# Women's underwear - what's the little pocket for? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [January 26, 2016, 12:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/womens-underwear-whats-the-little-pocket-for/744220 "2016-01-26T00:19:57Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 18\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Enola\_Gay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/3ab097/32.png) [@Enola\_Gay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Enola_Gay)\ **Post date:** [January 26, 2016, 6:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/womens-underwear-whats-the-little-pocket-for/744220/21 "2016-01-26T06:46:59Z")
> [@WhyNot](#): > > Yeah, I was reading thinking, I know I’ve seen that, but it’s not on my underwear, so where…? Oh! Swimsuits, yeah. > > So why does cheap underwear sew it up, but not a $60 swimsuit? 😕 And in swimsuits it NEEDS to be sewn up! My kids swim in the ocean and that little un-sewn-up pocket always ends up full of sand. Pain to wash. ---
**Author:** ![GrumpyBunny](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/bc8723/32.png) [@GrumpyBunny](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GrumpyBunny)\ **Post date:** [January 26, 2016, 10:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/womens-underwear-whats-the-little-pocket-for/744220/22 "2016-01-26T10:36:16Z")
> [@snowthx](#): > > My guess is it is not a pocket, per se, but an extra layer of fabric - something to do with “absorbency” or some such, for non-monthly secretions. Perhaps also to mitigate camel-toe. That’s my theory. I imagine it’s not sewn down on the ends because it doesn’t matter to the functioning of the undies. And it’s easier to get the fabric to lie flat. ---
**Author:** ![racer72](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/racer72/32/3075_2.png) [@racer72](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/racer72)\ **Post date:** [January 26, 2016, 4:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/womens-underwear-whats-the-little-pocket-for/744220/23 "2016-01-26T16:05:28Z")
This guy found a use for the pocket. [![]( " - YouTube") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZMZfinBisQ8) ---
**Author:** ![Macca26](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/13edae/32.png) [@Macca26](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Macca26)\ **Post date:** [January 26, 2016, 4:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/womens-underwear-whats-the-little-pocket-for/744220/24 "2016-01-26T16:47:26Z")
When you sew it up, you get a seam across the front. I’m guessing it doesn’t look as nice to have a seam in front so they only sew it across the back. I’ve heard a few claim that it’s a great spot to put in a small vibrator. ---
**Author:** ![WF\_Tomba](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/d9b06d/32.png) [@WF\_Tomba](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WF_Tomba)\ **Post date:** [January 26, 2016, 4:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/womens-underwear-whats-the-little-pocket-for/744220/25 "2016-01-26T16:55:11Z")
[quote=“racer72, post:23, topic:744220”] This guy found a use for the pocket. [/QUOTE] Well, I guess it’s nice to know that psychopaths are finding ways to amuse themselves. ---
**Author:** ![Count\_Blucher](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/c5a1d2/32.png) [@Count\_Blucher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Count_Blucher)\ **Post date:** [January 26, 2016, 5:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/womens-underwear-whats-the-little-pocket-for/744220/26 "2016-01-26T17:13:34Z")
No idea. Best Guess: 2 extra rounds? It’s a damn site more effective than a condom with spermicide… ---
**Author:** ![Max\_Torque](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e9bcb4/32.png) [@Max\_Torque](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Max_Torque)\ **Post date:** [January 26, 2016, 5:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/womens-underwear-whats-the-little-pocket-for/744220/27 "2016-01-26T17:34:31Z")
> [@nearwildheaven](#): > > I’ve been wearing women’s underwear for half a century, and it’s been a long time since I had a pair like this. > > Condom storage, maybe? 😛 Can’t think of anything else. Definitely not a pocket for reusable sanitary napkins (which some women do use). That would defeat the whole purpose. It would be perfect for that purpose if pads came with “clips” on the back, like the kind pens have for hanging on to your shirt pocket. Clip one on and off you go. ---
**Author:** ![Emiliana](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/f0a364/32.png) [@Emiliana](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Emiliana)\ **Post date:** [January 26, 2016, 5:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/womens-underwear-whats-the-little-pocket-for/744220/28 "2016-01-26T17:48:26Z")
> [@Enola\_Gay](#): > > And in swimsuits it NEEDS to be sewn up! My kids swim in the ocean and that little un-sewn-up pocket always ends up full of sand. Pain to wash. No, it’s even worse when it’s sewn. Sand makes it’s way in anyway and it’s almost impossible to get out. Like lobster traps. ---
