-07-02T04:44:16Z")
Am I the only woman who can’t sit comfortably unless I’m holding an erection on my lap? What? [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-young-women-put-on-a-cushion-on-their-lap/544917.md?page=2)