**Author:** ![Dogzilla](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e480ec/32.png) [@Dogzilla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dogzilla)\ **Post date:** [January 26, 2016, 6:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/womens-underwear-whats-the-little-pocket-for/744220/29 "2016-01-26T18:06:19Z")
I think this is about lazy/costcutting manufacturing practices. The pocket serves no practical or intended purpose. There’s just an extra layer of fabric there, for whatever reasons Dopers upthread have speculated upon. There’s also no practical reason to close that seam. It adds time and thread to the manufacturing process. The fabric is basically held in by the crotch and leg seams, so there’s no point in sewing a line across the open end. Why take the two extra seconds and why use the two inches of thread? This is most likely sweatshop labor and the company under whose label the panties will be sold will want to pay the least possible amount for their panties. Seconds and inches of thread add up to reduced profit margins. ---
**Author:** ![Manduck](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/manduck/32/256_2.png) [@Manduck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Manduck)\ **Post date:** [January 26, 2016, 6:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/womens-underwear-whats-the-little-pocket-for/744220/30 "2016-01-26T18:12:09Z")
> [@AncientHumanoid](#): > > When I worked a part time job at Macy’s years ago, two salesgirls were in the stockroom with me, showing me their underwear. One was particularly proud of her condom pocket. > > Ymmv Hey, do you have any contacts in their HR department? I’m thinking of applying for a part time job. ---
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [January 26, 2016, 6:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/womens-underwear-whats-the-little-pocket-for/744220/31 "2016-01-26T18:27:43Z")
> [@Shoeless](#): > > I was folding some of my wife’s underwear this weekend – as I have nearly every weekend for the last 20+ years – OK. Is she aware that you do this, or do you wait until she’s out of the house? ---
**Author:** ![CalMeacham](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/calmeacham/32/35_2.png) [@CalMeacham](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CalMeacham)\ **Post date:** [January 26, 2016, 7:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/womens-underwear-whats-the-little-pocket-for/744220/32 "2016-01-26T19:43:20Z")
> [@](#): > > So, what’s the little pocket for? It’s awfully small. It’s where the demon _should have_ hiddenm the jewel in Jack Chalker’s _…And the Devil Will Drag You Under_. ---
**Author:** ![Shoeless](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/shoeless/32/7099_2.png) [@Shoeless](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shoeless)\ **Post date:** [January 26, 2016, 10:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/womens-underwear-whats-the-little-pocket-for/744220/33 "2016-01-26T22:08:34Z")
> [@kayaker](#): > > OK. > Is she aware that you do this, or do you wait until she’s out of the house? Ha ha! Yes, she knows… just part of doing the weekly laundry. Although to be honest, she was working on Saturday so I _was_ home alone at the time. ---
**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:** [January 26, 2016, 10:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/womens-underwear-whats-the-little-pocket-for/744220/34 "2016-01-26T22:20:32Z")
Huh. I had always assumed it was to hold a sanitary napkin or whatever the technical term for them is. Not underneath, obviously, I just assumed they had a flap that slotted in there or something. ---
**Author:** ![gigi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a587f6/32.png) [@gigi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gigi)\ **Post date:** [January 26, 2016, 11:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/womens-underwear-whats-the-little-pocket-for/744220/35 "2016-01-26T23:18:01Z")
> [@kayaker](#): > > OK. > Is she aware that you do this, or do you wait until she’s out of the house? “Folding” not “fondling”! 😉 > [@Manduck](#): > > Hey, do you have any contacts in their HR department? I’m thinking of applying for a part time job. As Underwear Inspector #12? ---
**Author:** ![fachverwirrt](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/94ad74/32.png) [@fachverwirrt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/fachverwirrt)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2016, 2:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/womens-underwear-whats-the-little-pocket-for/744220/36 "2016-01-27T02:26:20Z")
> [@Emiliana](#): > > No, it’s even worse when it’s sewn. Sand makes it’s way in anyway and it’s almost impossible to get out. Like lobster traps. If you’re getting lobster traps in your swimsuit, I think your problems are more profound than what is or isn’t sewn. ---
**Author:** ![gigi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a587f6/32.png) [@gigi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gigi)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2016, 4:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/womens-underwear-whats-the-little-pocket-for/744220/37 "2016-01-27T16:16:33Z")
> [@fachverwirrt](#): > > If you’re getting lobster traps in your swimsuit, I think your problems are more profound than what is or isn’t sewn. And I here I thought crabs were bad. ---
**Author:** ![swampspruce](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/swampspruce/32/261_2.png) [@swampspruce](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/swampspruce)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2016, 6:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/womens-underwear-whats-the-little-pocket-for/744220/38 "2016-01-28T18:02:47Z")
I love this board. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/womens-underwear-whats-the-little-pocket-for/744220.md?page=1)